Synopsis

For centuries, generations of Everlys have seen their brightest and best disappear, taken as punishment for a crime no one remembers, for a purpose no one understands. Their tormentor, a woman named Penelope, never ages, never grows sick – and never forgives a debt.

Violet Everly was a child when her mother left on a stormy night, determined to break the curse. When Marianne never returns, Penelope issues an ultimatum: Violet has ten years to find her mother, or she will take her place. Violet is the last of the Everly line, the last to suffer. Unless she can break it first.

To do so, she must descend into a seductive magical underworld of power-hungry scholars, fickle gods and monsters bent on revenge. She must also contend with Penelope’s quiet assistant, Aleksander, who she knows cannot be trusted – and yet whose knowledge of a world beyond her own is too valuable to avoid.

Tied to a very literal deadline, Violet will travel the edges of the world to find Marianne and the key to the city of stardust, where the Everly story began.

Review

This was a fantastic debut.

The City of Stardust is such a unique idea, with discreet elements of horror mixed with fantasy, which works really well. It reminded me of Pan’s Labyrinth in some ways, with the journey and the mythical creatures involved, but with the addition of dark academia which I love – the perfect combo.

Characters were well-rounded and interesting, although Violet was a little dull at times, which is a shame as she’s the main character, but the others made up for this. The story itself had a good pace and I devoured it in two days whilst painting my bathroom!

The narrator was good and kept me engaged and intrigued; the story itself had a good pace and I devoured it in two days whilst painting my bathroom!

I did struggle to visualise some of the creatures, and would have liked a little more descriptive language here; I also had a few unanswered questions. That said, overall it’s a magical and unique story but I plan to read the book as well as no doubt it’ll be a different experience.

Thanks to Hodder Books for my proof copy. Opinions my own.