Again, no clue. If they’re wasting our time, I promise to exact revenge and lure them out to Cyberniskos’s lair.” The world-building was excellent, I loved the courts and their different locations, I loved the magic for those not fully of the fae realms and the differing levels between the ‘fae’ themselves and other beings. We have a great mix-up of everything and not to mention the world-building is basically attempting to rewrite itself in the plot and holy cow did I love that. Vehan turned to stare at her, mildly incredulous. Nausicaä, meanwhile, could hardly contain her laughter. “Okay, folks, if we come across anyone, make sure to also ask for directions to the nearest bathroom on top of whether they’ve been murdering children to make philosopher’s stones and kidnapping people and why.” Tall and lithe, his numerous years were yet unable to conquer his sinewy strength. His voluminous emerald and turquoise robes, fastened by gleaming gold, did little to soften the severe cut of his glamoured ivory face. This was such a FUN read, fae, ya fantasy, mystery, gay as all get out and with possible formation of my new fave squad.

A Dark and Hollow Star by Ashley Shuttleworth | Goodreads A Dark and Hollow Star by Ashley Shuttleworth | Goodreads

I’m sure it hasn’t escaped your omniscience that her mother is niece to my father, the High King? Arlo is human. She is also fae.” More often than not, the world looked at Celadon Viridian as though he were a pampered princeling barely out of the throes of adolescent dramatics. And at times he was, especially when in the mood to be difficult, but on the whole, this image was something he’d purposefully cultivated. This image meant that people (unwisely, and often to their own detriment) assumed he was more than a little vapid. It felt a bit like winning when he shed it now to pin the Fae High Council with a look that made them visibly falter.

High Prince Celadon!” Councillor Sylvain spluttered, both indignant and begrudgingly deferential to his much younger superior. “This hearing is a closed affair, restricted to the Council and Miss Jarsdel only. You are out of line, Your Highness. I must insist, with all due reverence, that you take your leave at once.” Councillor Chandra rose from her seat, displeasure etched into her stunning sand-brown face at the thinly veiled accusation in Celadon’s statement. “Weighing the worth of an ironborn child is no trivial matter, Your Highness.” The mystery is fantastic and I loved the different POVs though we are mostly learning things through Arlo’s over the others. As we’re piecing together things it just makes the stakes rise even higher and by the end of the book I had no idea what to do with myself. LIKE HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO WAIT FOR THE SEQUEL?! And now I really want to roadtrip to Canada and take the book with me lol.

A Dark And Hollow Star - Review - Cinelinx | Movies. Games A Dark And Hollow Star - Review - Cinelinx | Movies. Games

In the eyes of the High Council, the only thing that mattered was that half of Arlo’s heritage was human. The fact that the other half had come directly from a royal fae family— the royal family, the family that currently sat as head of the magical community above even the heads of all the other Courts—was actually a mark against her. The fae were quite proud of their undiluted bloodlines, and the very long line of the Viridian family comprised only that—fae. There were no faerie relatives—those folk who possessed some animal or natural trait like bark for skin or leaves for hair. The Viridians certainly had no human relatives either, not until Arlo’s mother had married one, and then shortly after had given birth to Arlo. At least Arlo herself looked similar to the fae; she shuddered to think how much worse she’d be treated right now if her magical heritage came from anything else. I don't mean to hype this book too much because the hype can sometimes kill a book BUT SERIOUSLY I LOVE THIS SO MUCH I WOULD DIE FOR THESE GUYS😭 which I definitely was not expecting going into this. The way Ashley created this world . . . it leaves me in awe🥺. I love most how this takes place in modern day with Fae heyy that rhymed AND IN TORONTOOOO😭 (and Nevada) All those mentions made me so happy. I actually knew exactly how the scenes looked like whenever they took place ahhhh the feeling is so nice. No,” Celadon continued on, “I only came to collect my cousin. It is her birthday, after all, and her family would like to spend what little time you’ve left her now to celebrate this fact.” He lifted his watch higher to exaggerate this point, then shook his head despairingly. “Apologies for the interruption, Councillors. I wish every one of you a wonderful night.”I knew right then and there, I'd lay down my life for this girl. it sounds ridiculous BUT SHE LOVES ANIME SO IDC Arlo is quiet and reserved on the outside but get her around family and her true colors show lol, I loved her. Prince Vehan was a hoot as well, I think he’s just this little cinnamon roll that we should all protect from the world, he and Arlo quite clearly have HUGE hearts, and he also has a strong sense of justice. They hadn’t said it outright, but this was the closest they’d come in this entire meeting to announcing their verdict—to condemning Arlo to a fate she’d never choose if her life were actually up to her. A gripping flight into fantasy…The plot offers high stakes, simmering romantic tension, political drama, refreshingly casual representation of queer and transgender characters, and an intriguing magic system that draws inspiration from Dungeons & Dragons.”— Kirkus I can’t remember the last time I full on belly laughed while reading a book (okay it was probably the infamous Daevabad potato head line but still, that was a while ago) and this book had me do it more than a couple of times.