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A review by biancas_library
A Dark and Hollow Star by Ashley Shuttleworth
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Let's start with what I loved about this book: I loved loved LOVED how inclusive this book was! The inclusivity was shown in a very subtle way (pointing out that braille was an option, a character having different pronouns than he/she, just to name two examples). This really shows how easy it can be for authors to be more inclusive in their works.
Next to that, I also really loved how realistic the book was! Not only was the faerie world directly interwoven with the human world (whereas most of the time it is either a world completely different than ours or the faerie world is accessible through a portal), the characters also used stuff like human technology and referenced human culture (Dungeons & Dragons, Mario Party etc) quite a bit. My favorite and most realistic line though was Arlo having to pee in the middle of the showdown! That would so be me!
Now apart from that I have to say the book fell a little bit flat for me. A lot of it was really dragged out and could have been much shorter. A huge part of that were the chunks of world building that were dropped on the reader every once in a while. The world just kept getting bigger and bigger. Personally, I also didn't really feel like the characters were given much individuality, especially with Aurelian and Vehan (this could also be because we got way less chapters from their point of view; I actually wished there had been more equal distribution since most of the book was told from Arlo's perspective). Because of that I didn't quite make a connection with the characters.
Lastly, I wasn't the biggest fan of the whole storyline with the die Arlo was given; it felt a bit like a computer game?
However, the epilogue made me excited to see how the story continues. I really hope, the author gives the characters more depths in the sequel!
Next to that, I also really loved how realistic the book was! Not only was the faerie world directly interwoven with the human world (whereas most of the time it is either a world completely different than ours or the faerie world is accessible through a portal), the characters also used stuff like human technology and referenced human culture (Dungeons & Dragons, Mario Party etc) quite a bit. My favorite and most realistic line though was Arlo having to pee in the middle of the showdown! That would so be me!
Now apart from that I have to say the book fell a little bit flat for me. A lot of it was really dragged out and could have been much shorter. A huge part of that were the chunks of world building that were dropped on the reader every once in a while. The world just kept getting bigger and bigger. Personally, I also didn't really feel like the characters were given much individuality, especially with Aurelian and Vehan (this could also be because we got way less chapters from their point of view; I actually wished there had been more equal distribution since most of the book was told from Arlo's perspective). Because of that I didn't quite make a connection with the characters.
Lastly, I wasn't the biggest fan of the whole storyline with the die Arlo was given; it felt a bit like a computer game?
However, the epilogue made me excited to see how the story continues. I really hope, the author gives the characters more depths in the sequel!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Violence
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Suicide