Wanted to love this, as I'd given 5 stars to a previous book by this author and she's clearly a skilled writer. But the character and plot didn't work for me in this one.

It begins with the main character, Cemmy, trying and failing to use her magical skills to steal something - which ultimately pulls her into a heist she wants nothing to do with, along with her friends.

That was sort of fine, but the beginning also explains a super complicated magic system of shades and hues that was frankly just too difficult to keep up with - and I've seen plenty of magic systems in my time. All the time spent on exposition was time away from developing the characters, and unfortunately I just didn't care enough about them to want to keep turning the pages. It became something of a skim-read for me. We were told some really compelling reasons for being invested in various relationships (caring for sick mother, situationship with bestie) and yet I didn't 'see' it enough to feel it.

I think there are some really good ideas in here, but they don't quite coalesce into something that works for me.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC❤️

This book is about a group of friends with an almost impossible task.
The world in which this book took place was extraordinary and at times complex.
But that made it unique.
It took a while for the story to get going but it certainly got exciting.
At the start I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this book but after the ending I did really enjoy it 🥰

2.92 ★ — basically your run of the mill romantasy. i had high hopes for this for the first half because of the magic system, the most riveting part of the book. the heist plot was also intriguing, but the powers weren't explained enough for me to fully make sense of everything, and it wasn't enough to overshadow any faults the book had.

the characters severely lacked any depth. cassiel is every ya fantasy love interest. he's "infuriating" and "insufferable" and "reckless" and every other word used to describe annoying male hotness. i'm sure other people like this archetype, but if i wanted to read about jace herondale, i'd open up city of bones like a normal person. can we please find another mmc to clone. there's got to be more than one male personality in the world?? his loserishness is even worse because it makes cemmy look stupid and pathetic for being in love with him. like it takes a lot for me to hate female characters—i rarely even hate female villains—but the second she fell for cassiel, i lost all respect for her. however, she's better in that she actually has a personality. it's not necessarily any more original than what cassiel has going on, but since we're reading from her perspective, her character is actually shaped by her specific story. on the other hand, you could exchange cassiel with jace herondale clone #465, and not a single person would notice. and the rest of the characters are empty shells at best.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced copy.

This book had you thrown right into the middle of all the action right away. I have never read a book with magic that works this way and I have to say I loved it!

I can safely say I did not see any of the twists coming with not even an inkling of what was going to happen. The hint of romance was the perfect amount for this book with the main focus being on the fantasy and magic system.

I found myself rooting for cemmy and her friends from the very start. You hit a point in this book when you just don’t want to put it down so I didn’t. Finished over half in one go and I don’t regret a thing!

Thank you to NetGalley , Hodder & Stoughton & the author for letting me read this arc

Cemmy is a half Shade. That means she has too much magic according to a Church that would kill her, and the Council of Shades believes she doesn't have enough and wants her dead. When her mother gets sick she is forced to become a thief. She is then coerced into a nearly impossible heist to steal an artifact from the Church in the realm of shadows. This heist may be able to solve all her problems but she has to work with the beautiful, frustrating Chase. If she fails she may ignite the city and bring forth the destruction of a whole world.

I am an avid fan of the author's Mindwalker series, so I was excited to read this. Plus I love heists. The heist here involves a truly original magic system and it has the training, planning and bickering you hope for, all leading to the main event. There are also manipulations, deception, secrets and breath-stealing action. I really enjoyed that we learn the plan along with Cemmy and how it evolves. How it is a lot more important than the team initially knew. This brings a sense of foreboding and amplifies the suspense.

Kate Dylan is great at writing witty protagonists with the right amount of snark and Cemmy is a keeper from the very start. She is 'unwanted' in her society, quick to anger, and vulnerable, though much stronger than she realizes. Chase, as the protagonist mentions in the book is "a villain and a saint in equal measure". Their connection is tempestuous and entertaining to read. You will really like Cemmy's squad and her mother of course.

The building and explaining of this world and magic system are intricate but understandable and compelling. You devour the info with gusto. I like the way the author writes a sentence that can be loaded with suspense, intrigue, roaring with emotion and giving clues of the past or the future all rolled into a few carefully selected words. A sentence that speaks volumes. The figurative speech is without fanfare but imaginative in its imagery all the same. The depiction of the protagonist's thought process possesses great depth and encompasses the aspects of the story in such a way so it isn't totally one-sided.

There were some instances, mostly in the beginning, where the interpretation of things got wordy or/and I'd have to reread to truly understand. Also, her musings did get long-winded and sometimes repetitive.

This is a book about the taint of hate due to prejudice. It deals with the pitfalls of power and zealotry. It is about tackling your fears and asks if the end justifies the means. I love it when story threads keep weaving, twisting, in unpredictable and captivating ways. This one rises to its ambition and journeys us in creative glory to a mind-boggling, heart-squeezing conclusion. I do hope the author visits this world again.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton | Hodderscape for providing me this ebook in exchange for an honest review*

The magic system was really incomprehensible. The world building was okay but I needed it more vital information. The 1st POV present tense was not okay. It was supposed to give a tense of action, yet I didn't feel any of it.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving this ARC, and this doesn’t influence my review. The world building in this book was too much, and something new came up every other paragraph. I also didn’t like the bisexual element. DNF

Book Review: Until We Shatter by Kate Dylan

Until We Shatter by Kate Dylan is a gripping, pulse-pounding heist fantasy that blends magic, intrigue, and romance into an electrifying narrative. Fans of Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows and novels with high-stakes fantasy worlds like Bone Crier's Dawn will find themselves hooked on this action-packed adventure.

A World of Shadows, Danger, and Magic
Dylan wastes no time immersing readers into a dark, dangerous world where survival isn’t just a challenge—it’s a question of sheer luck, cunning, and a little bit of magic. The protagonist, Cemmy, is the epitome of an unlikely hero, forced into a life of thievery due to dire circumstances. The societal dynamics of her world are fascinating and brutal. Caught between two powerful factions—the Church and the Council of Shades—Cemmy’s existence is precarious. The Church seeks to annihilate her for possessing any magic at all, while the Council of Shades, an equally formidable force, wants her eliminated for not being powerful enough. This dichotomy forms the central tension of her existence and lends a thrilling sense of danger to every step she takes.

Kate Dylan’s world-building is one of the novel’s standout elements. She layers her world with not just the usual trappings of fantasy—magic, ancient relics, mysterious realms—but also a unique political and religious conflict that makes it feel richly developed and believable. The shadowy realm the relic is hidden within is particularly fascinating: a place of both literal and figurative darkness where danger lurks around every corner. This adds a gothic edge to the narrative, enhancing the stakes of the central heist.

Cemmy: A Desperate Thief in a Ruthless World
Cemmy’s character is easy to root for. Her desperation, courage, and quick thinking make her both relatable and compelling. She’s not the typical overpowered heroine; her vulnerability is evident, especially when contrasted with the impossible odds she faces. Yet her determination, especially when her mother’s life hangs in the balance, drives the narrative forward with urgency.

What makes Cemmy’s journey especially engaging is her moral complexity. She’s driven by necessity rather than heroism, which makes her decisions feel raw and real. Her shift from a petty thief into someone willing to take on the impossible—to steal a relic hidden in a realm of shadows—marks a transformation that readers will want to see unfold. Dylan writes her with a perfect blend of grit and vulnerability, making her a character who feels both human and heroic.

Chase: A Dangerous Love Interest
Of course, no heist would be complete without a charismatic, enigmatic partner in crime. Enter Chase, the classic rogue with a hidden past. His chemistry with Cemmy is electric from the moment they meet, and the tension between them adds a delicious layer of romance to the otherwise gritty narrative. Chase is the kind of character who’s full of contradictions—dangerous yet protective, secretive yet occasionally vulnerable. Dylan slowly unravels his backstory, making readers as intrigued by his hidden motives as Cemmy is.

Their relationship is fraught with tension, not just because of their shared mission but also because of the secrets they keep from each other. While the romance doesn’t overshadow the main plot, it acts as an emotional anchor amidst the chaos and action. Dylan masterfully balances the slow-burn tension between them with the high-stakes action of the heist, making for a compelling push-and-pull dynamic that will appeal to fans of romance and fantasy alike.

A Heist with Epic Stakes
At the heart of Until We Shatter is the central heist: a mission to steal a powerful relic hidden within a dangerous, shadowy realm. The heist itself is thrilling, filled with unexpected twists, deadly traps, and an atmosphere of constant tension. Dylan’s pacing is excellent, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as Cemmy and Chase navigate the perilous task before them. Every obstacle they encounter feels fresh and inventive, and the stakes of the mission—both personal and political—are clear throughout.

But Until We Shatter isn’t just a simple heist story. The ramifications of failure are apocalyptic. If Cemmy is caught, the entire city could be plunged into chaos, potentially sparking a war that would leave it in ruins. This element of the story elevates the narrative beyond a typical adventure, adding layers of political intrigue and moral complexity. Cemmy’s decisions could have world-altering consequences, making every choice fraught with tension.

Themes of Power and Survival
While Until We Shatter is undeniably an exciting fantasy, it’s also rich with deeper themes. Dylan explores the idea of power in multiple forms—magical, political, and personal. Cemmy’s struggle for survival in a world that deems her either too dangerous or too weak reflects a larger conversation about what it means to be powerful, and how societies treat those who fall outside of the accepted norms.

The book also delves into themes of loyalty, betrayal, and trust. Cemmy’s relationship with Chase, as well as her connections to other characters, are constantly tested. Dylan shows how difficult it is to survive in a world where everyone has their own agenda, and where trust can be a luxury you can’t afford.

A Gripping Conclusion That Leaves You Wanting More
As the story hurtles toward its conclusion, Dylan ramps up the tension to an almost unbearable degree. The final act of the heist is a rollercoaster of action, danger, and emotional stakes, with plenty of surprises that will leave readers gasping. The book’s ending strikes a perfect balance between resolution and cliffhanger, setting up what promises to be an even more explosive sequel.

Conclusion: A Must-Read for Fans of Heist Fantasy
Until We Shatter is an addictive, heart-pounding read that will keep readers hooked from start to finish. With richly developed characters, an intricate world, and a heist filled with twists and turns, it’s a book that will appeal to fans of high-stakes fantasy with strong romantic elements. Kate Dylan has crafted a story that feels both familiar and refreshingly original, with a heroine who will quickly win readers’ hearts. This book will leave you breathless, eagerly awaiting the next installment.

If you love heist fantasies with richly textured worlds, unforgettable characters, and a romance that simmers amidst danger, Until We Shatter is a must-read.

This book immediately intrigued me with its plot. An impossible magical heist? I'm in!
The magic system created is very original and unlike anything I've ever read. Society is divided into those who can use magic (Shades), those who cannot (Typics), and those who are born of both and can therefore use magic in a unique but limited way (Hues). The magical abilities described through different colors and their nuances fascinated me. I particularly appreciated how the author explored the tensions and prejudices between the different factions, showing how magic can be both a source of power and a cause of division.
The relationship between the characters and the found family aspect is well-written and moved me at times.
Unfortunately, the heist part didn't quite convince me. The heist sequence, while a central element of the plot, didn't live up to my expectations. In some parts, the solutions to problems seemed too easy and not very believable, slightly compromising the pace of the narrative.
Overall, it's still an enjoyable read with original and moving parts.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder&Stoughton for the ARC copy.

Cemmy is not having a good day. She's not having a good time in general, what with being hunted by The Church and The Council for her magic. Half-magic at that. And her not-good day quickly becomes even worse with the arrival of Savian and Chase. And the command to pull off a daring heist that could literally leave her and her friends broken and shattered, or possibly end the world as they know it.

You know, just a regular day in Isitar. Where Shade magic is highly controlled and practically outlawed. Where trust is hard to earn, easy to lose, and secrets and half-truths may just doom them all.

What I loved about this book is that it wasn't afraid to be dark. To be unflinching and to make everyone have moments of vulnerability, flawed reasoning, and general unpleasantness. Cemmy is far from perfect. Chase is serving too many masters. And the squeezing hands of both the Shade Council and The Church are making life difficult to live at all. This is, if anything, a musing on the corruption of power. It is a warning about how easy it is to erase history when the victors don't want anyone to know how things really happened. It is also a story of survival, and of realizing that going it alone is not always the best idea. Even the ending is raw, a little unfinished, and wholly human.

This was my first journey into a Kate Dylan book and I really enjoyed the intensity of this medium-length novel that I devoured in just a few hours.

I found the magic system to be very unique and complex, which my analytical brain loved as it was clear that every detail of the system was well thought through with very little issues to pick at, leaving me to completely immerse myself. The cast of characters was quite small and I would’ve liked to have experienced the depths of their bonds a little more, but I found the main character to be quite relatable and appreciated that each character had trauma that drove their thoughts and behaviours - rightly or wrongly. I also greatly appreciated the inclusion of a deaf character that was regarded the same as the others and not as a hindrance to the plot as I find positive and realistic representation of disabilities to be very important - especially in a fantasy setting. This is not a cast of characters who are all-knowing and infallible, but more realistically a bunch of kids just trying to survive in a world that terrifies them with no one to show them the way, obviously making mistakes and growing from them.

I really enjoyed the heist theme of the book and would love to see more from this world as the cast discover more of their capabilities and strive to create a safer world. There are minimal locations present through the story due to the secrecy surrounding the cast and all were very easy to visualise which I appreciated, though I would like to see this world expanded as there is still so much future potential. I must say I had hoped to see more from a certain character who I was convinced was going to swoop in at the last minute - I would love to see more of their dynamic now that their situation is changed 🤞 It was overall a very enjoyable read and one that I couldn’t put down from start to finish.

Thank you to Kate Dylan’s team and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to give an advance review on this book. If you’re a fan of unique magic systems, intense heists and complex politics then I would recommend picking this one up, as I give this a 4/5 star rating!

This review is for Until we Shatter by Kate Dylan which will be released in the UK on the 17th October! Thanks so much to Netgalley and Hodderscape for giving me an eArc copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I have loved Kate’s work since the Mindwalker series, so when I saw she was coming out with a more fantasy based novel… and it was a standalone??? I was in.

I absolutely love the super unique magic system in this book, however did find myself confused a lot during the beginning of the book. It definitely needs some sort of guide on the different magics at the front of the book, so hopefully that’s something we can see in the finished version. Each persons magic basically fits within a colour, indicating which type of magic you have and how’s it’s used within the ‘Gray’.

I also loved the characters in this book, as well as their relationships with each other, especially in the main friend group. Found family has always been a favourite trope of mine, and i can see why people have said this reminds them of Six of Crows due to this. Cemmy was also such an interesting and expressive character, and you do end up feeling so many emotions when it comes to her story. I do have to say Nova was my favourite though, and was so annoyed we didn’t get to see more of their relationship together.

I would say overall this was a great read, the beginning just starts really slow and takes you a while to get a grip on the world. It has a lot of twists and turns, with most of them being really unpredictable for me which was interesting. Highly recommend, and the cover is so beautiful as well! Can’t wait to have this on my shelf.

Weak 3 stars, I wanted to love this book, but due to main character I barely read it to the end.

I liked the world and magic is interesting. The heist plot is also nice one, and other characters are nice. I liked that we learned most of history that impacted development of their current world.

The main character though is very annoying and stupid at times. I get being anxious, not trusting and desperate, but it was to a point of unrealistic. One example that sticks with me is:

<MINOR BOOK SPOILER>

“Oh, spare me.” I dip my voice low. “This is the third time I’ve seen you cast a glamour, and you told me you can only use your stolen power once.” - Cemmy
“I didn’t say once. I said until I use it up.” - Chase
“Sounds an awful lot like the same thing to me.” - Cemmy
And then she stays angry and annoyed at him, accusing him of lying.

<MINOR BOOK SPOILER END>

That is a very unreasonable behaviour and I don't see how we are supposed to like this character. It often felt like no matter what anyone tells her she will not believe it, invent her own version, stay angry and sad. There are people like this, and it's fine to have them in a story, but as a main character, maybe there should be a warning.

I like inclusivity of mental illnesses in newer books, but I do like to know of it, so I can judge if it's a book I would like and start the book with correct expectation.

A unique YA fantasy with a new take on magic elements.

The biggest selling point about this book is the found family, the way Cemmy finds a home for herself with others in the same position as her was heartwarming and carried the story.

There’s no spice, and the dabbling of a love interest is a little lacking, Chase just felt a little flat, but given this is a story that would reach a varied age range it’s ok.

Pros
- Found Family
- Unique concept
- Lots of action
- No spice so suitable for all
- Great characters

Cons
- Overly complex magic system

I love the way Kate's books get you in the head of the main character, you understand all their motives, thoughts and actions. This book is a great concept, with a multitude of characters, found family, twists and a unique storyline. It is written well and very inclusive with a few different communities represented. What fell short of 5 stars from me is the complexity of the magic system and types of people. It feels overly complicated for an average size book that is marketed as new adult. I'd love to see a mind map or diagram to explain it all. At points there was info dumping rather than gently weaving this into the book.

This is initially a little difficult to get into, I had to pick it up and put it down a few times before sticking it out. From about 20% in it got a lot better! The characters were interesting and likeable enough, writing was enjoyable!

I didn’t enjoy this one as much I was hoping/expecting to :(

I really enjoyed the concept of this, and liked the colour and magic system. I thought that was cool and interesting. I also initially liked the heist plot, although that begun to feel stretched out and despite the characters working towards it, it still felt like it was on the backseat.

I found the whole stuff with the Church and the Council confusing. I could not get a grip on any of it and kept forgetting who stood for what. I don’t even think the book knows what they stand for though! It felt very convoluted. The grey confused me too, it was sentiment but not, and I couldn’t workout what the rules were necessarily and why they were the way they were. There seemed to be a few plot holes and inconsistencies that made this confusing.

As for the love interests…I mean fine. Neither of them as relationships met their full potential I don’t think.

I wish we had more of Cemmy and her mum — that always felt like it was building up to something more but teetered off.

This was a decent read and I was hooked at the start! I just feel like it lost its way a little bit and became overly confusing when it has no reason to be…like when it break it down the concepts and plot was quite simple (and I don’t mean that insultingly) but it just went off the tracks.

The heists of Six of Crows with the magic system of Darker Shades of Magic come together in Kate Dylan's book "Until We Shatter." In the world of Isitar, Cemmy lives as a half-shade, not quite normal enough to fit in with the Church and not enough magic to be accepted by the Council. Using her limited magic, Cemmy does heists to steal valuable items to help support her ailing mother. When a heist goes wrong, Cemmy is forced to join other half-shades to steal a relic from the Church.

The magic system in this book is not for the faint of heart. Kate Dylan throws you right into this magical system without much explanation, forcing the reader to figure out the meaning of the complicated social system and government. There are typics with no magic, Hues with half magic (sometimes called half shades), but there are full-bloods with a number of different powers and variations on the power depending on the person being full magic or half. There is also the "gray" which is not a color, but a place where Hues can travel through shadows. There is the Church that has Senate seats and also a Conclave and a City Council. I had to highlight descriptions and refer back to them frequently. Once we got into the action scenes, the plot got interesting and my rating started to go up, but then the plot got confusing/complex in the later part of the book so my rating went back down. For me, this book would've been better with either complex government/church or complex magic or complex villains but not all of the above.

*** I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ***

4.5 stars

Perfect read for fans of heist fantasy books. Awesome magic system and engaging characters. I loved seeing the flaws of the main character, Cemmy, and how it gave her opportunity for growth. This is developed further with the support of her found family of hues (half blood witches).

Hues have been repressed and hunted to the point that they don't know their own history or potential. Until We Shatter works with secrets and betrayal from friends and foe alike, making a hard life all the harder.

As much as I enjoyed the magic system, it was quite complex and took some time to get a handle on.

The writing style of Kate Dylan was great, and I'm glad to hear there will be another book set in this world (although this can be read as a standalone.

A new to me author gives us a story full of action, adventure and mystery with diverse characters aplenty to support the captivating storyline. A really enjoyable read!