I really enjoyed the general Gothic atmosphere of The City of Stardust and the author's poetic style. Violet's adventure around Europe and following the footsteps of her mother is both engaging and mysterious.
I personally didn't fully fell for the characters but loved the bittersweet ending of this modern fairytale.

Let me start by saying that I’m fairly certain this book will be popular when it comes out. First of all, the cover is gorgeous. Secondly, I wasn’t won over—and I’ll explain why—but I can see other readers being enchanted by it : it’s got magical vibes, decent pacing overall and I know many readers will enjoy it.

Why such a low rating, then?

short answer: pretty shell, too bad it’s empty I guess????

long answer:

✔ The world-building gave me this distinct impression of déjà vu : think secret world, scholars, knowledge, “Are fairytales real?”, a cursed family, etc. Books aren’t written in a void so this isn't a bad thing per se and :
1) these concepts are interesting enough;
2) Georgia Summers does twist them a bit
… but I liked the ideas more than the execution : by the end it all fell a bit flat tbh? My main issue with the world-building lies elsewhere, though : we travel a lot but there’s no sense of space, so it's like walking in a dream world where places have real names but that's about it. If I'm feeling generous I'll say that this particular ‘dreamlike’ feeling was fashioned on purpose, but do I really believe that? No.

✔ The writing is alright for a debut, but I do think it veers a bit too much on the dramatic side for my liking, at the end of chapters/POV especially—I won’t lie, I rolled my eyes pretty often. The abrupt changes of POV would also have benefited from more polishing.

✔ The romance in this book made no sense whatsoever : there is *no* reason the main character should trust her so-called love interest, the story actually makes it obvious that she SHOULDN’T, and yet she does? Repeatedly? My god. It doesn’t help that their interactions lack chemistry. So, yeah. I didn't hate the love interest and I actually understood the logic behind *his* decisions but their relationship made no sense to me (sorry).

✔ The City of Stardust puts the emphasis on family, which is something I usually appreciate in my books. Sadly I could never get invested in the relationships portrayed, and that would be because of the one-note secondary characters : I didn’t care about any of them (sorry, again).

✔ My main grip with the book however lies in the fact that so many threads were abandoned/barely explained and by the end of the book, there are still SO. MANY. things that don’t make any kind of sense. I can’t mention most of them without spoiling the story, so I won’t, but I’ll mention these : the main character’s quest (half-abandoned), the villain’s motivations (the reasons given aren’t nearly enough to explain the entirety of their actions), the ending (both too long and too rushed: you’ll get what I mean, trust me), the fate of one of the secondary characters (who knows really). So many threads were treated as an afterthought and in the end it all feels so…pointless. I might change my mind if a sequel is published someday, but as a standalone? No.

Thank you Hodder & Stoughton for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book!

cw : kidnapping and murder of children, abandonment

Violet Everly's family is cursed, a member of each generation is to be stolen away and taken to another world.

Georgia Summers' writing is absolutely delicious. I was literally transported into another world reading this book. The third but present tense that it is written in is so beautiful and unique compared to other books I've read. The characters are enjoyable and either lovable or hateable and that's what makes a book so great, to be able to feel something towards a character because it makes them more real.

Also, the cover? STUNNING!!

City of Stardust by @ge_summers is a standalone fantasy book, and has without a doubt become my most anticipated read of 2024!

In this book we follow Violet Everly as she discovers and attempts to fight a curse placed on her family line by a terrifying and mysterious woman named Penelope. She travels across the world, uncovering dark secrets and unveiling things many would remain hidden..

I utterly utterly adored this book, the worldbuilding, the pacing, the characters, the romance were all impeccably written and kept me hooked throughout. Everything about this book was so good, the uniqueness of the plot and how it unfolded; with more nuance and detail being revealed over time - without overloading the timeline or dropping a ton of lore on the reader.
I absolutely inhaled this book; reading the first ⅔rds in about two hours and the final ⅓rd over a few days (real life delays 💔) - the fastest ive read anything since the reading slump The Virgin Suicides put me into lol.
Would 100% reccomend to anyone trying to get into fantasy as its fabulously written and is a beautiful segue into the genre 🥰

Thanks to NetGalley and Hodderscape for this ARC! Unfortunately while the premise sounded so intriguing this book didn’t grab me at all. I read the first quarter, but felt that the world building and the characters all fell flat for me, and the plot isn’t grabbing me either. I’ve seen loads of great reviews so maybe just personal taste, but unfortunately I’ll not be finishing. Perhaps I’ll give it another go in the future!

Where is Marianne Everly? Marianne disappeared from the family home one night, just walked out and indeed literally vanished. Who wants to know? Well, her brothers for a start, Ambrose and Gabriel. Gabriel is searching for her in cities all over the world, while Ambrose remains at home with Violet, the daughter his sister abandoned when she vanished. The person who really wants to know however is a mysterious magical and dangerous figure known as Penelope. Children all around the world are abducted whenever she appears, leaving behind nothing more than a scent of vanilla.
Her business with the Everlys and her concern for the disappearance of Marianne however is of another matter altogether. There is a curse lying over the Everlys that has lasted generations, the reasons behind it lost in myth and fairytale, but it results nonetheless in Penelope claiming one of the Everly family every generation. She wants Marianne, but if the brothers don't manage to find her the child Violet will do instead. Penelope makes a deal, giving them ten years to find Marianne, otherwise she will come for Violet. The Everlys however are not without some magic tricks and skills of their own and are well known is certain esoteric circles. Indeed Violet may have powers or potential she is unaware of, or maybe needs to be wary of.

Despite her better judgement, having seen him acting as Penelope's personal assistant, Violet comes to trust Aleksander, who reveals to her the existence of the city of Fidelis, a magical city in another world. It's a place of scholars who are able to use keys made from a magical 'god-metal' called reveurite to transport themselves 'elsewhere' - that place being our world - in order to bring in resources. But scholars are also interested in studying the key - literally - to entrances to many other secret worlds. Can Violet really trust Aleksander when he turns up at a coffee shop where she is working nine years later? The ten years are almost up and Violet hasn't yet found any clue to where her mother might have gone.

A City of Stardust tends towards YA romantic fantasy. There's nothing wrong with that other than it lacks any kind of originality and instead just runs with the conventional tropes and metaphors for growing up that I've read before in the likes of The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow and Liani Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy. There's the uncertain parentage - Violet not quite an orphan but her mother is missing and her father is a mystery to everyone - something usually kept in reserve for a big surprise reveal later. There are keys to mystical worlds and a young handsome boy who befriends her and promises to open up secrets of a would she knows little about.

There has to be some kind of adherence to genre principles of course, but you would hope The City of Stardust can find a character of its own. And indeed once we get past the predictably and familiarity of the set up, there are some new ideas and a darker direction followed, if nothing too surprising. As long as you don't question too deeply how Violet spends a year travelling the world looking for her mother on presumably no income other than tips while working in a coffee shop, and how she manages to keep out of the clutches of those looking for her, despite having a mobile phone. They might have magic powers but presumably not access to phone records. Compared to how the real world issues are skimmed over, the bit about magical cities, legends and curses is slightly more credible.

What is good about The City of Stardust is that at least it isn't bloated fantasy, or extended out into a trilogy (although it seems to me that some of the questions and mysteries I mentioned earlier remain not fully answered). It works to some basic principles and it makes best use of them. Georgia Summers' writing is clear in its descriptions and good in dialogue and exchanges, and she can turn on the fireworks when needed. One scene below a church in Prague is simply explosive, and evidently that builds towards the conclusion, so author has a firm grip of the material and the dynamic she aims to achieve. The heroic/romantic tone takes over from the dark fantasy however, which considerably lessened the final impact for me, but I would expect that the target audience for this might like it that way more than I did.

I loved the magic of the story, not too fluffy either like some can be. It was a nice side of dark, and with a growing love story, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The characters were fantastic, I enjoyed Violet's journey and never knowing how it was going to end. A perfect read for these autumnal days and evenings.
Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Unusual fantasy novel - reasonably good.

I’m a bit in two minds about this book in which Violet, kept closeted by her uncles from a young age and seeking adventure, embarks on a worldwide search for her missing mother. Along the way, she discovers that other worlds exist with inhabitants, some likeable, others not so much. The plot takes a while to get going and the writing is often interesting as are the characters. However it didn’t really engage me or fascinate me enough. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

4.5 (rounded to a 5)

It took me a while to find the words I need to praise this book. I was so captured by the writing from page 1 that I struggled to put this book down, especially when Violet's adventure finally begins.
This book was bloody, full of betrayals and a vast world that had me grasping for answers just like Violet.
I love the fact that we get the perspective of everyone in this story, especially Penelope. It takes a certain skill to create a villain and make the reader feel bad for them, to an extent.

I short this book was: Wonderful. Magical. Beautiful.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me an ARC for my honest review*

First of all many thanks to the publisher for letting me review such a brilliant read .

I've not read a good sifi for along time when I saw this brilliant book was coming up for review I had to find out the hype was all about , as it been compered to so many amazing books , was it worth it TOTALLY !! it's now one of my favourite books I've read this year .

I loved the feeling this book gave me ,magical and also very gripping ,it had my head spinning but in such a great way, the twists in the story had me totally gobsmacked everytime . I always thought I knew what was coming how wrong in was !! .

The charaters I loved everyone one of them they all brought something to the story even side charaters ,as for the main charater Violet Everly totally gritty and badass she totally blown me away . Thankyou Georgia !! Great charater buliding .

Georgia writing is pure gold ,I loved how she made you think you had everything in the palm of my hand and then took it away all at the same time amazing .and it flowed wonderfully.

I'm highly recommend you read this book .

I'm giving this totally phenomenal book 5 bright stars 📚

Thank you to the publisher, Georgia Summers and Netgalley for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

I'm so happy I was given a chance to read this book. It was totally different then my recent fantasy reads. The writing was phenonenal. I've got completly lost in this incredible world - full of mysteries, magic and hidden doors.
Violet and Aleksander felt so real to me.
This is the kind of story you definitely won't forget.

Tropes:
Enemies to lovers
Hidden worlds
Unique magic system
Quest to break the curse
Gods among humans
Mystery and intrigue

Thank you, NetGalley for an ARC of The City of Stardust!

It took me awhile to go through this book and not because it was a tough read; quite the opposite. I fell in love with the world and the writing from the first couple of chapters, and I didn't want it to end. So, instead of my usual approach of devouring a book I love, I really took my time and enjoyed every second I spent with the characters.

The City of Stardust is one of my favourite books of this year and I'm looking forward to getting a printed copy of it just so I can reread it. First, the writing style is so clean and easy, it's a pleasure to read. This, mixed with the interesting world Georgia Summers has built, turns into a story that grabs your imagination straight away and doesn't let go until the very end. Maybe even afterwards, because it's been a few days since I finished and I still can't stop thinking of this book.

Can't recommend it enough and am so excited to read everything else that comes out of Georgia Summers' mind!

This was a really obscure story and one I really enjoyed! Violet’s family is cursed and they’re trying to delay the inevitable and give her the opportunity to live before the curse comes for her. They’re a family riddled with secrets and Violet has pieced together some of it, the mysterious doorways, the hidden curse, and the other world that her uncles deny knowledge of but she was never going to uncover the full truth whilst trapped within the house and as the clock ticks down, Violet’s determined to try and save herself. There was plenty of intrigue in this book, and we’re kept on our toes about the different characters involved and who is and isn’t on Violet’s side. There’s betrayal aplenty, from closer to home than Violet expected as well, but there’s also help to be found in unlikely places. It’s safe to say there’s whole heaps of danger, and a trail of violence, but I was thoroughly hooked on this story and finding out whether the curse could be broken and if so, how. We’re taken on plenty of twists and turns, and there were definitely things I didn’t see coming that make it difficult to stop reading. I’d call this a gothic fantasy or possibly dark academia but whatever it is, it’s not one to miss!

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

*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.

This is a phenomenal book! Georgia's writing is fantastic, and you get so easily immersed inside the story. Violet and Aleksander are amazing protagonists, engaging but also achingly real. This is one of those books where you completely forget you're reading, it's magical and beautiful and amazing!

Thank you Netgalley for this wonderful arc. The Cuty of Stardust is a gorgeous book, beautiful world building, fantasy at its best.

This epic novel is filled with magic, stardust and the darkest secrets of our hearts. It takes our ability to daydreams about opening doors to new worlds onto the page, but twists it just so that it changes into a nightmare with every turn of the page. There is no escaping the choices characters must make between love and betrayal.

For centuries, the Everly Family have seen their brightest disappear, taken as punishment for a crime no one remembers. Their tormentor is a women who never ages and never forgives a debt. Ten years ago, her mother lefts to break a curse but never returned. Now Violet must find her mother, or she must take her place. Her search leads her into a seductive magical world of power hungry scholars, fickle gods and monsters being on revenge.

It leads her right onto the path of the apprentice scholar, Aleksander, who she knows cannot be trusted. And yet, to whom she finds herself undeniably drawn. With time running out, Violet will travel to the edged of the world, and the one in between, to find her mother and the key to the City of Stardust. Which is where this story began.

This is an ode to story lovers. This is for those of us who have spent our entire lives wishing for a hidden war into another world, into some great adventure, into somewhere other than here. Books have always been an escape and this one takes you on an adventure to an epic world not unlike our own filled with magic, monsters and promise. If you only have the key, then you can step through the door into another world.

Thank you to Hodder Books for an advanced reader copy via NetGalley of The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers

An incredibly fresh and lyrical fantasy debut. Strong world building, a unique magic system and beautiful writing - what more could you want. Summers is one to watch.

4.5/5 stars

Violet Everly’s family is small, fiercely loyal and cursed.

One family member of each generation is cursed to walked into the shadows due to a thousand year old curse. All that is left of these family members are portraits in a run down home where Violet grows up isolated from society but under the loving care of her uncle Ambrose and her other uncle Gabriel who flits in and out. Violet loves fairytales and craves adventures beyond her crumbling cottage. Ambrose and Gabriel begrudgingly adore Violet and manage to strike a bargain with our antagonist Penelope- in ten years either Violet will walk into the shadows or her mysterious missing Mother Marianne will go into the darkness, if the uncles can find their wayward sister.
Violet is raised not knowing there is a countdown on her life until she overhears her uncles talking then she’s pushed into action trying to find her mother and discovering some of the stories from her childhood fairytale book are real, magic exists and stars walk amongst mankind.

I loved the world building of this book which really painted a picture in your mind without being too prescriptive and making you feel bogged down in the details. Violet is a great lead character with a defiant personality. Her love interest Aleksander is gentle soul who craves affirmation.
I was annoyed at Violet when she kept trusting Aleksander but you could understand why she did, she was alone and he was a familiar (handsome) face!

The end of the book was satisfying however I do wish we would have found some tangible evidence of Marianne, not quite a reunion but it would have been nice to feel Marianne cared for her daughter Violet.
Overall a book I throughly enjoyed and would recommend! Thank you Hodder & Stoughton for proving an E-ARC!

This book reminded me of how I felt when stepping into a fantasy that was to become much-beloved. 'The Box of Delights', perhaps, or 'The Weirdstone of Brisingamen'. It's not a children's story at all, mind you, but that tone of a warm, cosy space where magic (or danger) might appear at any moment seems baked into the pages.

It is a YA novel, so as a Mature Adult, I suspect I'm not the target audience. Certainly I think younger folk will become more attached to it, but that's all to the good. I hope they remember this book as much as I do the above titles.

Sympathetic and likeable characters, relationships handled gently, a mystery that takes its time to unfold, an Otherworld full of secrets and tangled politics, beautiful and subtle writing - this story is a world in itself, and one that I thoroughly enjoyed my time with.