Book: The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers
Reviewed by Ashley M
Rating: 3/5
Plot summary: Violet Everly has ten years to find her mother and break a centuries-old curse before she is taken by the ageless Penelope.
Writing style & pacing: Lush and atmospheric prose, but the pacing suffered from a lack of concrete answers and a disjointed second half.
Character development: Initial promise for Violet and Aleksander, though their arcs ultimately felt underdeveloped and lacking agency.
World-building: Strong initial atmosphere (comparable to A Darker Shade of Magic ), but the lore regarding gods and scholars was superficially explored.
Emotional impact: High anticipation that ended in an anticlimactic "void," leaving the reader wanting more substance.
Themes & messages: Debts and consequences, the weight of family history, and the price of magic.
Content warnings: Family separation, curses/debt, and peril.
Recommendation & rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5). Recommended for fans of The Night Circus who prioritize "vibes" over a cohesive, answer-driven plot.