A Dark and Hollow Star
A Dark and Hollow Star
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Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Just the Series: Hollow Star Saga Vol. 1   

Series and Publisher: Hollow Star Saga   

Annotation: "A queer cast of characters-a half-fae teenager, a temperamental ex-Fury, a fae prince, and his brooding guardian-must track down a serial killer whose disturbing murders are threatening to expose the hidden faerie courts to the human world"-- cProvided by publisher.
Genre: [Fantasy fiction]
 
Reviews: 4
Catalog Number: #255110
Format: Publisher's Hardcover
Copyright Date: 2021
Edition Date: 2021 Release Date: 02/23/21
Pages: 499 pages
ISBN: 1-534-45367-9
ISBN 13: 978-1-534-45367-8
Dewey: Fic
LCCN: 2020011475
Dimensions: 24 cm.
Language: English
Reviews:
ALA Booklist (Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 CST 2021)

In their debut novel, Shuttleworth blends Greek mythology, Irish folklore, alchemical science, and Dungeons and Dragons in a highly entertaining but overstuffed urban fantasy. Eight Courts of Folk rule the hidden, magical side of the Mortal Realm, protecting humans and magical folk from each other. Yet a recent string of ironborn (human-fae hybrids) murders have sparked only a cursory investigation, culminating in the High King blaming the notorious Dark Star, an ex-fury named Nausicaä. Four queer teens ronto ironborn Arlo; Vehan, the Seelie Summer prince of Nevada; Aurelian, Vehan's devoted retainer; and Nausicaä herself strust the official story. The characters unite as they uncover clues to a grand conspiracy involving forbidden alchemy, corrupt courts, meddling immortals, and one ironborn at a fated crossroads. Tongue-in-cheek pop-culture references and snarky humor balance well with dark but sensitive portrayals of emotional trauma caused by abusive or negligent adults. The clever world building, romantic undercurrents, and high-stakes plot are distinctive enough to weather uneven pacing and exposition. This first in a planned duology should be a hit.

Kirkus Reviews

When the leaders of the magical community turn their backs on a spreading series of murders, dark magic and intrigue draw four young rebels together in this modern fantasy.Eight Fae Courts rule the Mortal Realm of magic, but, despite their supposed peace with one another, prejudice runs rampant against anyone who isn't sidhe, particularly the ironborn whose red blood signifies human parentage. When the Courts dismiss a string of unsolved ironborn murders, four unlikely allies join forces to investigate. Chapters primarily rotate among the perspectives of Nausicaä, an exiled Fury with blond hair and suntanned skin who wields a katana; Vehan, a blue-eyed, golden-skinned prince of the Seelie Court of Summer; Aurelian, the prince's lesidhe retainer and childhood best friend, who has light tan skin; and Arlo, a white-skinned ironborn girl who is related to the High King. 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. However, the story suffers from consistent, frequent reinforcement of skinny and muscular bodies as most beautiful, with descriptions that quickly grow tiresome.A gripping flight into fantasy that is heavy-handed in its presentation of conventional beauty standards. (Fantasy. 14-18)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

When someone starts slaying human-fae hybrids (dubbed -ironborn- for their blood-s composition), Toronto teen Arlo Jarsdel knows she should lie low. Though her mother is fae, her father is mortal, and she has yet to mature into any powers she could use to defend herself. The Fae Courts- High King blames the crimes on reckless former Fury and known murderer Nausicaä Kraken-a theory Arlo endorses until Nausicaä saves her life. Against her better judgment (and despite being grounded), Arlo teams up with Nausicaä to catch the real culprit. Aiding their investigation are Nevada teen Vehan Lysterne-a fae prince who believes the attacks are part of a larger plot-and his steward, fellow fae Aurelian Bessel. Sparks fly between Arlo and Nausicaä, while unrequited love complicates Vehan and Aurelian-s already thorny relationship. First in a planned duology, Shuttleworth-s queer urban fantasy debut combines figures from Greek myth and European folklore with elements of tabletop RPGs. If the story feels overstuffed, with villains who all but twirl their mustaches, Shuttleworth sensitively tackles the plot-s darker elements, including trauma and suicidal ideation, tempering them with tenderness and wry wit. A kaleidoscopic narrative adds depth and drive. Ages 14-up. Agent: Mandy Hubbard, Emerald City Literary. (Feb.)

School Library Journal (Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 CST 2021)

Gr 9 Up-Faeries secretly live alongside humans, but an outbreak of magical violence threatens the peace. Humans are disappearing and ironborn, half-fae and half-human, are being magically murdered. In Toronto, ironborn Arlo witnesses a murder and is compelled to find answers. When her uncle the High King refuses to seriously investigate, she teams up with two teen fae and one exiled immortal to solve the mysteries. The faerie fantasy market is saturated, but the distinctive feature of this series starter is the four queer main characters who have a range of skin tones. Numerous secondary characters have diverse gender identities, creating multiple opportunities for deftly handled discussions of respectful pronoun usage, crafted by an author who uses they/them pronouns. Characters are vivid, with motivating, sometimes mysterious, backstories. The high stakes of the plot are balanced with humor, particularly from the irreverent and snarky Nausicaä. Shuttleworth weaves together multiple mythologies: Greco-Roman Furies and dieties, Irish faerie lore, Western alchemy, the seven sins of Christianity, and the format and tools of modern role player games. The resulting vocabulary may cause confusion, and the complex world-building is accomplished through detailed exposition that sometimes interrupts the plot. While the main mystery is solved, unanswered questions will motivate readers to continue the series. Many young adults will love this novel's stellar queer representation, as well as the oft-repeated refrain that the adults should be the ones handling this mess. VERDICT A promising opener to an urban faerie fantasy series featuring multiple queer identities. Elizabeth Lovsin, Deerfield P.L., IL

Reviewing Agencies: - Find Other Reviewed Titles
ALA Booklist (Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 CST 2021)
Kirkus Reviews
Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)
School Library Journal (Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 CST 2021)
Word Count: 161,466
Reading Level: 6.9
Interest Level: 9-12
Accelerated Reader: reading level: 6.9 / points: 27.0 / quiz: 516035 / grade: Upper Grades
Lexile: 970L

“Beautifully written and deliciously complex…I couldn’t get enough.” —Nicki Pau Preto, author of the Crown of Feathers series

The Cruel Prince meets City of Bones in this thrilling urban fantasy set in the magical underworld of Toronto that follows a queer cast of characters racing to stop a serial killer whose crimes could expose the hidden world of faeries to humans.

Choose your player.

The “ironborn” half-fae outcast of her royal fae family.
A tempestuous Fury, exiled to earth from the Immortal Realm and hellbent on revenge.
A dutiful fae prince, determined to earn his place on the throne.
The prince’s brooding guardian, burdened with a terrible secret.

For centuries, the Eight Courts of Folk have lived among us, concealed by magic and bound by law to do no harm to humans. This arrangement has long kept peace in the Courts—until a series of gruesome and ritualistic murders rocks the city of Toronto and threatens to expose faeries to the human world.

Four queer teens, each who hold a key piece of the truth behind these murders, must form a tenuous alliance in their effort to track down the mysterious killer behind these crimes. If they fail, they risk the destruction of the faerie and human worlds alike. If that’s not bad enough, there’s a war brewing between the Mortal and Immortal Realms, and one of these teens is destined to tip the scales. The only question is: which way?

Wish them luck. They’re going to need it.


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