The City of Stardust

THE CITY OF STARDUST is of the best books I have read in a long long time. I was completely enthralled with every page and carried away by the wonderful adventure. Violet and Aleksander are the perfect protagonists, so engaging and yet achingly flawed. The world building and ease with which the reader is immersed in the fantastical-scape is reminiscent of Laini Taylor and Erin Morgenstern. Knowing this is a debut work floored me as – for me – this is as near a perfect book as you can get.

Violet Everly has lived with her uncle in their decaying house since her mother's disappearance when she was just ten, her other uncle an occasional, glamorous visitor. She doesn't go to school or have any friends so spends her time in the family library living vicariously with books - and it's while she's hiding in the library that she overhears a chilling conversation between her uncle and a strange woman, one in which her uncle begs for ten year's grace. Every generation an Everly is sacrificed to this woman, Penelope, and with her mother's disappearance she is next in line. Supposedly her mother is looking for a way to break the curse, but as time starts ticking away Violet knows she can't wait, she is going to have to find a way to save herself...

Dark, absorbing and totally original I inhaled The City of Stardust in one day. Books, libraries, quests, strange worlds, a doomed love, betrayal, abandonement, courage, sacrifice - this book has it all. Highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an Arc!

The City of Stardust was a wondrous adventure, the premise was very interesting and Georgie Summers really made it their own! Once a generation, an Everly walks into the dark, compelled by the shadows beside them. Violet’s family is cursed and one family member in each generation is stolen away to another world.

I really enjoyed Violets character, she was so fun to read and I was really rooting for her the entire time. She was such a strong and likeable character I loved reading about her and she grew as the story moved along. The dynamic of the characters was something that this book does very well, I especially loved Violet and Aleksander.

The magic in this book was also very unique, creative and mysterious! I was through intrigued by the magic system which transported me to a new and enthralling fantasy world.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves strong protagonists, fantasy worlds, and mysteries.

The City of Stardust is phenomenal. What a book. I was intrigued from the blurb, but the novel itself blew every expectation out of the water. The writing, the plot, and the characters were expertly crafted, and I found myself struggling to put the book down. Violet Everly was such a strong heroine, and her and Aleksander made my heart soar. I truly, truly hope this book blows up and gets its moment in the limelight, as it really deserves it. I think it ticks every fantasy and romantasy lover’s boxes, as well as providing some thriller elements, and some downright scary horror-fuelled descriptions.

It was on track to score a perfect five stars from me, but the very ending let it down slightly. I personally feel the vagueness of the conclusion was to the detriment of the story and the characters , and some unanswered questions feel incredibly unsatisfying. I’m happy to round it up for the sake of stars, but an accurate rating would be 4.75 stars.

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for sending me a copy in exchange for a review.

I love books about books and libraries, and magical worlds hidden in plain sight so this was right up my street - and it had been recommended for fans of The Starless Sea which is my all time favourite book. Although it didn't quite live up to the whimsy and magical-ness of TSS, it brought a more gritty aspect, with gore, and in my opinion, higher stakes for our Main Character Violet.

The relationship between Violet and Aleksander was just such a slow burn that I was grinning like a fool every time they interacted, and the villain of our story, Penelope was incredibly nuanced, and her story was beautiful in its own way.

I truly loved this book, I devoured it, and when I was away from my kindle doing something as mundane as working, I just couldn't stop thinking about this book.

Wow! I so loved this book, I resented having to put it down to go to sleep, it was so gripping. Following the glorious main character, Violet, on her flight, worrying if she would be caught and what the price would be. The ending left me worrying still about Marianne and the uncles. Recommended with umpteen stars and stardust

I absolutely loved The City of Stardust!
I was so excited to read this book as it was advertised for fans of The Starless and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and both are some of my favourite books!

City of Stardust definitely didn't dissapoint.
It was beautifully written and I really loved the the magic system!
I thought it was really well done.
I also thought Violet wasa great character and the further I got into the book the more I loved her!

I really highly recommend this book!
Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

A glorious fantasy tale of stars, different worlds, a curse that links generations, and a woman on a mission.
Gorgeous world building, and well written characters.

Exceptional. This book falls somewhere in-between The Night Circus and The Invisible Life of Addie Larue, yet completely original. I love this book.

This is the kind of book you really should just open up and read without thinking too much about it. Half of the magic is the mystery.

The City of Stardust is beautiful, lyrical, atmospheric, and gorgeous. The characters are real, and flawed. The magic is compelling and interesting. I loved every second.

This book will not be for everyone. Much in the same way that The Night Circus and Addie Larue aren’t for everyone. It is slower. It leaves you asking questions. It undoubtedly would benefit from a second read through; but it is stunning. This is what stories are made of, and I cannot wait to own a physical copy of it. Even as I was reading it, I wanted to hold the book in my hand and see ink on paper.

Nearly my 50th read of the year, but my first 5 star. I guarantee I will be back to read it again and again.

A wonderfully created new world full of mystery and magic. The characters are well crafted and likeable (or hated where appropriate) and the story keeps you intrigued from start to finish.

I loved this book! It’s such an interesting premise- had me hooked from the first chapter and couldn’t put it down. Thank you net galley

Marianne Everly walks away from her family to seek a way to break a curse, but it's her daughter Violet who pays the price. Hidden away by her uncles as child, Violet eventually comes to the attention of Penelope, who is determined to make the family pay. Violet needs to find Marianne and to understand the history of the mysterious hidden city to secure her own future.

I loved this, it's very clever, it draws you in to the story and it's not at all as whimsical as it sounds like it might be - there's a pretty dark heart to it all. The world building is superb, and it leaves you wanting more, there are definitely characters I'd love to see again.

This book is amazing! I couldn't put it down and I was thinking about it all the time. I didn't expect to like it so much so am incredibly glad it was sent to me. So grateful.

I am already recommending this book to everyone and it'll definitely be a reread.

• "It can be a terrible thing, to love so deeply."

With the enchantment of a fairy tale, the story reveals gods, monsters, brokenpromises, and stars; where beauty and cruelty intertwine, unveiling a exquisitely crafted world. Because it takes talent and reveurite for galaxies to be born in the hands of a dreamer.
What a marvelous gift in so few pages!

Ever Everly was an extraordinarily clever man, yet the epitome of foolishness. Marianne ran so fast chasing a dream, that nothing could ever catch her. Ambrose and Gabriel were not the chosen sacrifices, but they chose to sacrifice everything... for Violet: the young girl burdened by an immense debt.

• "What else is a curse but this? Love, stretched and warped beyond all meaning."

The Everly curse turned out to be as real as the very metal of the gods and as deadly as the star that, generation after generation, sentenced them one by one.
So, why is it so tempting to be one of them?
Perhaps, it is due to the fierceness with which they protect each other; or maybe, because I too would have loved to be a prodigious disciple in Fidelis, always dreaming of adventures in lost worlds just a magical door away, visiting forgotten cafes on uncharted corners of the planet. But mainly because, even in these moments while you read my ramblings, my thoughts linger on Caspian and his third option.
Penelope and Aleksander will have to understand it.

• "To be nothing is to be remade, after all."

My only complaint would be that at times it felt like there were too many pages postponing the grand finale, but even then, the plot never wavered.

☆☆☆☆☆
Undoubtedly, one of my favorite reads of the year.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an eARC in exchange for an honest review. It was a wonderful experience.

First, I would like to thank the author & NetGalley for the eARC opportunity. Like always, this review is voluntary & honest

A beautiful written story filled with mystery, intrigue, and rich descriptions with fantastical world building.

I loved the unique magic system.
And the unique enemies to lovers plot.

The characters were fantastic, with lots of twists and plots in the storyline.

They only bit that displeased me was, I would have liked more information on what happened to marianne.

Romance
Betrayal
Heartache
Curses
Enemies to lovers
Magic
Murder
Lost family

Once a generation, an Everly walks into the dark, compelled by the shadow beside them.
Stubborn like an Everly, brave like an Everly, doomed like an Everly.

Blown away. This was fantastic - I was immediately sucked in by the prose and plot, and genuinely found myself unable to put it down. It's been a week and I still find myself thinking about the characters. What a magical adventure - cannot recommend The City of Stardust enough! I'm looking forward to more from this author in the future!

The City of Stardust is an ethereal and deeply atmospheric book full of mystery and magic.

Violet Everly lives a life of solitude with her uncle in their decaying family home after her mother's disappearance. The Everly family is cursed so that every generation, one of them is taken by a woman named Penelope.

Similarly to The Invisible Life of Addie Larue or The Starless Sea, The City of Stardust is told in the most beautiful prose. It is a compelling read with flawed and loveable characters as well as fantastic world building.

I highly recommend this book! If you enjoyed the books I mentioned above, you are bound to be swept away by this deeply enchanting debut!

This book was absolutely incredible, the best fantasy book i have read this year... I can't believe this is a debut work!
The world building was excellent, the locations and worlds really felt lived in and real.
The writing is lyrical and atmospheric, and while whimsical it doesn't shy away from the darker aspects of the story.
Violet is a phenomenal protagonist, determined to break her family curse not just for herself, and Penelope was such an excellent antagonist, dark and menacing in the most polite way.

Fantastic read, perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman or Erin Morgenstern.

I really enjoyed this novel. The villain is truly a villain and written expertly. The mystery surrounding her family curse is what made this story enticing and addictive. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be recommending this to my students after summer. Perfect for autumn and winter reads!

I absolutely loved this book. The world created by Georgia Summers had echoes of The Night Circus for me, and it was a really immersive read. Violet Everly's mother has abandoned her, and now it falls to Violet to break the family curse. But this is much more than a story about a curse, it's a story about love, and about how far people are willing to go to get the things they think they want. I devoured it!

**I received a pre-release copy of this book from Netgalley for an honest review**

The Everly family is cursed, and every generation their best, brightest, and most talents is taken by the mysterious woman Penelope. A woman who never ages, never forgets, and never forgives a debt. When Violets mother vanishes, the curse falls on her, unless she can break it first.

There is always that worry when you hear of a book with a really interesting premise, from an author that you don't know. Will they be able to live up to this idea, this potential?

The City of Stardust didn't disappoint. I absolutely loved this book.

There was beautiful imagery, and magical scenery, all tempered with a dark evil undercurrent. Characters had internal conflicts of interest; weighing up their ambition, their moral values, and their self-preservation. Which all made the world so much more believable.

I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more works written by this author.

A really great and intriguing read. I loved the characters and the story. Will look out for more from this author.

I read an eARC of this so thank you to Net Galley, the author and the publisher.

This was a delightful read, charming yet dark, whimsical yet constant sense of menace.

We follow the Everley family who are under a horrible curse. Violet’s mother disappeared one night in a bid to break the curse and now it falls to Violet to pay the price. We follow Violet as she tries desperately to break the curse to avoid paying a horrendous cost that was decided for her.

Violet is curious and determined, an excellent main character. She’s very brave in the face of a looming horror. We have a malicious and frightening villain. Who seems initially fairly benign but we soon learn that’s not the case.

The book has an interesting magic system linked to a fantastical metal and allowing instant travel. There are moments in this book that are quite horrifying and there is significant violence and cruelty.

The plot was fantastic and the writing was beautiful. I loved this author’s style and the pace was excellent. My only criticism is I wasn’t a fan of the romance. I felt there was too much harm in that relationship. Otherwise though this was a wonderful read.

If you like an urban fantasy story with a twist, of secrets and keys, of blood and sacrifice, then this is a must-read for you.

This book follows the struggles of a young woman, abandoned into the care of her Uncles by her Mother, who begins to search for a way to save her life and end a curse of their family that leaves the brightest in a generation to the clutches of a mysterious woman called Penelope.

Violet has to learn her way through the world, who to trust and who to flee from. It is a story of love, loss, heartbreak and betrayal. But at the heart of it, it is about a young woman finding out who she is, and how she wants to live her life, if she can live it.

A wonderful story, with a rich setting and engaging characters. A must-read.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton, Hodderscape for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review*

This book was SO good that I couldn't believe how it must be only a debut. It was amazing, it was one of those books you want to read them again for the first time. Fast paste, awesome characters and a wonderful world-building. I was immersed in the first page. Loved it.

There is a mysterious curse that befalls the Everly family where one member from every generation must be taken to pay the debt that is owed. However, Violets mother has disappeared and now the debt has fallen to her.

Poor Violet is clueless to her mothers whereabouts and no-one can give her the answers she desperately craves. With time running out she must unravel the mystery and break the curse herself…but how?

With so many captivating twists and turns, this book had me hooked from the start. The whimsical world building was simply beautiful and I loved the mystery throughout the story. I love the element of intrigue and I enjoyed that the story wasn’t predictable.

The pace was slow in places but I enjoyed that as we worked up to the more action-packed parts. The character building and development was in-depth and I throughly enjoyed getting to know more about Violet, Gabriel, Ambrose, Aleksander & Penelope.

I highly recommend this book. It was a fabulous read & I would absolutely LOVE to see another story from this world, just magical. Please let there be a second instalment! ✨

Thank you to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton & Georgia Summers for an Advanced Review Copy in return for an honest review!

Georgia Summers owns an artistic style and a fascinating world that captivates the reader in the life of Violet Everly, the last Everly trapped between her family's curse and her quest for her long gone mother.

Glad to have read an early copy. Thank to the publisher and the author.

The City of Stardust is not to be missed.

“Impossible is a much thinner slice of the world than she’d thought.”

The City of Stardust is a truly fantastic read and is one I implore everyone to get their hands on when it releases in early 2024. Magic and intrigue ooze from each and every page and the author gives little snippets of information that you have to piece together over the course of the book. You aren’t spoonfed the details of the inner workings of the world Georgia Summers has created and the journey of discovery is all the more satisfying for it!

Violet Everly’s mum disappears one night and Violet lives in hope that she will return from her “adventures” one day, however as the years slip by and Violet sees glimmers of a world not entirely ‘normal’, it becomes increasingly clear that if she wants answers she is going to have to get them for herself.

Marbles that contain galaxies, keys that open doors to untold destinations, and a secret society of scholars with the never aging Penelope at the head. The list of questions Violet has seems to be rapidly growing whilst her list of answers remains disappointingly dormant.

There are countless examples of the author constructing truly mesmerising passages of prose that make you sit back and take a deep breath. She also has a talent for depicting the more macabre and gruesome scenes in a way that leaves an impact on you. It is definitely more of a fantasy aimed at adults due to some of these occurrences! From what I can tell, this is her debut book and that genuinely surprises me. There is a clear talent for writing here and it feels like a talent honed over time rather than the raw ability of a debut author. She is definitely an author to add to my list to keep an eye on for future works!

The first 2/3rds of the book were absolutely 5 star material for me. I do feel the final third dropped off a little from the lofty standards of the rest of the book, however topping the standard set earlier in the book would have been a herculean task! It definitely still ends up closer to 5 stars than 4 though.

The City Of Stardust.

The Everly family is cursed.
Violet is determined to find her mother and break the seemingly endless curse.

A stunning and darkly wondrous story, full of intrigue and mystery.

Summers has given us a book rich with beautiful and luxuriant storytelling with outlandish skilled and truly beautiful world-building.

The plotline is full of intrigue, at times, quite slow-paced but unique and brilliantly done.

The character development is superb and delves deeply into the mind of Violet.

This book leaves you wanting more from these beautifully depicted characters and the lush and magical world.
I pray for a second instalment.

I just reviewed The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers. #TheCityofStardust #NetGalley

As soon as I began reading The City of Stardust, I knew it was something different and also rather special.
There is a fairy tale, lyrical quality to the writing, that plants you firmly in other-worldly territory where nothing is quite as it seems.
Everything is at once familiar; like the Everly's family home, the coffeeshop where Violet works, and references to Paris, Vienna and Prague, yet also downright strange - there are Gods, monsters and magic.
At the heart of the story, a brave, but vulnerable girl just wants to know what happened to her mother. But of course, this is epic fantasy at its best, so you can expect puzzles, riddles, maps and keys to other worlds, along with vengeful enemies and perilous quests,
The characters are well drawn, real and memorable, I loved Violet's brothers - Gabriel and Ambrose, and Penelope is the perfection of evil. The growing affection between Violet and Aleksander is sweet and complex, whilst never veering into predictability.
This is a book to read and savour, to soak up the atmospheric worldbuilding whilst being taken on an a rollicking, bloodthirsty adventure with a formidable heroine at its core.

Georgia summer’ storytelling is lyrical yet engaging enough to have one hooked to the story since the very beginning. It was touching and entertaining!

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

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

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.

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 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!

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 📚

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 🥰

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.

[ARC provided by NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton, Hodderscape. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review The City of Stardust.]

Rating: 5/5

Overflowing with magic and secrets, The City of Stardust is a stunning standalone fantasy that will enchant you until the very last page. Georgie Summers has written an absolutely beautiful book. Stories like these that completely sweep you off your feet don’t come along often and I’m so happy to have been able to read an early copy. If you love fantasy wrapped in mystery with characters that will pull on every heartstring then this is a book you have to check out.

Perfect for fans of Alix E. Harrow, Erin Morgenstern and Ava Reid, The City of Stardust takes the reader on a twisting journey led by Violet Everly, a young woman who will do whatever it takes to break an age-old curse that has haunted her family for generations, a curse that takes away the brightest and most talented Everly’s. When Violet’s mother vanishes into the night searching for a way to break the curse, a bargain is made and Violet is left with ten years to either find her mother or be taken in her place by their eternal tormentor, Penelope, a woman who never forgets a debt.

As her deadline draws near, Violet embarks on a journey to the edges of the world in search of her mother and the key to the city of stardust where their family’s story began. As secrets unravel and new information comes to light, Violet must learn everything she can about this new, seductive underworld of power-hungry scholars, fickle gods and cities lost to time. It’s a turbulent adventure wrought with highs and lows but nothing will stop Violet from doing everything that she can to keep her family safe.

Violet is a brilliant FMC who is very much a product of her upbringing. Having spent a lot of her childhood in isolation, she has a very naïve understanding of how the world works making her a frustrating narrator at times. As a reader, it can be easy to tut and roll your eyes when a character does something that you don’t agree with but the author does a tremendous job of reminding us of why Violet is the way that she is. It would also be easy to think that Violet is too trusting, too hopeful and too ambitious in this dark world, but personally I can’t imagine her any other way. Her hopeful nature drives the story forward, and even when that becomes difficult, her tenacity and bravery will take your breath away.

There are so many amazing elements to this story. Violet is such a rich and vibrant character but I could also spend a long time explaining my love for the incredibly complex Alexsander – assistant to Penelope and a character that dealt with his own extremely complicated circumstances. I could also go on about the beautiful prose that pulls you into this magical world where anything seems possible if you have the right key, or the strong bonds of family that are as fragile as they are unwavering. To put it plainly, there’s simply no end to the beauty contained within The City of Stardust, and I think that this makes it all the more magical.

This is a story for the dreamers, for people who will always strive for the best outcome even when all hope is lost. This is for anyone who believes in the magic of adventure, and who understands that the idea of good vs. evil is much more complex than it may seem. I’ve no doubt that I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time and will absolutely be keeping an eye out for future stories from this author.

Reads like a love letter to book lovers.

The city of stardust is a magical whimsical tale perferct for anyone looking for an escapism read. I loved everything about this. The world building. The aesthetics. The characters. Literally everything. Im actually mind blown by how much I enjoyed this, it is such a perfect reading gem perfect for winter, when you can curl up next to the Christmas tree, near the fire with this cozy tale.

The stakes are high but it somehow doesn't take away from the comfort this book brings.

A really original story that pulls on your heart -strings. It is a story about a girl who was hidden away so that she would not fall prey to the curse on her family line and be fed to a demon when she comes of age. Her mother ran, travelling worlds, seeking a way out but really - it turns out - she ran to save herself. Violet is left to find her strength and her power to face the demon once and for all and end the curse. A gripping tale of love, betrayal and the ties that bind.

"It’s the unspoken tale singing its way through her family history: once a generation, an Everly walks into the dark, compelled by the shadow beside them."

This is one of the most beautiful books I have read this year. It is full of atmosphere, mystery, poetic writing, flawed characters, and convoluted twists of worlds full of magic hidden behind doors that can only be opened by specific people with specific materials. The City of Stardust is a story about a curse placed on the Everly family that has lasted for thousands upon thousands of years. Violet Everly's mother has disappeared, on an adventure, scouring the world to find a way to break the curse and save her and her daughter's life. But time is running out, Penelope - the curse-giver, is impatient and she is willing to skip a generation and take Violet in place of her mother. So Violet does what her mother would do and leaves on her own adventure to try break the curse, but in doing so she uncovers truly horrifying things, gets swept up into an underground world of hushed secrets told at opulent parties, and experiences love, friendship, betrayal and loss.

This book is an intricately woven scavenger hunt, a mixture of fairy tale, myth and terrible truths, all tied together in the most gorgeous prose I have read in a long time. Georgia Summers' writing is absolutely exquisite throughout, it truly captures the mystical atmosphere of the worlds she is building and draws you in with tantalizing foreshadowing, switching POVs revealing breadcrumbs that keep you guessing but also reveal harrowing information, and poetic pieces that will have you highlighting quotes in every chapter. I truly felt like I had been swept up into another world and I didn't want to leave it behind when the story finished. This is a world that Summers could expand upon for years to come in spin off stories, and if she did I would happily read them all.

There were a few small parts that I had issues with, mostly due to the pacing and the characters. This book is only 350 or so pages long but it felt longer, there were times when I would think I was half way done and then check my progress and realize I wasn't. In ways this really serves the story because it forces you to slow down and focus on what is happening, and meant that I understood some of the more complex parts more easily because I was already taking it slowly. But in other parts it dragged a little bit, sadly. The characters were also another strange point for me, Penelope and Aleksander are both wonderfully written, detailed characters and I enjoyed every scene where they were present, but some of the other characters fell just a little bit flat. The main one being Violet. The majority of the story is told from her eyes but through the third person perspective and because of that it felt like we were shown a lot about what she was seeing but not as much about what she was feeling, or even something as simple as describing her appearance. I could imagine Penelope and Aleksander, the worlds described and adventures she traveled so vividly but when I try to envisage her she is nondescript, she could be anyone, she could look like anything, I think maybe she has brown hair and square hands?

Overall though, this was a truly outstanding read and one I highly recommend. If you prefer something slightly more fast-paced then it might not be the one for you but if you enjoy immersing yourself in a fantastical fairy tale like worlds wrought with curses, magic, gods who walk among us and wreck destruction, questions of morality and a heart-warming but also heart-wrenching romance - then this is story for you. I am very glad to have read it. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This standalone story is a true fairytale and is told like one. As a reader you feel like you are being pushed forward in someone else's dream, relentlessly.
I have finished this book in two days because I could not stop listening. In the end though, I was still left with questions. They were the good kind of questions, not the ones where you think the author could have tied everything up better. No, the ones where you wonder what has happened and what might still be happening, and what the meaning is in all this.
This debut book has been compared to Addie LaRue and other stories, but to me it has way more Daughter of Smoke and Bone meets Neil Gaiman vibes.
I liked the characters, but they are not this book's strongest suit. It's more their place in this wondrous world that makes them intriguing.

4,5/5 stars

Thank you @netgalley and @hodderbooks @hodderbooks for both the eARC and the ALC.

#CityOfStardust #netgalley #bookstagram

<b>City of Stardust</b> is one of the best written books I have read in a while. The prose is absolutely stunning, which worked really well to enhance the beauty of the setting. It’s a writing that demands attention and forces you to slow down to savour everything.

The plot was very interesting and fully captured my attention, to the point I was just going to read a chapter before sleeping and when I noticed the time, it was Monday 5.30 am and I haven’t slept a bit.

While I did love the book, it took me a bit to warm up to the way the story was being told. We see everything unfold through different characters perspectives, but the story is always told in the 3rd person. This made City of Stardust a bit less immersive that what I tend to prefer and made me feel I knew more about what the characters were seeing than feeling. This is more relevant for Violet’s POV than Aleksander, which despite being less lengthy, it is somewhat more fleshed out.

I have seen this book being compared a lot with <b>The Invisilble Life of Addie Larue</b>, and while I understand the comparison, I have found it much more reminiscent of <b>His Dark Materials</b>. If you enjoyed either one of them, do not hesitate to pick City of Stardust in January 2024.

<i>I would like to thank Hodder & Stoughton, Hodderscape and Netgalley for the for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review</i>.

*ARC from NetGalley in exchange for honest opinion*

Omg! This book was so beautifuly written, the world(s) creation was so phenomenal, I could not stop reading, This is this kind of fantasy book that has every trope I love.

So if you love:

- enemies to lovers
- unique and complex magic system
- gods amoung humans
- mysteries
- breaking a curse
- hidden worlds

City of Stardust will be defenetly for you!

Fans of The Starless Sea and The Ten Thousand Doors of January will LOVE THIS BOOK! A perfect balance of beautiful and lyrical writing, an over-arching plot that spans centuries, mythology, adventure, and complicated human relationships.

I really enjoyed the character Penelope. I love a female villain and Penelope is the queen of female villains! I was intrigued by her 'relationship' with Alexsander and how complicated, layered, and toxic it was. I kind of wish that was addressed a bit more.

Seeing how the fantasy world and the mundane blend into one another was exhilarating and I completely identified with Violet and her desire for adventure!

What a debut from Georgia Summers! The City of Stardust is a bold and atmospheric story of love, perseverance and magic, mixed in with a dash of dark academia and The Starless Sea-esque vibes. I loved it!

Following the story of Violet Everly, TCoS entangles a family curse with godlike magic as we traverse the globe with Violet as she tries to free herself from the villain’s clutches— a woman called Penelope who is both powerful and bloodthirsty. I loved how effortlessly Summers combined one woman’s quest for answers with gorgeous prose. It’s truly a story that sucks you in and keeps you reading long past your bedtime. The elements around magical scholarship brought the dark academia vibes well Violet and Aleksander’s relationship provided the perfect tempering of slow burn romance. It was surprisingly more violent than I was expecting, but that just made Penelope a very convincing and spine chilling villain. Truly, I’m impressed with how fleshed out the story was in a relatively short amount of pages.

Perfect for readers who love a bit of atmosphere, poetic prose, and a genuinely fascinating secret society of magical scholars, Georgia Summers’ debut is sure to be a big hit!

I was highly impressed by the story itself and the fairytale style of wording that was used to craft together this story.

The City of Stardust is an intricate world that lies away from our own world, separate and known but only a select few. We watch Violet Emerly grow up and suffer at the hands of fate and with a deep despair that follows her. Something unrelated to any of her own actions, an ancient curse which she seeks to free herself from.

It is a wonderful tale of a dreamer who has a strange relationship with her family, has been hidden away from the world for reasons that had been kept from her and as she starts to dip her toes into the wider world, discovers more about herself and her familial line, dating back so many generations, she is left with nothing but terrible choices before her.

I won’t spoil anything so I’ll try to be as vague as possible but the story starts slowly, almost a bit too slowly for me but it does pick up speed in a graceful way, building tension and despair well as the story unfolds. There is one character who I am still annoyed at even after the book has ended. There is a romance that blossoms with Violet and a male character which could almost be enemies to lovers except, I don’t think she ever really had any negative feelings towards him despite *things that happen*. That character was beginning to make me angry by their choices and actions, although, from their POV I can understand why they did what they did but there is a scene towards the end that had me in tears, grateful for what they decide and say.

That ending also had me in tears! Partly from relief, and in a strange way, from the romance of it. You should probably check out the trigger warnings because as much as it starts off free of violence, despite the psychological terror inflicted, there are some violent scenes further into the story that are gory and will cause some distress. Overall, I felt like this was a wonderful story and I really enjoyed it.

The City of Stardust is out on 25/01/2024
#TheCityOfStardust #NetGalley

I absolutely loved reading this book.

The writing was gripping and set an incredible overall tone and pace. There's an almost lyrical undertone to the prose that created a mystical atmosphere to the setting.

Part of this novel gave me the same feeling as the part of the Harry Potter novels where they are looking for horcruxes but instead of a trio, imagine it's just Hermione as the chosen one and she's gone looking on her own. An intelligent heroine with a steadfast determination to complete her goal, whom still possesses a somewhat childlike (said with affection) desire to trust despite history telling a different story.

It's ultimately a story about family, self-discovery, and trust.

What I loved most about this book is that it's complex without being complicated. The magic system is not overly complicated meaning the reader does not get bogged down in the details and pulled out of the story to try make sense of what they are reading. It's blended quite seamlessly into the writing and truly helps set the dark academia tone of secrecy and impending danger.

Rated 4.5 but rounded up to 5

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for sending me a copy in exchange for a review.

I loved this book, I never figured everything out until the end when it was all explained, which is unusual for me. The characters were well-written and believable. Reading the story from all the different perspectives was a wonderful experience.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fantasy read with a hint of mystery thrown in for good measure.

THE CITY OF STARDUST is an ethereal fantasy about crossing worlds and a curse that must be unravelled.

There is a whimsical, ethereal, haunting feel to this book. I spent a lot of time trying to decide if it was the writing style (and the third person, present tense narration) or Kitty Parker's way of reading it. Either way, I really liked it. It was a bit like floating on clouds, watching this story that was not quite in our world unfurl.

Violet is the main narrator but Aleksander and Penelope also narrate. I really enjoyed getting to see what Penelope was up to, see the lengths she'd go to and just how chillingly impersonal she was. The third person really came into its own here, allowing for a distant POV in Penelope's chapters so her thoughts didn't come through. Instead, the focus was all on her actions, letting that coldness really come through. Without her motivations (at least in the opening acts before Violet uncovers them), it comes across as very chilling because it's hard to understand the rationale behind these actions.

I enjoyed the exploration of the absent mother-child relationship, Violet's yearning but also frustration. It is a journey of acceptance and letting go, even while not really being able to because of that gap left by abandonment at a young age. I liked the way it ended up, the way Marianne breaks some of the (limiting, patriarchal) expectations of motherhood we have this society.

It is a very strong debut and I look forward to more books by the author.

{AD|GIFTED} [4.5 stars] I savoured this story over several nights as the prose was exquisite. The author is an incredibly talented wordsmith and had shades of Laini Taylor (which is a huge compliment as she wrote my favourite duology). There is not a single careless or misplaced word in the entire book.

The plot itself is a race against time for Violet Everly to rescue herself from becoming the next sacrifice of a woman bent on revenge. Violet travels the globe in a desperate bid to change her fate by finding an elusive key to a magical world. This is a story about stories, about their power and magic, about memory and perception. The beauty lies in the sheer possibilities offered by an unknowable story.

Violet's romance with Aleksander felt authentic and heartbreaking. They both experienced life-changing events yet found themselves drawn to each other. Their relationships with the people around them were particularly fascinating. Violet's yearning for her missing mother threw into relief the familial love shared by Violet and her uncles. Contrasted with this loving family, Aleksander's complicated relationship with the abusive Penelope, a mother-figure and saviour-like woman, was twisted yet understandable.

This is a standalone novel but I hope the author revisits this world as the potential is unlimited. I would love to read about Caspian's adventures as he was an engaging character with plenty of personality. Comparisons to Alix E. Harrow are valid for the portal fantasy element, whilst the writing style was reminiscent of Laini Taylor and Erin Morgenstern. It also shared a lot of the vibes of The Starless Sea. Overall, I was completely immersed in the rich world-building, the exquisite prose, and the engaging premise.

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

4.5 stars rounded to 5

I absolutely loved the world lore in this book - hidden cities in distant worlds, magical doorways and keys, fallen gods, a family curse haunting the Everlys. While the start was a little slow to pick up, by 20% in I was entirely hooked and completely invested in the story.

I found Violet Everly an easy to read FMC - she was pretty straight forward in her motives, brave and resourceful. I do wish we'd had more time focusing on her travels while searching across the globe for her missing mother, but I guess it would have had to be a duology to fit it all in. As its a standalone, we have a lot of time skips and flashbacks to fill in gaps that might have been built on more if it was a series.

If my only complaint is that I wished it was longer, I think that speaks volumes to how much I enjoyed the book.

Aleksander, the MMC, and Penelope, the antagonist, were both interesting characters as well, and it was great to get to see the story from their POV as well as Violet's - it made things feel much more rounded out.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys dark fairytales, adventure stories, strong-willed MCs and dreamy prose.

The City of Stardust is a beautifully written whimsical story with similarities to The Starless Sea and Laini Taylor's books. It is an engaging story which leaves you eager to continue reading.

I went into this book entirely blind, it was a cover request. Turns out it was a lucky choice, because it has fast become a favourite - I absolutely love the vibes this book puts out, and I think it will be extremely popular when released. This is the kind of book that you either gel with, or don't... I hope more people are able to gel with it, because it is honestly fantastic.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this one, I loved it.

“The City of Stardust” is an intriguing magical book by Georgia Summers. Lost cities, magical keys, gods and mortals in the mix in an adventure against time to solve a millennial old curse. What is there not to love? Not to be intrigued about? Not to be obsessed over? And because all good books need a dose of love in the mix, Georgia added that too!

The writing style is spellbinding, giving more than one point of view and getting into the head of more than one character. A story that includes everyone and gives you a spherical view of the situation! I was fully immersed for 10 days in the world of Violet Everly and her family curse that no one remembered when it started and why.
This book makes you want more. I couldn’t put it down, I had to know what happened next. I loved all the interactions between Violet and Alexander and the romance that couldn’t afford themselves to live freely. And all the determination Violet had to find her mother and solve the mystery as well as break the curse of the Everly family.

I would definitely recommend it to all lovers of magical worlds, lost cities and powerful gods involved with common mortals, romance and young adult lovers as well. In my opinion is a must-read! And I can’t wait for the publishing day to get a copy for my library!

My special thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my early copy.

Wow what an absolutely wonderful surprise this book was, Georgia Summers has created a gorgeously atmospheric fairytale esque tale, it fully immerses you, consumes you- I finished this book in a few hours I couldn't put it down.

The Everly's are a cursed family, a curse that calls for one from in each generation to be sacrificed! Violet Everly is a dreamer who has been kept safe by her scholarly uncles but as she starts to find her way in the world she is plunged in to a fairy tale and a quest reliant on unpicking her familial history.

I adored the way that we discovered the world along with Violet we were right there with her as she unpicked the clues and peeled back her family history, the world was so complicated and sprawling however Georgia Summers makes it so uncomplicated. The writing is so poetic and yet so accessible it read beautifully.

The villain in this book is truly exceptional, I though the exploration and development of this character was so good. One of the other aspects that I really enjoyed was the exploration of the mother-daughter relationship and this set against the truly heartwarming relationship Violet had with her uncles felt quite different.

This book has dark elements and as the story develops there are some violent and gory scenes so please check content warnings,

I am not a massive fan of standalone books mainly because if I love them I miss the characters but also because there's sometimes that feeling like the story is wrapped up very quickly at the end but this book is well paced and wraps up in I think the most perfect way, it was the ending I needed.

I've seen this described as perfect for readers who loved The Starless Sea and Ten Thousand Doors of January and I would definitely agree it has that whimsical and at times almost Ethereal style, for me I also had a lot of the feelings I got when I read Ink, Blood, Sister, Scribe,

Firstly, thank you to netgalley and Georgia for the eARC opportunity!

"The City of Stardust" is an enchanting tale that lured me in with its cursed hereditary line and hidden worlds of stardust and snow-capped mountains. Georgia's creation was a powerhouse, fulfilling my desire for strong, beautiful heroes and conflicted, handsome men. My only lament? Its brevity left me yearning for more, perhaps a sequel to delve deeper into this captivating world.

Violet Everly, though somewhat two-dimensional in her portrayal, emerges as the quintessential protagonist. Her sheltered life and sudden exposure to the outside world propel her into a journey where she embraces destiny with grace, vigor, and an unwavering empathy. While her naivety in justifying people's actions might seem a tad unrealistic, given her isolated upbringing, her yearning for connection and companionship feels utterly relatable.

I genuinely cannot wait to get my hands on this book as along side it being a beautiful story, that cover is just gorgeous,

WOW! I inhaled this in less than 6 hours since I downloaded which is completely unheard of from me 😭

I don’t even know where to begin. From the world building to the scenery to the characters this was a masterclass in fantasy writing. The prose was sublime, I felt so immersed in this world with gods, and I could see this book playing out as a movie in my head.

“heavy dreams make for heavy burden”

I have highlighted so many different quotes from this book, each one has such special meaning behind it, I found this boo not only magical but also relatable. This book is for us dreamers who always wished to find hidden doors and secret passageways that leads to a new adventure. Almost reminded me of a arnica in that sense,

I adored violet and how she wanted to find her missing mother, she reminded me a lot of Addie from The Invisible life of Addie La Rue, all in all this was such a mystical read that I couldn’t recommend enough.

Thank you so much to netgalley, the publishers and Georgia Summers for my arc in exchange for an honest review!

It has been such a long time since a book captured me from the furst page. I have been reading this for 2 hours so far and I only put it down to go for a wee and write this. I will be recommending this to my students as inspiration for their final major project!

Imagine my shock when I realized this is a stand-alone! I need more of it, please!

I am speechless. This book was incredible! The writing is exquisite, the characters are well crafted, the plot is fantastic. I really don't know what else to say, except that I hope you preordered this book already!

I do feel like it was too short, and it gets confusing at times because two paragraphs describe what's going on at the same time but in different places or with different characters, but there's no separator between them to indicate that (maybe this has to do with the ARC's formatting). Either way, it's one of the best books I've read and the prose is, in my opinion, comparable to Rebecca Ross's Letters of Enchantment duology.

LOVED THIS! It was such a wonderfully written story, I loved both of the main characters and I definitely would love to see more in this universe as it sounds so incredible.

I kept panicking towards the end that it wasn't going to wrap up enough but it was a needless fear as it ended perfectly I cannot fault it whatsoever.

I look forwards to seeing what Georgia Summers writes next!

From the very beginning, the author skillfully immerses readers in a richly detailed magical realm, where Violet's quest to break the curse unfolds against a backdrop of intrigue and mystery. The stakes are high, and Violet's journey becomes a race against time, her every step fraught with uncertainty and magic. Personally, I loved Violet Everly and Aleksander, Penelope's quiet assistant, who adds an extra layer of intrigue to the story! Their chemistry and just their interactions were so well done that I felt like their characters were excellently fleshed out, an element which authors often struggle to implement adeptly and thus also becomes an element which standalone novels struggle to uphold, but in this case I felt that Georgia Summers mastered it.

The pacing of the story is well-executed, albeit perhaps a little slow in the beginning, but it never got to a point where I found myself getting bored or overloaded with information dumping. Summers' lyrical and beautiful story-telling is captivating and she has managed to find the perfect balance in her world-building, which I feel really adds to the strength of this exquisite standalone. Not to mention, the desire to delve into the universe crafted by the author is strong!! I just wanted to dive into Violet's world because there is such a lush and vivid world-building which brought to life the magical tapestry of the realms where Violet must venture.

Overall, I absolutely adored this and I can't wait to get my physical copy once it's published!!! Seamlessly amalgamating elements of fantasy, familial dynamics, and magic, this book blew me away with its spellbinding narrative, exploring the lengths one is willing to traverse to break free from the chains of an ancestral curse. This debut is poised to resonate with aficionados of the fantastical and those captivated by narratives of resilience, family, and the enduring potency of hope. Like me, this book will leave you anxiously awaiting the forthcoming future works of this promising author.

I loved this so much, I wanted to get my hands on a physical copy and immediately scribble my thoughts all over the pages.

This one is people who thought books like Strange the Dreamer, Addie and The Starless Sea spoke directly to their soul.

I loved every minute of this, my only criticism is that I would have liked a little bit more.

4.5 stars

Published 25th January 2024.

I think we might be looking at the next huge fantasy book that is going to be talked about for years to come!

With comparisons to The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern, I knew this would be a truly special and magical read, but I did not expect to be blown away by it as much as I was.

Firstly, the fact that this is a debut is astonishing. The craft that Georgia Summers shows here isn't present in many established writers who I regularly read from - it is a phenomenal standard that other authors should be aspiring to. Alongside her world building and character development, Summers' writing had such a cinematic quality that I could totally see this story being adapted (and equally adored) for the big screen.

In Violet, we have the best kind of main character that everyone can relate to. I mean, who can say they never dreamt of adventure and magical worlds when they were younger? To see her growth throughout the novel was an absolute joy and her strength and commitment to her quest is something to be admired. In her adversary - Penelope - we have a VERY Mrs Coulter (His Dark Materials)-esque villain who stoops to the lowest of lows to get what she wants (Actually there's low, and then there's Penelope's definition of low!!)

Just the most astonishingly enchanting and magical book that I hope gets all the praise it deserves.

An absolutely stunning debut from Georgia Summers, perfect for fans of Laini Taylor and Alix E. Harrow!

Each generation, the brightest of the Everlys is collected by a woman who never ages, taken as punishment for a long forgotten crime and never seen again. Over a decade ago, Violet Everly’s mother left to break the curse on their family and never returned, leaving her daughter in the care of her two uncles. Now Violet must find her mother, or Penelope will collect her in her mother’s place.
But no one puts up a fight like an Everly, and Violet is determined to find a way to break the curse. Her search leads her into a magical underworld of power-hungry scholars and vengeful gods, and into the path of Penelope’s assistant Aleksander, and into a world she wouldn’t have imagined possible.

I absolutely adored The City of Stardust and was fully invested in Violet’s quest as well as in the subtle romance subplot to this fantasy novel. While the novel is an enchanting read, there are very dark elements to the world building. I enjoyed Violet’s mettle and loved discovering the magical underworld alongside her. Penelope was an absolute storybook villain – it was great to also get her POV in some parts of the story. The novel is rich in world building – I loved all the fairytales that were included and woven into the plot, and the tarot-style fortune readings using astrals instead of arcana. Totally engrossing - my eARC is full of highlighted passages. For me, there was one central question that didn’t get answered and which I’m still puzzling over, so taking that into account it’s 4.5 stars (rounded up here) from me.

The hype is real. I've heard a lot about this so I was delighted to be able to get both audio and ebook arcs on @netgalley. It's difficult to believe that this is a debut novel, it's so good. Reminiscent of Erin Morgenstern and Laini Taylor, this lush ethereal fairytale for grown ups consumed me.
I listened to most of it driving to and from work, reluctant to leave the car at either end and leave the characters behind before swallowing the ending in one frenzied reading chunk on Saturday.
This story is fraught with tension as the Violet races to end the curse that has taken one member of her family every generation for centuries, racing against a deadline to save her own life whilst battling her feelings for Alexander the boy beholden to the very person that cursed her family. All of the characters are rich and complex and the world is so lush. Even the villain evokes sympathy even as you want to throttle the life out of her for the trail of destruction she wreaks across the story.
I long to spend more time with these characters to see Fidelis and the other worlds.
@ge_summers style is literary but yet not pretentious, and Kitty Parker narrates it so beautifully like a softly gripping bedtime story so even in Penelope's bloodiest most vicious moments it feels like some kind of lucid dream one, the terror and the horror are real but yet it feels like it did as a child reading fairytales at bed time, the witch might be wicked but you're safe in your bed, wrapped in a warm duvet. (Even if in reality I was attempting to drive down the M62 whilst cursing it's endless traffic jams and supposedly 'smart' motorway)
This is an instant modern classic and I intend to throw it at all my friends with ferocity.

THE CITY OF STARDUST ✨🗝️ by Georgia Summers was an enigmatic and lyrical fantasy novel set in our world and a world beyond our own. It is a stunning book filled with ancient worlds, a hidden city and a story that goes through generations. The protagonist, Violet Everly is a young woman who is part of a family’s generational Everly curse. Violet was a character I connected with through her love for books and dreams.

Violet embarks on a journey to find her mother, Mariette after she left a decade ago after trying to break the curse. Violet’s journey was fraught with tension and intrigue as she meets people from the hidden city of Fidelis, home to the Scholars with secret keys and doorways. Aside the Scholars, Fidelis is home to a woman named Penelope, who hunts down Everlys due to said curse.

Aleksander, the second main character was interesting to learn about as he was someone who’d grown up in the secret city of Fidelis and serves as Penelope’s assistant. Aleksander and Violet’s path cross multiple times and I enjoyed their interactions from distrust to mutual interest.

I absolutely devoured this book and liked how beautiful and lyrical the prose was. Getting to travel to countries within the book was wonderful and I learned about Prague and their underground cities!

The character development between the characters were phenomenal. As for Violet’s uncles, Ambrose and Gabriel Everly who were her guardians, really reminded me of the Salvatore siblings - particularly Gabriel Everly and his leather jacket.

I loved how the book revolved around doorways and keys, together with the history and myths surrounding the mysterious Penelope and the lore behind the worlds of the Outside world (Earth) and Fidelis (the hidden city between worlds) The world building was great and I liked the fantasy elements to this book.

Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for sending me an eARC in exchange for review.

When I first heard about this book, it was said that if you loved Addie Larue, this would be right up your alley.

Thank you Hachette, Hodder & Stoughton, for this e-arc.

This book is beyond my own capabilities of dreaming and imagining. The writing itself is beautifully poetic and the sentences are a joy to devour. I’m blown away by the intricacies of this book. The magic system is very new and extremely well crafted. Your main character is strong, stubborn but also vulnerable. There is a lot of delicate trauma in this book and the way it’s described is just pure talent. I don’t read many 3rd person povs but reading this has made me question why I do not.

I love this way of story telling and Georgia Summers has excelled. I will be recommending this book to all of my friends whom I have forced to read Addie. This is obviously not Addie, but Violet’s story has had a similar impact on me as Addies did.

I am completely worn out, this book is beautiful from all sides.

✨B O O K R E V I E W✨

In every generation of Everlys one of the family’s most talented members disappears. This curse, a punishment for an ancestral crime no one remembers outside of the varying family stories that have been passed down, is coming for its next victim, the brilliant Marianne Everly.

Leaving her daughter Violet with her two brothers, Marianne disappears on her own terms, searching worlds for a way to break the curse for good. However, when 10 years pass without Marianne’s return the Everlys’ tormentor, Penelope, grows tired of waiting and demands that Violet take her mother’s place. In turn, a bargain is struck - one that will lead Violet to edge of the world, to power-hungry scholars and fickle gods, to monsters hell bent on revenge, Penelope’s enigmatic assistant, Aleksander, and to the city of stardust, where the Everly story first began…

✨My thoughts:

I really loved this book. Its magic system of god metal, astral powers and hidden doorways/keys to hidden worlds was rich and immersive, and I resented having to put it down to sleep/eat/be a responsible adult. At about 80% in I did wonder how she was going to pull this off as a standalone as there was still so much ground to cover, but the ending was masterfully done and everything was brought together in a satisfying conclusion. Violet and Aleksander’s relationship, along with the charming Caspian and sweet Ambrose, were personal highlights for me, and fans of novels such as The Night Circus and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue will no doubt love it too.

The City of Stardust is out on Jan 25th. Thank you to @netgalley and @hodderscape for the e-ARC!

Grippingly intense book, that is a beginning for new tables.
I really enjoyed this read and finding out how or even if the main character would be able to break the curse that's followed her family through countless generations.
Pure escapism and steam punk fantasy set in brilliant locations.
I recommend this book as a page turning tale.

Wow, this is one of the best books I have read in a long time. It is difficult to believe this is a debut novel. Beautifully written and hard to put down once you have started to read. Violet is such a great leading character. I will be watching Georgia Summers career with great interest. I would give it more than five stars if I could.

I loved how magical this book felt through the whole story, it really gave it a whimsical atmosphere. This sort of storytelling normally isn’t what I would reach for but the authors writing had a way of gripping me into the story from the beginning and I loved the journey.

I loved how developed Violet was as a main character and as a reader I could truly feel her fear and longing to find out the meaning behind the curse so she doesn’t fall into the same fate alongside finding out where her own mother is.

Nearly every reader would say the same thing but I live a book that has anything to do with books and this definitely fulfilled that need. I adored the atmosphere that was created throughout the whole story with this in mind.

Violet was brought up in an environment where she was slightly coddled which made her a small bit naive, which I normally prefer strong female characters, but I found that the author did this in the right way where her naivety didn’t become annoying and ruin the tempo of the book. It was done really well and I found myself relating to Violet.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for an e-arc of this book

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book with no obligation to review.

This is a great read which draws you in from the very first page. It has all the things I like such as good, well drawn, easily differentiated characters; a quest; missing persons; well crafted and interesting other worlds; hidden motives; betrayals; danger; tension; gods and monsters. You just dive in and sink into the great story.

Violet, Aleksander and her uncles are engaging characters and the darker pasts of Aleksander, Penelope and Tamriel are fascinating. I think this a book which is worth reading again.

I see the book has been likened to Addie la Rue and The Starless Sea. I loved both those books but to me, this book has a similar atmosphere to the first two Dark Materials books (not the film, or TV series of course).

It's just a pity for the older reader that the brothers are called Everly and so we are irresistibly reminded of Don and Phil, especially when a character says "the Everly brothers fighting in my shop".

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.

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.

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.

“The City of Stardust” is an absorbing and enchanting debut fantasy novel from Georgia Summers.

The story transports you into a world not dissimilar to ours but one connected to an another World through doors not everyone can use, where so called, Scholars manipulate a metal with magical properties and the Gods of myth and legend control the actions of some. Young Violet Everly knows nothing of this magic. She only knows of fairytales, stories and facts from her beloved books and embellishes the story of how her Mother abandoned her one night in the care of her Uncle in order to go on an adventure to try and break the family “curse”. At 12, she knows nothing of the truth. She doesn’t know where or why her Mother, Marianne Everly, left. The “curse” is her own understanding of family chat, overheard & embellished by an imaginative child.

That is until one night a strange lady arrives dragging her young assistant, Aleksander, with her. That night Aleksander shows her a glimmer of magic and Violet’s path will change forever. Because of that lady, Penelope, Violet, will spend the next 10 years trying to break the family “curse” searching for her Mother, finding out about magic, brushing shoulders with dignitaries, scholars, making friends and enemies visiting beautiful cities, libraries and attending parties. Enjoying the history, magic, thrills, fear, comforts and pain of her quest. Meanwhile, Aleksander is tasked with finding out where Marianne Everly is too. To do so he needs to befriend Violet.

The settings were beautifully described and added to the storyline without any gratuitous detail. The characters of Violet and Aleksander had so much depth. All their hopes, dreams and flaws were laid bare in the narrative. I found myself entirely captivated by their love, hate relationship. I was willing them both to succeed in their “quests”, despite knowing that their aim was not the same but that their relationship and personalities might mean their end game would result in bloodshed, fireworks and a fantastic story.

This is a five star read. I couldn’t put it down and look forward to reading more books by Georgia Summers in the future.

This is definitely going to be one of my top fantasy reads for 2024! This is a high-stakes adventure mixed with coming-of-age, somewhat reminiscent of Mistborn. The magic system is exquisitely nuanced, yet remains absolutely accessible and understandable.

I was gasping at practically every chapter, with each new revelation and character layer being peeled back. Georgia Summers has a talent for making each and every one of her characters so incredibly real, all with twisting backstories and complex relationships; everyone is a person in their own right and I would definitely look forward to sequels featuring them.

The story is paced well, and I felt as if I were holding my breath all the way. The romance, mystery and suspense were top-tier and kept me on the edge of the seat all the way to the end. Reading (and listening) my way to the culmination felt as if I were entering some warped world where anything could be thrown at me, and I absolutely adore the author for that, because she could have said anything in her fantastic lyrical prose and I would have fallen for it instantly. The duality of her characters and her entire world is simply bewitching, and the multiple worlds she builds within one story are stunning.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hodderscape for the ARC!!