by Georgia Summers
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The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers is a spellbinding standalone portal fantasy and the author’s debut.
The Everly family has been cursed for so long they are unsure why it started. The best and brightest in every generation disappears as punishment for a for a crime nobody remembers, and a purpose nobody understands.
I initially picked this book up because it was blurbed by Sangu Mandanna and was compared to other authors with dark worldbuilding whom I have enjoyed in the past. Also, this cover is phenomenal, and the naked hardcover is really pretty as well.
It does really feel like a dark fairy tale; that vibe came through very strongly to me. The author’s prose is lush and lyrical, which is optimal for me for these kinds of stories. I appreciated the thorough plot line though I think the first half especially could have been tightened up a bit more in editing. It does lean a little more in the New Adult direction, as our main characters are in their early 20s.
The worldbuilding was really interesting to me, with magic doors and even more magical keys, oaths signed in blood, and gods who survive by eating human souls. There’s a tinge of dark academia here, as one of the main factions are power-hungry scholars. I did greatly appreciate the casual queerness that was briefly mentioned early on in the book.
If you’re a fan of dreamy books with lushly written prose, you should check this out!
CW: violence, violence towards children
I received a complimentary review copy from Redhook Books and NetGalley. All opinions contained herein are my own.
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