I received a copy of The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers from NetGalley. This fantasy novel focuses on the story of Violet Everly. For centuries, the Everlys have been cursed, with one child from each generation led to a dark path by Penelope.
The story begins when Violet is a child and overhears her uncles discussing about someone. She is given ten years till Penelope will come to collect her. As the end of the given decade is looming, Violet discovers the secrets of her family. This leads her to a magical underworld filled with magic, mysteries, power, and greed. Violet needs to find a way to break this curse and sets out on a mission to do it.
Violet meets Aleksander when Penelope comes to visit her for the first time; he is Penelope’s assistant. It’s through him that she gets her first taste of magic. When years later, he reappears in the café she works, she can’t help but be drawn to him. Violet is a curious character from the beginning. She is academic and smart. Her uncles have kept her in the dark about magic as they search for her mother. Her curiosity about a new adventure is elevated further when she becomes friends with Aleksander. However, there is a lot she does not know about him.
When her uncles decide to take Violet to a safe house to protect her from the curse, she leaves on her own. She studies, researches, and travels all over the world to find her mother, who seems to hold the key to breaking the curse. The book takes an adventurous sort of turn at this point. She meets Aleksander again. He didn’t show up like he had promised her the last time they saw each other. She is hesitant, but they do end up spending time together again.
The narrative keeps shifting from Violet to Aleksander to Penelope to even her uncle. This gives you a better insight into these characters and their motivations. We learn about this magical world, along with Violet because all this is new to her too. It took me some time to understand the rules and workings of the world. It is a blend of dark academia, fantasy, and romance. Aleksander and Violet have a connection from the first meeting. He has betrayed her before, so she is not sure about him. Their romance is forbidden, but I feel it doesn’t get enough build-up. I wish there was more of them together.
The pace of the novel is a little inconsistent. It slows down in between and feels a little rushed towards the end. The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers is a standalone fantasy romance book. I wish we could see more of some characters’ backstories, like Violet’s uncle Gabriel, Marianne (Violet’s mother), and even Aleksander. For the most part, it keeps you engaged. Overall, I enjoyed reading it.
*Click on the book cover to get a copy.
Books and blues 