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dielesemotte's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Faszinierende, komplexe Charaktere und eine Urban-Fantasy-Welt voller Intrigen - das alleine macht A Dark and Hollow Star schon zu einem tollen Buch. Dazu kommt ein angenehmer Humor und Beziehungen, bei denen ich nicht anders kann als mitzufiebern. (Ich habe mir direkt Band zwei besorgt)
Der einzige wirkliche Störfaktor war für mich die Übersetzung. Da habe ich stellenweise wirklich die Stirn gerunzelt und mich geärgert, es nicht einfach im Original gelesen zu haben.
Der einzige wirkliche Störfaktor war für mich die Übersetzung. Da habe ich stellenweise wirklich die Stirn gerunzelt und mich geärgert, es nicht einfach im Original gelesen zu haben.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Mental illness
Moderate: Drug use and Suicidal thoughts
laurenbookishtwins's review
4.0
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you kindly to Margaret K. McElderry Books for my review copy.
This was...surprisingly fun. I didn't know much about this going into it other than that gorgeous cover was badass and so surely the book was badass, it was about fae, and that it was very queer.
A Dark and Hollow Star follows three teen fae (and one irritated ex-Fury) attempting to unravel a magical conspiracy that is leaving dead Ironborn in its wake -- it's a captivating story, with incredibly intricate world-building and mythology, & with so much action and atmosphere, it doesn't feel like you're reading a five-hundred-page book. The cover features the infamous Dark Star, also known as Nausicaä, a disgruntled and dishonoured former Fury, and she was definitely badass and also the best character in the whole book. Our protagonist, Arlo, was relatable and down-to-earth, she was easy to root for (and her chemistry with Nausicaä sizzled off the page). Our angsty star-crossedlovers friends Vehan and Aurelian are not the main focus of this story, but they're definitely being set up for bigger things. And yeah, pretty much everyone is queer. Definitely looking forward to the rest of the series.
This was...surprisingly fun. I didn't know much about this going into it other than that gorgeous cover was badass and so surely the book was badass, it was about fae, and that it was very queer.
A Dark and Hollow Star follows three teen fae (and one irritated ex-Fury) attempting to unravel a magical conspiracy that is leaving dead Ironborn in its wake -- it's a captivating story, with incredibly intricate world-building and mythology, & with so much action and atmosphere, it doesn't feel like you're reading a five-hundred-page book. The cover features the infamous Dark Star, also known as Nausicaä, a disgruntled and dishonoured former Fury, and she was definitely badass and also the best character in the whole book. Our protagonist, Arlo, was relatable and down-to-earth, she was easy to root for (and her chemistry with Nausicaä sizzled off the page). Our angsty star-crossed
karenholmes's review
3.0
Urban fantasy set in Toronto. A group of unlikely allies gather themselves trying to solve a murder mystery. Someone is killing iron bloods (half fae and half human chilndren). And no one is paying attention.
The main character is the very likable and adorable Arlo an ironblood herself who witnesses the murder of another girl and feels triggered to do something.
Nausicaa is a fury, or an ex fury and a badass. She is the funniest character in the book and by far, the more charismatic.
Vehan is son of the Seelie Summer Court and Aurelian was once his friend, now his guardian.
The book is long, it has long characters and sometimes I felt like it was dragging and didn't offer much, but at the same time, the characters are so likeable and relatable, you keep going. And you want to discover what's going on as much as they do. It feels like the author has relied a lot on worldbuilding and kept part of "the good stuff" aka action for the second installment. Well, guess what? I'm dying to know more about them all!
The main character is the very likable and adorable Arlo an ironblood herself who witnesses the murder of another girl and feels triggered to do something.
Nausicaa is a fury, or an ex fury and a badass. She is the funniest character in the book and by far, the more charismatic.
Vehan is son of the Seelie Summer Court and Aurelian was once his friend, now his guardian.
The book is long, it has long characters and sometimes I felt like it was dragging and didn't offer much, but at the same time, the characters are so likeable and relatable, you keep going. And you want to discover what's going on as much as they do. It feels like the author has relied a lot on worldbuilding and kept part of "the good stuff" aka action for the second installment. Well, guess what? I'm dying to know more about them all!
indiasorcha's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
abirdnamedmagpie's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cleoharper's review
3.0
This YA fantasy thriller steeped in royal politics immediately pulled me in. I had so much fun with this story and loved the characters and the many relationships. At times I found some of the characters hard to keep track of, which meant that some of the plot points didn't land for me. I was confused about the rules of the magic system (maybe they were kept vague to match Arlo's lack of knowledge of the whole situation? maybe they'll be expanded on in the next books?) and found some of the events too convenient to be conceivable. However, I was deeply invested in the characters and loved Arlo and Nos and cannot wait to read the next book!
*3.5 stars
*ARC provided by Netgalley for review*
*3.5 stars
*ARC provided by Netgalley for review*
jayarna's review
4.0
we! need! more! queer! fantasy!
Ashley Shuttleworth is a force to be reckoned with. This was an amazing debut - there were so many moving parts, so much intricate plot and so much backstory that she handled really well, balancing each of them to craft a really vast world and concept that I just loved.
I wanted a little more of some of the characters, but I think it just suffered a little being the first book - this does have a lot of setup and at times all the moving parts become overwhelming and you lose your intrigue. The pacing was also a little off. For the most part I felt like it was moving slow but a lot was happening?
I think this was a really great set up for an even better second book and honestly I love the sapphic relationship in this so fucking much, I definitely need more of them and it's so exciting to have a sapphic relationship at the forefront of a fantasy series, that is so exciting for me. If you like Fae and fantasy I definitely recommend picking this up. it was like the perfect balance between the ACOTAR series and the TMI series.
Ashley Shuttleworth is a force to be reckoned with. This was an amazing debut - there were so many moving parts, so much intricate plot and so much backstory that she handled really well, balancing each of them to craft a really vast world and concept that I just loved.
I wanted a little more of some of the characters, but I think it just suffered a little being the first book - this does have a lot of setup and at times all the moving parts become overwhelming and you lose your intrigue. The pacing was also a little off. For the most part I felt like it was moving slow but a lot was happening?
I think this was a really great set up for an even better second book and honestly I love the sapphic relationship in this so fucking much, I definitely need more of them and it's so exciting to have a sapphic relationship at the forefront of a fantasy series, that is so exciting for me. If you like Fae and fantasy I definitely recommend picking this up. it was like the perfect balance between the ACOTAR series and the TMI series.
peipo's review
5.0
This book deserves much more praise!! It's fun to read and well-paced from start to finish.
Read this book if you want some refreshing urban fantasy with a great story and compelling/complex characters. I can't recommend it enough!
Read this book if you want some refreshing urban fantasy with a great story and compelling/complex characters. I can't recommend it enough!