Until we shatter sadly wasted a lot of it's potential. 2,5 stars.

The magic is interesting but convoluted, unnessecceraly complex and just gets info dumped to you in a wall of text, twice.

A big theme of this book *supposedly* is found family but all the characters except the FMC and her LI felt incredibly flat and basically just existed for their power.

The plot also has massive issues one of the big "twists" in the end was so obvious that even from the first hint I was angry at the characters for not figuring it out themselves even though they are supposed to be so smart and capable that they are able to pull off a heist and outplay not 1 but 2 super mega powerful entities in this world.

The writing was good and espeacially the last 20% of this book were super engaging and page turners but then I think about the fact that the characters while in the middle of the heist just stand there and TALK for 5 minutes and then get suprised that the evil guys used that time to trap them and I just can't give this book a higher rating.

I think this author has potential and I'm willing to give their next book another shot but this book has massive issues I sadly can't overlook.

I was excited about reading “Until We Shatter” but it did not turn out great at all! Cemmy is a Hue, the child of a magicless human and a shade full of magic based on color. Being a half-breed, she has been hunted her whole life due to her existence being illegal. In order to make ends meet for herself and her dying mom, she uses her gifts in the Gray to steal from those around her. But when a lift goes terribly wrong, she and her other Hue friends must team up with the enemy to save the Gray and the world.

This book was a really rough read!! The characters hardly interact with each other so I never really got a found family vibe from them. Instead of being shown the relationships between everyone, the author just tells us how things are.

The magic in this world made no sense to me either. I wish that there had been some sort of chart or something to help me keep track of which color does what, because I have no idea what a majority of them!

I honestly had no clue what was going on in the world. The little bits I did get were so confusing. For a book that’s only 300 pages, there was way too much info-dumping with almost no explanation. It felt like I was being told “this is how it is” without any real connection to the story, and it just kept repeating without ever being fully explained…

I almost DNF this book and was very disappointed! Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 2.7 stars (rounded up to 3 stars)

There was a lot of potential in this novel, but unfortunately, a lot of it fall short for me.

The book had a very interesting magic system. However, it was confusing and complicated. In this novel, your magic depends on what type of shade of color you are. There are three categories: full bloods (aka Shades) who can use their magic across the physical and the Gray (aka shadow world), the Hues (aka half Shades) whose magic are constrained to the Gray, and the typics who does not have magic and is limited to premade spells in the physical realms. Within the three categories, there are subtypes of colors and each color reflects a different power. There was just so much to remember. I ended up having to take notes in order to keep everything straight. I am glad I did, because understanding the shades of color really plays a huge role in the heist. I think this novel could have benefited from a magical glossary or chart, because the information does get overwhelming as the story progresses.

As for the characters, I found them to be kind of underwhelming. Novi, Ezzo, Eve, and Lyria was an interesting group of characters. Although they had their own unique traits and personality, I just felt they weren’t as fully developed as Cemilla and Cassiel. I would have loved to learn more about their back story and motivation. However, I felt their role was minimized to emotionally supporting our FMC and to drive the plot of the heist forward. I was also conflicted with Cemilla’s character. I found her to be quite frustrating at times. She does let a lot of her personal problems get in the way of making some sound decisions. Surprisingly, I did like Cassiel’s character. He was an enigma, but I enjoyed unraveling the mystery behind his motivation. There is a romance sub plot, which I thought was unnecessary. I would rather have the story focused more on the relationships between each of the characters.

Finally, as for the heist, I enjoyed majority of the plot line. I thought how the author used the specific magic of the characters was very clever. I also liked how there were mini missions before the big heist. The information you learn along the way really sets up the reveal quite nicely. There was a lot of tension, deception, and betrayal that kept the story engaging. What frustrated me though was finally learning about Cemilla’s ability during the pivotal moment of the heist. I don’t understand why this information was withheld. This was one of the big plot-holes for me, because knowing the extent of Cemilla’s ability earlier would have made the heist gone so much smoother.

Overall, I thought the story was okay. Although it lacked character depth and had a confusing magic system, there was still enough intrigue and action that kept me reading.

Thank you Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.

This book was compared to Six of Crows. I am the biggest fan of SoC but this book...should not be compared to the masterpiece.

WHAT I LIKED was the writing. It was beautiful and if i could give a rating just for the writing - it would be a solid 4,5.


BUT (and it's a big BUT)- like a lot of readers, i couldn't 'catch' the magic system. It was much too complicated and i was confused most of the time. I am an adult and i would consider myself pretty smart/inteligent/whatever but i just. couldn't. understand. it. It could be done better because it may get the readers DNF it.

Second - there was not that much chemistry between our main character and the love interest - it was a little too bland for me, i was not rooting for them for the whole book (like a do when i really FEEL the couple).

Overall, i wouldn't say i loved this book but i also wouldn't say 'burn it and don't let anyone read it'. Like i am in the middle - the idea was great, but we just got lost in the middle.










Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC!


All opinions are my own

thank you gor the advanced copy!
3⭐ dnf at 56%
i am always up for a stand alone sff novel and this one had a very interesting premise. the writing itself is excellent, but unfortunately, the world building was too complicated and the plot hard to follow at times.

Unfortunately, this book did not hook me in like others in the past. While I was intrigued by the blurb, I didn't feel motivated to read more than a few pages.

Sometimes you pick up a book, read a handful of pages and think 'No, I don't think this book is for me'. Doesn't necessarily mean the book itself is bad, just that I didn't connect with the story. The star rating is simply based on the fact that I found this book interesting enough to want to read it and not entirely influenced by the book's contents. If a book can achieve that level of persuasion through the blurb alone, then I think other readers should give Until We Shatter a go even if I didn't finish it. After all, this review is based on my thoughts alone and each reader experiences a book differently.

I truly wish the author a successful publishing day, and I thank both the publisher and Netgalley for offering me the chance at reading this eArc 🙂😊

This was just fine. I was pretty bored until 75% of the way in and I didn’t think the payoff was worth it. I just couldn’t be bothered to care.

This is not bad, but it is particularly disappointing because the magic system is so cool and unique (if a little complicated for a book this length).

Thank you Hodder and Stoughton and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy.

If you love dispotic books this was such a great one.

It has been a while since I’ve read one
The world building was great and the entire idea totally captivated me

I’ve loved Kate Dylan’s science-fiction, but this one was a bit of a mix. Loved the complex world and characters, but the system of magic was way too complex to keep track of. I lost the thread of what various people’s motivations were, and who was double-crossing whom long before the main climax. It was also really long, with nothing much happening for most of it.

I was sold when i’ve heard the word “heist” . Have this book disappointed me ? Absolutely not. The world felt rich, immersive and original. The characters were allo well developed and I’m totally fell in love with Cemmy and all the secrets , tension and betrayal of her group. Untill We Shatter was a fast paced read that blenda action, love and friendship perfectly!

I was sold when I read this was about an impossible magical heist and found family. The magical system crafted in this book is unlike anything I've ever read, and I applaud the author for creating such a layered magic system in a YA book of 300 pages. Society is divided into those who can wield magic (Shades), those who cannot (Typics), and those who are children of both and thus can wield magic in a unique but constrained way (Hues). The magical abilities of different colours and their subsequent hues was fascinating and kept me intrigued throughout the story.

Unfortunately the actual heist was a bit of a let down for me. The relationship between the characters and the found family aspect was what held my interest. I would definitely say this is more of a character-driven story than a plot-driven one. I was not entirely convinced by some of the plot developments and felt that a lot of the resolutions to conflicts were deus ex machinas. Having said that, the book was still an enjoyable read overall. If you enjoy unique magic systems and reading about found family, this might be the book for you.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an e-copy of this book. This is my honest review.

Until We Shatter is a thrilling and captivating heist fantasy that delivers on every level. From the first page, Kate Dylan weaves a rich and immersive world, complete with a gorgeously conceived magic system where colour magic adds layers of intrigue and complexity. The characters are wonderfully fleshed out, brimming with emotion, moral dilemmas, and personal stakes that keep you glued to the story.

Cemmy, our fierce and desperate protagonist, faces an impossible choice—survival or destruction. The tension between her, Chase and Nova creates a delicious dynamic, while the love triangle adds further depth without overpowering the central plot. The stakes are high, the betrayals are devastating, and the found family element gives the novel a heart that balances its darker themes.

This book masterfully blends action, magic, and character-driven drama, with blackmail, deception, and a deadly heist at the core. If you're a fan of morally grey characters, impossible quests, and a fantasy world fraught with danger, Until We Shatter is an absolute must-read. A triumph of storytelling.

“Until we shatter” had such an interesting premise to me that made me request the arc, however it didn’t win me over. I thought that the magic system was quite original, however it was extremely complicated to follow through. The MC was okay considering this is a YA she was what you would expect a MC to be like. I liked the characters, but none of them really left a mark, hence why I did not care how this ended for any of them.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this.

Until We Shatter is well-written book that flows well, the thief FMC is badass and I liked the misfits vibe for the characters. Saying that I didn’t get on well with the romance aspect. I don’t know if this was because I didn’t get attached to the characters or the constant fights just became too much for me. There is another love interest beyond the typical FMC and MMC that was nice and could have been explored more and potentially I could have been invested there.
The magic system is complex and not well explained but I love the concept of it. That then made the world difficult for me to picture. After finishing this book I don’t really know much about it or what actually happened, there’s a heist and some betrayals and sarcastic humour, which I enjoyed. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

A queer, action-packed heist with angst and an intriguing magic system!

This was funny and filled with charming characters, engaging prose and a group of characters working on a heist that will change their lives. Whilst the magic system is unique and entertaining, it was far too complex for the length of the book - i was confused more often than not and struggled to understand everything that was going on, which meant that moments that should have held more importance fell flat as i wasnt able to feel it. The book would 100% benefit from with a guide/page on the magic system and how the different colours work.

I loved the pre-established friend goup, but i do feel like we didnt learn enough about them and the individual friendships. my heart goes out to Cemmy, she was struggling with so much on her plate and wasn't treated very well which did make me like the other characters less. The secrets added angst and tension, which definitely helped heighten the tension, from the beginning we know that something has happened but the truth only comes out at the end.

The queer relationships were more in the background, but i did really love reading about them. I have mixed feelings on the romance, the timeframe of the heist itself is quite short which makes me not like the romance as much, there's no way that it could feel natural which took away from it. i did love them together but wish that it had been more gradual, which i also feel would be better for the plot anyways as it would have made more sense.

Until We Shatter was a book I was really looking forward to reading but it just missed the mark for me. I felt the world building wasn't as fluent as I would have liked and the storyline, though good wasn't grippy. I did like the writing style and thought it was written really well. I can see others enjoying this novel a lot but for me I think it felt on the lower end of YA scale and that's ok because not all books are for everyone.

Until We Shatter is a standalone(?) YA fantasy about a thief and her crew blackmailed into performing an impossible heist. Cemmy is a Hue, born from the illegal union of a magical Shade and a normal typic. When her mother becomes ill, she must use her forbidden magic to become a thief alongside some other Hues. But when they are discovered by a Shade with a vendetta, they are forced to steal a mysterious artifact from the Church that hates all magic while being monitored by the Shade’s minion Chase.

This book could have been better. I’ve read Kate Dylan’s previous two books (Mindwalker and Mindbreaker), and it is practically indistinguishable and reads exactly the same with its structure, tone and protagonist’s voice. Given those two were YA science fiction and this is a YA fantasy, Until We Shatter does not feel like a fantasy at all. It is very lacking in worldbuilding—I cannot get a sense of or picture the setting of where or when it takes place. Its color-based magic system should have given it the fantasy edge, but despite its complexity, it doesn’t feel like its internal logic makes sense (it felt very arbitrary). Think Brandon Sanderson’s Allomancy, but not as logical, not well explained, imbalanced, and severely underdeveloped. I still am unsure how everything was resolved in the end because the solution was purely magical and the explanation was iffy to me (like how did Chase return the shadows and why did Cemmy receive the brunt of the drain?).

The characters could have saved the story, but they weren’t all that impactful so the losses/potential for losses weren’t either. It’s just the two main leads—Cemmy and Chase—who get any meaningful characterization and the rest are just defined by a single trait (this is a pattern for all the author’s books so far). And Cemmy was not all that likable. She keeps getting in her own way with a frustrating ability to drag her personal problems everywhere she goes and into every interaction when there literally isn’t any time for her bullshit. Then there’s just so many pointless secrets and unnecessary delays that dragged down the story further. The romance was unremarkable, and the central heist just okay. On the plus side, the book is a brisk 300 pages so it’s a quick read the won’t take up too much time.

Until We Shatter is readable if you don’t go in without much expectations. Unfortunately, I am primarily a fantasy reader so I am expecting a certain level that wasn’t reached. And maybe if I hadn’t read any of the author’s other books, I would not have noticed how similar and basic it was (and I am more forgiving of science fiction since it isn’t my main genre).

*Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton for the eARC via NetGalley.

"I am the violence the world made of me."

Until We Shatter follows Cemmy, who is a their with a purpose. Not truly fitting in anywhere as shes inbetween both the magic and non magic side, she has to make difficult choices to stay safe, and help her ill mother in the process. Offered the hardest heist opportunity that could forever change her life - or completely destroy it; she's off, hoping not be be shattered in the process.

This was a solid, YA fantasy story. The magic system was I feel, I bit over complicated to follow along with, but I was invested in Cemmys journey. The side characters were slightly boring to me; I think I wanted a bit more from them as a backstory.

I wasn't truly a fan of the ending- I think it was tied up well but I guess I hoped for it to be bigger? I do think this may need a second read for me to truly enjoy this one.

Thank you to NetGalley, the Publisher & Author. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book was interesting. I could only give it three stars because it took until about 70% in the book before things really got interesting enough to want to continue. The plot was incredibly intriguing but the execution felt drawn out, dull, I feel as if there could have been more to it, less talk about what was going to happen and what to do about it and more actual action.

What a book, The Writing had me hooked within a few pages
I binged this in a matter of hours
I loved this book