Until We Shatter follows Cemmy, a thief caught between two dangerous forces: the Church, which would see her dead for having magic, and the Council of Shades, who want her gone for not having enough. When her mother falls ill, Cemmy is left with no choice but to accept an impossible job. She must team up with the mysterious and secretive Chase to steal a powerful relic hidden in a deadly realm of shadows. Succeeding means safety for Cemmy and her loved ones, but failure could ignite a spark that will destroy the entire city.

What I Loved:

What really stood out to me about Until We Shatter was the unique magic system. Dividing magic into colors and having characters like Cemmy, who exist between the fully magical (Shades) and non-magical world, added an intriguing layer to the story. The twists were also a pleasant surprise, with subtle hints placed throughout that made them feel earned. I also enjoyed Cemmy’s relationship with Chase—it was a predictable direction, but in a way that made me root for them, especially with the tension between them building slowly.

What I Didn’t Love:

While the premise of a heist was exciting, it didn’t stay the central focus of the story. Instead, a lot of attention was placed on Cemmy's trust issues and learning about her magic. This caused some of the other relationships in the book to feel underdeveloped, making the found family aspect less convincing. Additionally, the political and religious tensions hinted at in the world-building were never fully explored, leaving parts of the story feeling incomplete. And although the magic system was original, the color names and terminology like “shattering” and “hues” came off as somewhat juvenile for the tone of the book.

Who I Recommend This Book For:

If you’re a fan of YA fantasy with a unique take on magic, Until We Shatter could be a great pick, especially if you enjoy character-driven stories with personal struggles at the forefront. However, if you’re looking for deep world-building or prefer more mature characters, this one might feel a little flat.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodderscape for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Until We Shatter is a fast-paced YA heist novel brimming with action, magic, intrigue, and secrets. The writing style is engaging, and the story is fascinating, making this book hard to put down.

What I loved the most, was the intricate and detailed world-building. The action takes place in Isitar, a city divided between the Shades, or the magic users, and the typics, who have no powers. With the Shades’ powers diminishing and the growing influence of the Church, whose mission is to ‘banish the evil’ of magic, Isitar is a powder keg. It is especially dangerous for half Shades, like the main characters, who have both magical and typical parents and are persecuted by both sides of the conflict for their unusual powers. The magic system in this book is complex and confusing until you grasp the basics. I recommend marking all the explanations you find while reading, as you might need to check them later.

The characters in this novel are a band of misfits hiding from both the Church and the Council of Shades. Their isolation makes them forge strong emotional bonds, and reading about their relationships was one of my favourite elements of this novel. Especially when the heist plot unfolds, and their close-knit group is shaken by the arrival of a new character and the discovery of all the secrets they kept from one another. The romantic subplot is another example of a relationship halted by a lack of trust and secrets.

To sum up, I enjoyed the way the complex worldbuilding is not only used as a background for the plot but becomes an integral part of the story. This novel forces the reader to stay focused, but it is definitely worth the effort.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.

Until We Shatter is a fast-paced story filled with action, betrayal and emotions. I adored the heist element and relationships between the characters, but unfortunatly had a harder time connecting to the story due to info dumping and lack of characters development. Neverthaless, a great choice if you're looking for a action packed read!

3.5 stars

I thoroughly enjoy a good heist book, and this one was exactly that!!! With a unique magical system, atmospheric storytelling, and found family, I could definitely see the Six of Crows comp. Definitely loved the vibes of this one!!

Until We Shatter by Kate Dylan had an intriguing premise, but unfortunately, I couldn’t finish it. The story and writing didn’t pull me in enough to keep reading. While the concept had potential, the execution fell short for me. The magic system wasn’t explained well, and the plot felt convoluted. Overall, it just didn’t hold my interest.

“I am the violence the world made of me”

This was my first book by Kate Dylan and enough for me to see Kate Dylan as a skilful writer and convince me to try her sci-fi series in the future. I tend to disagree with comparisons to successful books in the covers and blurbs as I believe it may cause more damage than success, although it will indeed create awareness to the title. Until we shatter might be suffer a bit from its comparison with Six of Crows, which is a well-beloved story by many. Not being comparable doesn’t make this a bad story because Until we Shatter has its own place, and deserves it.

This book has the typical difficult start of the fantasy genre where we are thrown into the middle of a world we don’t know, with a magic system we are not familiar with, and things happening we don’t yet understand. We have bits of required info dumb, but we also experience the learning alongside Cemmy as she discovers more about her powers.

I’ve found the plot fast paced and engaging, the action scenes well executed, and I was invested in the characters stories.

Things to enjoy in this book:
- Standalone (bless you Kate, can we have more of this please??)
- Found family
- Diverse set of characters (LGBTQIA+ and disabilities)
- Slow burn
- Heist story

Recommend for Young Adult fantasy fans.

I would like to thank Hodderscape and and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange of an honest review.

Kate Dylan rains emotional devastations and twists upon the reader with stunning ruthlessness that keeps the reader hooked from beginning to end. Look, I’m battling ADHD burnout, my ability to do anything I don’t HAVE to do to continue my existence and not lose my job is non existent rn but I couldn’t let this book go. I fought my way through the fog because I was enjoying it that much. (I won’t lie, I lived in fear of Chapter 24 and I was right too - because Kate committed a feels massacre SJM fans can only dream of).

It’s pacy and the world is flawlessly and elegantly built and I would be delighted to return for colouring book two if Kate ever returns to the world. Cemmy is a fantastic, traumatised MC whose behaviour is fully informed by her trauma but has terrible consequences as she and her friends are forced to make the most dangerous heist in the world by a dangerous fanatic. I really enjoyed watching her complicated relationship with Chase develop.

This fast-paced fantasy features a unique but overly complicated magic system, a captivating plot, and a strong found family element. , Kate Dylan’s writing, humor, and romance made it an addictive, enjoyable read.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

3.5 rounded to 4

I'll admit I struggled to get into this book at first, there's a LOT of information fed to the reader right off the bat and a ton of worldbuilding and lore to grasp within the first 20% alongside being thrown right into the action. Once I got to grips with it, I was able to enjoy it more though.

I think there's a lot going on in this book for the fact its less than 400 pages. It does feel as if so much is crammed in which maybe could have been spread across two books to let it feel more evenly dispersed.

But inevitably, Dylan's writing won me over. I really loved the heist and wish we'd spent even more time with it. The build up was fun though, and I really enjoyed the dynamics between the characters. My one small disappointment was that the character I believed FMC Cemmy had the better chemistry with is not the one she ends up with - but I'll name no names as I'm not about the spoilers!

First and foremost, I enjoyed this book WAY more than I expected to at the start. I think Kate Dylan has a unique beautiful writing style that doesn’t get so caught up in fancy prose as to overcomplicate it. She’s elegant yet still simple. The characters were great and the tension and mystery in the plot were fun to follow along. By about 15% into the story I was riveted. They action, intrigue, and romantic tension all shot up and then held until the end of the book. Cemmy has so many people in her life withholding information from her that it’s understandable why she struggles to trust and seems to always make the wrong choice. Her character arc a joy to read. Chase and his motives were my favorite mystery. I guessed pieces of it but was still shock the minute I realized the twist.
My biggest “complaint” is that Dylan’s world building was too good for the length of the book. This world and the magic system are incredibly intricate and unique. It would be absolutely fascinating and less overwhelming if it wasn’t dropped on the reader so quickly. I think this could be solved with a magic chart and maybe an appendix of sorts to help the reader keep track of all parties, magics, and powers in play.
Overall, very well done and I am glad I have an Illumicrate subscription.

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

I love the cover and blurb of this book, it is why I request to read the book. But then after I read it I can not connect my mind to the story. The world building is so confusing. Too many information and I can't even absorb the information even the magic system. I also can't connect with the characters. I'm not really fan of Cemmy and Chase and not really interested to see both their interaction.

4 stars.
Magic plus heist equals a great read. In all honesty, I found the colour system for the magic a little confusing until a certain part of the book however, I enjoyed the fact that there was hierarchies for magic. Mid way through, it all started to click; the magic and the plot got higher stakes and characters started to get complex. There were misunderstandings and confusion about who is the enemy and who is the hero.
I like the diversity of the characters with sexuality and disabilities thrown in. The relationships between the group were a found family trope but I liked that as events unfolded, bonds were broken and some were repaired and others weren’t.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodderscape for the chance to read this. I’m cutting it a bit fine and I know that I’ve got this coming in a book sub for this month anyway but I’m glad to own a hard copy.

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

DNF 48%

Another case of a beautiful cover luring someone in. And ho boy is this cover absolutely GORGEOUS! But unfortunately I'm not reviewing the cover 🥺

I think the negatives in this book can be summed up in one way: INFO DUMPS. The magic system in this book was really interesting, but the only way the author saw fit to explain it to us was huge info dumps, which really takes you out of the story and your connection to the characters, which I wasn't really having.

Unfortunately, I found myself not really excited to keep picking this back up so I have to move on 😩

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Until We Shatter by Kate Dylan is a first person-POV romantic fantasy with a heist. Cemmy is one of the Hues, magic users who are persecuted by the Church, and doesn’t have a ton of options in life. When her mother becomes sick, she works with other Hues to perform a heist and that brings Chase, another Hue who is keeping things to himself, into her orbit. The more time the two spend together, the closer they get and the more Cemmy learns about him and herself.

The magic system is so fun. It feels like a magic system idea for Middle Grade but is then aged up to be for adult Romantasy fans. The different groups are divided into the colors of the rainbow and then further divided into gemstone names with one being dominant and the other recessive and the two abilities are polar opposites. It’s simple and straight-forward while allowing for the worldbuilding to have terminology like Hue, Shade, and the Gray. The ‘Shatter’ in the title involves Hues literally shattering into a million pieces like the gemstones their abilities are named after and there isn’t a body left if they are killed. I love themed worldbuilding and I liked how this one played with the color and gemstone themes.

Cemmy and Chase’s romance arc is a bit of a slowburn, mainly due to the secrets between them, Cemmy’s previous relationship, and Cemmy’s complicated dynamic with her mother. Cemmy is Bisexual and was previously in a relationship with another member of her heist team, Novi. Novi and Cemmy are still very close and if I hadn’t read the synopsis first, I probably would have thought they would have had a chance to be endgame or that there would be a love triangle. I really liked that because it shows the complicated layers to the close-knit world of the Hues and reflects how exes can still be friends and important to each other.

Cemmy is a bit more impulsive with her feelings and Chase is the one who puts their potential relationship on hold until Cemmy is in a better headspace. Given that her mother is ill and they do not really get along and the ever-looming threat of the Church, Cemmy never completely gets to the best headspace possible, but she does become clear-headed enough to try with Chase again and he accepts her feelings. They have a lot to work out later in the book, but this does put them on a better footing because it shows Cemmy that Chase does genuinely care about her well-being.

I would recommend this to fans of romantic fantasy and heists, readers who prefer an adult fantasy with a strong voice and themed worldbuilding, and those looking for a magic system centered around colors.

This is an example of "great idea, poor execution". I spent close to 50% being very confused by the magic system and 50% being bored. Honestly, it had great potential, the magic system is pretty unique, but it gets dumped on you bit by bit and it's all very confusing. It needs an index of sorts, just to help keep track of the colors, and their dilutions. Then, the rest of it lacked depth, connection, something just wasn't working for me. I had to fight myself just so I could finish it, because it was draaaaagging, I've never skimmed so much in my life. I wanted to like it, but sadly, it's a no from me.

This book had me gripped!
Going in, I think I'd heard YA Heist, and had loved Thieves Gambit so much I was imagining a similar thing. Instead, we had a beautiful found family, a MC consumed by guilt and running from her own lies, the greyest of morally grey MMCs and the fantastic liminal world of The Grey. It was a perfect book for a rainy afternoon - filled with sweet and supportive characters, then juxtaposed with danger, hatred and fear. The time sped by while reading it.
I was rooting for a romance between Cemmy and Chase from the moment he appeared, but Dylan did a fantastic job, through Cemmy's eyes, of showing attraction while remaining on edge and suspicious of Chase.
There was an excellent twist towards the end of the book, which I had only partially guessed at. Looking back, the signs were all there, so it speaks wonders for the writing that I was too caught up in the heist to untangle all the hints and discover what the Siphon was.
A book I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to YA readers, and one I'm excited to receive a special edition of from Illumicrate!

A magical heist that will keep you on your toes and gasp for air!

Absolutely loved the concept,the fast paced plot the unique world-building and the grand heist theme, the involvement of not perfect relationships in the book! The details make the book so interesting, immersive and something new to the fantasy/sci-fi genre.

‘I am the violence the world made of me’

Until we shatter is a unique YA book packed with action from the get go. I loved the unique magic system in this book and while there was a lot to absorb at the very start, I found it very enjoyable and easy to follow which is always a strength.

I found the book to be really captivating and there were points where I was actually reading it until my eyes couldn’t stay open because I was that absorbed in to it.

I personally really enjoyed it because I love a good YA book, whereas I can see why this book wouldn’t if you weren’t a fan.

I loved Cemmy and I actually found it really refreshing to have a FMC with such an important purpose and reasoning to their back story as to why they are in the situation they are in. I found the ending to be quite emotional.

I would definitely recommend this book.

As always, thank you NetGallery for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book had a bit of everything. I loved the rainbow magic system and the lore relating to the half shades. It's was a lovely mix of found family, heists, tensions and friendship. I was kept on my toes throughout and enjoyed the reveals. There was a exploration of forgiveness and how everyone can make mistakes which made me emotional. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more by Kate Dylan.

While I enjoyed this book for what it was, it was’t really my favorite. I liked the writing style a lot and linguistically it’s gorgeous!

My problem (like many others) lies within the many plot holes of the story and the lack of connection I felt with the characters (which this part could have just been me). I liked the story, but wasn’t really over-the-moon about it.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc of this book!