The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers

The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers
UK Publication: Jan 2024
Reviewed by: Book Worm
Rating: [★★★]

This ARC was provided by Hodder & Stoughton (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.

One word review – enchanting

Synopsis from Goodreads: A young woman descends into a seductive magical underworld of power-hungry scholars, fickle gods and monsters bent on revenge to break her family’s curse in this spellbinding contemporary fantasy debut.

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 just a child when her mother Marianne vanished on a stormy night, determined to break the curse. And when Penelope cannot find her, she issues an Violet has ten years to find Marianne, or she will take her place. Violet is the last of the Everly line, the last to suffer from the curse. 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.

My Thoughts: Ohh this one is so hard to review without spoilers after that synopsis there is not a lot left to say. So let’s explore what can safely be said…

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Kitty Parker and this made for a magical experience I was swept up in a world of curses, of magic, of star people, of lovers wronged, of vengeance and most importantly of all a world where family is everything. The narration was spot on and I enjoyed every minute.

The world building is great and the story could end as it is whilst also allowing room for more stories in this world.

And let’s just take a moment to admire that beautiful cover….

Who would like this? If fantasy is your thing and you love explore new worlds through your reading for it!

We want to hear from you! Have you read this book? What did you think?