This is a beautifully written debut fantasy novel about a family curse, travelling between worlds, blood sacrifices and a strange material called reveurite which holds the key to unlocking all these secrets.

Told across multiple PoV, and in the various worlds the characters travelled to. I got a little lost in places, but I'm not a big reader of fantasy novels so that might just be me!

Overall this was very enjoyable, cinematic and well crafted.

Every Generation, an Everly has been lost to an ancient curse. But when the last of the Everly line, Violet, is left by her mother in her uncles care, they make a deal to try and save her

But as much as their intentions are good to try and save Violet, keeping the curse from her is maybe not the best thing. Penelope will call in her debt, regardless of Violets knowledge of it, and her assistant Aleksander may have to help her with this despite his connection to Violet

This book was magical, and dark, and hopeful and melancholy all at the same time

Throughly enjoyable read. Thank you NetGalley and Hodderscape for the review copy... it was out last week so run don't walk to pick this up!

The story had an interesting premise but terrible execution. I liked the fairy tale atmosphere but not much else. The story was dragging and slow. The multiple POV were distracting. The book is tagged as gothic and dark but I didn't really get that from reading. The romance between Violet and Aleksander was minimal and it didn't feel satisfactory, was forced.

I wished we would know what happened with Marianne but we never do. It was dissapointing to conclude that she really did not care enough about her family to see them even after Penelope was gone. I also still don't really understand why Penelope wanted only the Everlys and particularly Marianne/Violet.

I wish I enjoyed more this book, especially since I was looking forward to a Hodderscape release but it missed the mark for me. I would give even less than 3 start but I fee bad giving such a low rating.

There was also some problems with formating on kindle that made reading more difficult. On the Netgalley app the text was fine.

The City of Stardust is a beautifully-written spellbinding debut novel about a young woman’s search for the truth between magical worlds and curses.

Violet Everly’s mother has been missing for ten years and her uncles have kept her hidden from the world, keeping secrets to protect her. But Violet yearns for adventure and when she discovers the truth about the family curse that dooms one Everly of every generation to be taken into another world, she also discovers a world of scholars, magical keys, and astrals. As time is running out, Violet embarks on a search for her mother, hoping to break the curse once and for all, but who can she trust?

I really enjoyed this novel, completely immersed in the beautiful descriptions and the enthralling and dark plot full of curses, magic worlds, gods and immortal creatures, and stories of monsters and survival. The story is told in third person from different perspectives, Violet’s point of view prevailing over the others as she navigates a world unknown to her, often accompanied by a young man who’s spent all his life trying to prove his worth, but knowing only loss, loneliness, and no love. Violet can seem a bit naive at times, but I liked her determination and inquisitiveness.

The City of Stardust is a compelling and fascinating debut and I am already looking forward to reading the author’s next work!

I’ve been incredibly excited to read this standalone fantasy since many of the Hodder & Stoughton titles I read have been utter delights. Sadly, this streak is now broken by The City of Stardust .

Although it has a very intriguing premise and a fascinating magic system where special keys can open doors to anywhere in any world, the execution is lacking. For a standalone, too many aspects of the world-building are left unexplained. Sure, I got the gist of how the world works but it could’ve been more lush, more alive. There were moments when the imagery did this, only to retreat and let the too-detailed actions or conversations of the characters take centre stage instead.

Moreover, it really doesn’t help that there’s a strong lack of urgency despite the literal deadline. The first part of the book is set during the time Violet was kept in the dark regarding the Everly curse — which is practically her entire childhood and a part of her young adulthood. Truthfully, I don’t see the necessity of this first part because much of the information could’ve been interwoven elsewhere.

The second part is where the pace picks up, but it isn’t ideal either because there are only three months left before the deadline and that’s a big difference from the first part’s meandering 10 years. Even worse? As the story progresses, the pacing gets clumsier and the plot convenience gets more and more obvious. Violet wastes a lot of precious time doing unnecessary things like being with a boy she clearly shouldn’t be falling for. Like, hello? For someone who wants to break the curse, the legit deadline for when you get disappeared like the other Everly’s doesn’t seem much of a priority for you??

Staying interested in the story whenever the focus was on Violet was a struggle, largely because she’s no more than a plot device. I love that she’s a bibliophile and I found her inner and outer struggles well expanded. However, she’s just so dull, so painfully naive and fragile despite receiving the all-powerful Main Character Buff that I irrevocably felt that Penelope and Aleksander hard carried the book. Both of them created much-needed tension and moved the plot forward whereas Violet’s simply being led by the plot.

Furthermore, the romance between Violet and Aleksander felt too tryhard at convincing that it isn’t underdeveloped, particularly when shown through Violet’s perspective. It was also difficult to root for them because their characterisations weren’t strong… In fact, all of the characters suffer from weak characterisation at varying extents. The many side characters weren’t even memorable and it was hard to keep track of them.

Other than that, while I normally appreciate things coming to a full circle, the last two parts of the book make everything that came before it feel convoluted. I liked all the different iterations of the fable between the astral and the mortal. I liked the thin line between gods and monsters as well. But, all that isn’t enough to make up for everything else.

All in all, The City of Stardust has so much promise that it’s such a shame that it fell short.

If you're looking for a story written just like a fairytale, this is it.
There are few books capable of surprising me with their writing, and The City of Stardust is one of them, a real gem. I've been enraptured by the words as well of the lore Georgia Summers created, from the pantheon of gods to the magical system, from the story itself to the characters and all their secrets.
So simple, yet a wild ride, exquisitely constructed, with so little you can theorize about as the information scattered all over is a mere morsel, and you're left wanting.
There's a good balance between being invested in the characters and the story itself, the secrets and twists, something not so easily achievable, yet Georgia did it.
And along with this magical fairytale, she brought us the two main characters: Violet, stubborn and fierce, a girl as lost as Aleksander, devoted to the only one who ever showed him a crumb of affection.
They're both understandable in their own hardships, their reasoning perfectly in line with their characters and their pasts, the emotional scars they bear on their hearts. I adore them both, they're the kind of characters you want to wrap in a blanket and protect from the world, especially when such creatures walk the earth and the space between worlds.
Sublime, that's it, that's the right adjective for this book, a true fairytale that will suck you in right from the start.

— 3 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 | 383 pages
👤 | author Georgia Summers
🏢 | publisher Hodderscape
📅 | release date 25 January 2024

What you can expect:
— Standalone Adult Fantasy
— Third-Person POV
— Multi-POV
— Family Secrets
— Gods And Monsters
— Atmospheric World Building
— Keys And Doorways To Other Worlds
— Intriguing Lore And World History
— Romance Sub-Plot

The City of Stardust is an Adult Fantasy by debut author Georgia Summers. For centuries, generations of the Everly family have been paying to price to a debt for reasons nobody can understand nor remember. After the disappearance of her mother who left in search of a way to break their family curse, Violet Everly is next in-line to take her place and pay the price that was never hers to pay. Violet must find her mother, in the hope of seeing the end to their generational curse once and for all... and to do so, she must descend into a seductive magical underworld of power-hungry scholars, fickle gods and monsters bent on revenge. Violet must also contend with Penelope's quiet assistant, Aleksander, who she knows cannot be trusted— and yet to whom she finds herself undeniably drawn. Tied to a very literal deadline, Violet will travel the edges of the world to find Marianne and the key to the city of stardust, where the Everly story began...

The City of Stardust is a truly enchanting and immersive read with such a beautiful and whimsical writing style. I always look forward to a Fantasy that dabbles in mystery and intrigue, and the Everly curse offered a fun yet dangerous adventure filled with high-stakes and an addictive introduction into the magical world. At times, however, I found that this descriptive writing overshadowed a lot of the character development that was trying to take place. The pacing issues was a let down and made it really difficult to stay engaged with the story as opposed to skimming through the pages.

After being locked away from the world for the entirety of her childhood, Violet possesses a constant state of naivety and awe of the world she finds herself thrust into. A world that should have been her birth-right had the constant shadow of danger not found her sheltered. I enjoyed watching Violet's growth as she sets out on her own in search of her mother, her resourcefulness and her stubborn spirit that would not allow her to give up against all odds. Violet was a wonderful main character that made the best of what little knowledge she had and a thirst for survival she never knew she possessed. My favourite aspect of the story had to be the devout love and loyalty that Violet and her uncles share. A true testament to the strengths and bonds of family, and I found myself constantly anticipating the trio's next page. Also, a side-character I never anticipated yet absolute adored was the ever-elusive Caspian. I never expected him to be a true ally to Violet and found myself awaiting his impending betrayal, which I was pleasantly surprised to see never come. I actually found Violet and Caspian to possess an effortless chemistry and companionship which left me hoping for a romantic connection, which I unfortunately didn't find to be the case with Aleksander.

I wanted to like Aleksander but honestly, I couldn't connect with him. I think the romance element with Violet ruined it for me as the romance itself was mere breadcrumbs in the face of hurt and betrayal. As a character himself, Aleksander was really interesting. His single-minded goal of becoming a scholar despite not knowing what that would entail, his interesting yet toxic dynamic with Penelope and his overall presence in the story was an interesting element to the overall plot. Despite his acts as betrayer and the betrayed, author Georgia Summers managed to create a complicated sympathy for Aleksander and the hardships we see him face. I genuinely think I would have better enjoyed the complexities of his character had he not been intertwined in an underdeveloped romantic situation with Violet.

Penelope as a villain was carrying the storyline on her back. She was such an interesting character the further we divulged into the story and better got to learn about her intentions and history. I enjoyed the element of multiple versions of the story between the star and the mortal, and how you never really know which version is true. There was definitely room for more with her character, but ultimately I found her character to have the best storyline progression and resolution which was vastly needed.

Overall, The City of Stardust serves as a delightful and captivating tale filled with many Fantasy elements. Whilst it did not deliver on aspects that I had been hoping for, it was still an enjoyable read that I recommend to those looking for a story which places focus on its descriptive writing and whimsical setting.

Thank you to Hodderscape and NetGalley for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.

I can't believe this is a debut novel! the writing is so beautifully enchanting! and the story is captivating !

Fantastic world building and I loved the writing. This is an author I’ll be following closely and very much look forward to what’s next for Georgia.

The City of Stardust is an impressive fantasy debut from Georgia Summers that stands up well to comparisons to books like The Night Circus or The Ten Thousand Doors of January.
"What else is a curse but this? Love, stretched and warped beyond all meaning."
A curse lies at the heart of this book, one that began as a love story but ends up haunting a family for generations, culminating in the story of Violet Everly the young woman who now bears the debt of her ancestor. As the strongest magician in her generation her life is forfeit to a mysterious woman named Penelope , who turns up once in a generation to spirt away her latest victim. When Violet was just a little girl her mother vanished, determined to find a way to save her daughter from her fate, and swore her brothers to secrecy so that Violet grew up not knowing of the curse or the dangers that awaited her. Once she learns the truth Violet decides to find her mother and embarks on an adventure that will involve romance, heartbreak, magical keys and desperate scholars and dangerous Gods. If she is to find her mother and break the curse that has haunted her family for generations she may have to go back to the very beginning.
I love a good portal fantasy and there was so much to enjoy about this book. The writing is striking and vivid and the worldbuilding is intriguing and original . The pacing starts slowly but builds to a dramatic conclusion that I found satisfying. However I did think that the plot got a little looser in the final third of the book which did make it a little more difficult to follow at times. I loved Violet as a character, as well as her brothers. I did not warm to Aleksander , an aspiring scholar and Violet's love interest , and really struggled with the romance subplot between them, it just didn't feel believable to me , especially given Aleksander's actions over the course of the book .
Overall a solid fantasy and I look forward to reading more from Georgia Summers.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

I was drawn in with the first chapter and had high hopes for the rest of the story. Sadly, this was short lived. I found it a hard slog and grew bored with the characters and the story line. It felt like it had potential but it just didn't work for me.

There were some sentences in this book that just floored me with how beautifully crafted they were. And they existed in a story that was just as beautifully crafted.

It was quiet in the reveal, it was a slow walk in a quiet city. It unspooled gently and swept you up in a tale of magic, mystery, love. It built the puzzle from the edges and as it progressed the whole image filled into something truly stunning.

I enjoyed this book so much.

Although slow to start and progress, with pacing a bit off; I really enjoyed the storyline of this debut novel. The characters were likeable and I enjoyed the different points of view of each. Also the cover of this book is absolutely stunning! A well presented and thought out debut. Congratulations Georgia Summers!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Yes, I know. One should take the comparison of a brand new book with existing successful books with a pinch of salt. But if a book is marketed as "for the fans of *insert three of my favorite books in the whole wide world*" I don't doubt that this book is gonna be my favorite read of the year. So, when I requested this book from Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton granted me a copy I was insanely excited and really looking forward to reading it.

I understand where the comparisons come from. This book starts with a mysterious but engaging fairytale and throughout the story we discover what is going on, how the fairytale and the story we're reading are connected and who plays which role. The book takes its sweet time to reveal all its secrets, which is nice, especially since the book doesn't get boring while waiting for all the elements to come together nicely.

And yet it does feel like there is something missing. It feels like I'm always at a distance. Which I understand when it comes to the world, because that's exactly how Violet feels when she discovers what her uncles have been hiding for her her entire life. I just don't understand it when it comes to the characters. It feels like I read about them, but I'm not there with them, I'm not feeling for them, I'm not crying with them, not laughing with them.

However, if you're not the kind of reader wanting to connect with the characters on some deeper level, this story has a lot of things making it totally worth it. The writing style of the story is beautiful. It's flowery when it has to be, but to the point when it needs to be. The finale is also really satisfying, despite the one loose end and one unanswered question. The author also blurs the lines between our world and her fantasy world beautifully, making us all into dreamers.

If you saw my post of my January recommendations, you might have seen that this book was one of my most anticipated reads for January, and I was very lucky to get an ARC of it.

"The City of Stardust" by Georgia Summers is a dazzling journey into a world of magic, mystery, and enchantment. This young adult fantasy novel unfolds with a grace that captivates from the first page, weaving a spellbinding narrative that is both whimsical and deeply resonant.

In the heart of a mystical city, hidden from the mortal realm, lies a place where dreams are woven into reality and magic thrives. As Violet discovers the secrets of the City of Stardust, she is swept into an extraordinary adventure, encountering mythical creatures, unraveling mysteries, and confronting the shadows that threaten to engulf this fantastical realm. The novel weaves a tapestry of imagination and wonder, blending elements of magic, friendship, and self-discovery.

"The City of Stardust" is a celebration of creativity, courage, and the boundless possibilities of the human spirit. Summers masterfully explores the theme of dreams, both as manifestations of desires and as sources of inspiration, as well as themes of self-discovery, courage, and the transformative power of belief. The world-building is rich and immersive, with the City of Stardust serving as a vibrant and enchanting backdrop for the characters' growth and adventures.

As a reader, I was swept away by Summers' enchanting prose and her ability to create a world that feels both magical and tangible. The characters are endearing, and their personal journeys are intricately woven into the broader tapestry of the narrative. The pacing is superb, with each chapter revealing new layers of the city's mysteries and the characters' complexities. It’s often hit-and-miss, reading such highly anticipated books, as they can sometimes be disappointing, but this book certainly lived up to my expectations, and might even have surpassed them.

Summers excels at crafting atmospheric settings that evoke a sense of wonder. The City of Stardust is not merely a backdrop but a living, breathing entity that shapes the characters and the plot. The author's narrative finesse shines through in her ability to balance vivid descriptions with a fast-paced and engaging storyline.

In the realm of young adult fantasy, "The City of Stardust" stands tall among the likes of Sarah J Maas and Sara El-Arifi. Summers' unique blend of whimsy, emotion, and adventure distinguishes her work, creating a narrative that stands out in a crowded genre.

This book comes highly recommended for lovers of young adult fantasy and those who revel in immersive, otherworldly tales. "The City of Stardust" is a perfect escape for readers who seek a respite in a magical realm filled with captivating characters and enchanting landscapes.

Georgia Summers has conjured pure magic with "The City of Stardust." It is a literary gem that sparkles with imagination and heart. A rare five-star rating is a testament to the author's ability to transport readers to a world where dreams take flight, stardust holds secrets, and every page is an invitation to believe in the extraordinary.

The most whimsical, lyrical, magical dream of a book.
I really enjoyed learning about the two main characters and seeing the wonder of magic through their eyes.
The story was very reminiscent of the likes of Alix E. Harrow, V. E. Schwab and Erin Morgenstern (but make it YA).
I did get a bit lost in the middle but overall, a very enjoyable read.

3.5 stars, rounding up to 4. I'm a bit torn on how to rate this book. I'll start with what I loved, which was the writing. Almost all of my favourite books have rich, descriptive, atmospheric writing, and this book very much delivered that. It's expertly done and my Kindle is full of highlighted passages with gorgeous prose. That said, despite being swept away by the writing, I found it easy to put the book down and walk away. There was just a disconnect for me with the characters-who, while likeable, didn't do a lot for me-and I never quite settled into the story. I kept waiting and waiting for it to happen, but that urge to page-turn just never came. The plot also fell apart for me toward the end, which was disappointing, because the beginning was so promising. 

To echo other reviews, I've seen this compared to Alix E. Harrow, The Night Circus and Addie LaRue. I think if you like to read this kind of writing for the sake of the writing, you'll love The City of Stardust. However, if you're looking for something with a driving plot, lots of intrigue and unforgettable characters, you might find this a bit pedantic. 

Thank you netgalley for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review. all opinions are my own.

Official Rating - 3.5/5

Violet has been brought up by her uncle in her dilapidated family home after her mum mysteriously leaves in the middle of the night. Violet is loved and cared for, but is told she cannot leave the house, for there is a curse on the Everly family…and aren’t curses meant to be broken?

I really enjoyed this read - the premise for the story was really original and I love books with different worlds. It was also beautifully written, one of those books that truly can transport you to a different time and place.

The pace was a little slow at times, and I do think that the world could have been built out even more, but I still flew through this in two sittings wanting to know what happened next.

The characters were likeable (or unlikeable where they should be) but I do think we could have had a little more depth from some of them to understand why they made the decisions they did despite every instinct telling them not to.

Overall, I would absolutely recommend this one. I found it a quick and cosy read, perfect for the stormy weather we’ve been having!

Big thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an eARC!

This book has wonderful prose, and the entire atmosphere reminded me of The Starless Sea and The Thousand Doors of January (I'm thinking pretty prose, a lot of descriptions, hidden worlds). Just at the start of the book, I was heavily reminded of Narnia, but as the story grows and we go through some time skips, I actually didn't have that feeling anymore.

However, I felt that the story and character developments got a little lost in all of these lush descriptions and over-explaining things. I did love reading a book with imperfect characters, who make mistakes and are all-around imperfect. The villain in the story really gave me the chills tho! As ruthless as they come! I think a lot of readers will find themselves in the character of Violet. A person who loves to read about all of these magical and fantastical stories and dreams of worlds bigger than ours where one might get lost.

If you're looking for an atmospheric read, pick this up. The vibes are immaculate.

Which book genre is your favourite? ✨🌙📖

I’ve been on such a fantasy kick since reading Fourth Wing and ACOTAR last summer - it’s all I want to read! I was lucky enough to get an e-arc of The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers and I’ve absolutely loved it 🙌

Violet Everly has spent her life hidden away from the world because of a curse that has plagued her family for generations. When she discovers that her mother left her behind to find a way to break the curse, Violet decides to track her down and find out the truth about a magical snow-covered city, hidden doors and hungry gods 📚

This is a must-read for fans of The Night Circus, the lyrical writing style is very similar! The plot is admittedly quite slow in places but I felt like that really lent itself to the feeling of other-worldliness this book has! The romance was also both brilliantly written and beliveable 🫶

Thank you so much to @netgalley and @hodderstoughton @hodderscape for this e-arc in exchange for my unbiased review!

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