I haven't read the original trilogy by this author, and while I followed this story along just fine, I feel like I may have enjoyed this book on another level if I had read the original series.
The writing was completely captivating, and I felt completely teleported into this world!
It was a long book, but I got through it fast!

Nothing could ever beat the A Curse So Dark and Lonely series for me but I thought it did a very good job trying! I love Brigid's writing style

I love being back in this world and I love the direction that this book went. Can’t wait to continue the story.

I was starting to get a bit annoyed with the author after the end of the trilogy anyway but thought this premise sounded really good and to give them another go.

It was just so clunky, the rhythm didn't really work and the characters didn't seem to have any real chemistry or connection.

Feel she needs to go back to the first books style of writing which was much more pacy and intriguing and memorable

Please note that this book is not for me - I have read the book, However I had to DNF and because i do not like to give negative reviews I will not review this book fully - there is no specific reason for not liking this book. I found it a struggle to read and did not enjoy trying to force myself to read this book.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused and thank you for the opportunity to read this book

It was really wonderful to go back to the world of the Cursebreakers series, and to have time with faces both old and new. Kemmerer is masterful at first novels and deftly weaves an intriguing story, compelling characters and excellent world into a fantastic book.

I wasn't a gigantic fan of how the Cursebreakers trilogy ended, but I figured I'd give Kemmerer and the Cursebreakers another world with this book. Unfortunately, I didn't find myself getting on with this book. I struggled to make it a few chapters in, before ultimately deciding to DNF because I just wasn't being gripped by it. I may return to this book in the future, but currently I'm not interested in picking it back up. Sorry!

I absolutely love it when authors revisit settings from previous series. Forging Silver into Stars is no different. Great characters and the world building as usual is fantastic. A bit slow in the middle section, but the pacing soon sped back up.

This didn't draw me in and wow me the way the original series did. Even though the stakes were high from the beginning, it couldn't quite hold my interest. It took me forever to finish, and while I'm glad I did, I won't read the next book.

It was so good to be back in this world! This story follows Tycho, a few years on from the events of the last book. He is now the King's Courier carrying messages from Emberfall to Shyl Shallow. Jax and Callyn live in a small town away from the Palace and are struggling to get by. A mysterious stranger rides into town who offers them silver in exchange for holding sealed messages. Desperate as they are to pay the tax collector, they agree and hold the messages. People are wary of magic and the King's power, rebellion stirs. Jax and Callyn might be holding messages for the Truthbringers but it's a risk they decude to take. Until the King's Courier happens to stop by the town by chance. Then everything changes. This was a great read with shifting alliances, secret plots, dangerous flirtations and ancient magic. It was great to see some returning characters also, the pace was great and characters fantastic.

I didn't finish this book, opting instead to finish the other series first. I followed along just fine but I think I would have enjoyed this one more, had I understood more of the references. Will certainly be one I come back to though.

A spin off from the cursebreaker trioloy!!

Tropes:
Multi POV
Found family
Romance
Political intrigue

TW: Death, rape, violence and child abuse.

Forging silver into stars takes place 4 years after the events of “A vow so bold and deadly”

When Jax and Caitlyn receive notices from the tax collector - they don’t know how they can pay! An offer is presented to them, delivering messages to the Trughbringers and immediately they take it … not realising the cost.

This book was amazing! I highly recommend you to read the curse so dark and lonely Triology first to avoid any spoilers!

I struggled to put this book down, reading it fairly quickly which was surprising as this book is 500+ pages.

You will love this!!!

Yet another astounding book by the incredible Brigid kemmerer !

This book immerses you into a different world, transporting you somewhere different, her writing is enchanting and captivating.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone

*a big thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc copy in exchange for an honest review *

This book was amazing! Definitely one of my favourites for the year. I loved the A Curse So Dark and Lonely trilogy and loved the fact that i could re-enter that world following Tycho and some newer characters.

Forging Silver Into Stars follows Jax, a blacksmith, and Callyn, a baker. When Jax was younger, he had to have his foot amputated, leaving him unable to walk without crutches. I love how Brigid Kemmerer always writes such positive disability rep.Both these characters are hit with a tax debt and Jax starts keeping letters in exchange for silver to help them out of their debt. These letters are supposedly treasonous, but Jax and Callyn can’t afford to lose their homes and livelihood. It’s four years after the events of A Vow So Bold and Deadly and Tycho is now 18 and is the King’s Courier. He frequently travels between Emberfall and Syll Shallow carrying messages between Rhen and Grey. Both Rhen and Grey are at unease, because there are coded messages travelling between a group called Truthbringers. This group do not like Grey and want to protect the Queen and their country from him and magic.

On one of Tycho’s journey’s home, his horse throws a shoe and he has to stop at the nearest town to go to a blacksmith (you see what’s happening!!). This leads to Tycho meeting both Jax and Callyn in her bakery, at the same time as Alek arrives, one of the lords asking Jax to hold messages. There is quite clearly tension between Tycho and Alek and I love how this becomes a plot point in the story and leads to some very tense moments.

‘You’re not distracted. You’re not reckless. If your heart tells you someone deserves your attention, listen to it.’

There are so many good relationships in this book, but one I wasn’t expecting to love as much as I did was the one between Tycho and Rhen. It is clear both have matured since the original trilogy and I loved how Rhen stuck up for Tycho against Grey. I can’t wait to see more of this friendship in the sequel! I did feel like this book made me question Grey a bit more, as his and Tycho’s relationship falters a bit in this book.

My favourite relationship was definitely Tycho and Jax’s! There was so much angst and pining and just pure tension and I am obsessed with them. My heart went through a rollercoaster with their relationship. I had the pleasure of meeting Brigid Kemmerer at YALC the other weekend and was reading this book at the time. She told me one of her favourite scenes was coming up, and boy did I love that scene! It was the scene where Tycho teaches Jax archery. It felt like a pinnacle moment in the beginning of their relationship and it was so cute.

‘Grey might be good with a sword, and he might have the magic, but when it comes to words and strategy, no one beats Rhen.’

Callyn’s story kind of took a back seat for me in this book, but I definitely think she’s going to become more important in the sequel. I’m very intrigued to see where the tension between her and Lord Alek goes and what becomes of them! I loved the political/rebel plot in this book, and can’t wait to see what’s next.

I adored this book and think it was an amazing start to a new trilogy! It was so easy to return to this world and the new characters are beautifully written.

This new novel from the amazing Brigid Kemmerer is everything I had hoped it would be; wonderful, full and rounded characters, sublime and atmospheric settings and jam packed full of the best fantasy magic. Returning fans will adore this, and those new to
Kemmerer are in for a treat, this is super fantasy fiction that you want to read, now.

I don't think I will ever not like a Brigid Kemmerer book.
There's something about her writing that really captivates me. Her characters are always relatable and loveable, even those we find annoying, we somehow cannot help but love.
I loved being back in the cursebreaker world, and exploring it more from new eyes.
Anything this woman writes, i will read.

After reading the Cursebreakers trilogy I just wanted more and lemme tell you, I was literally jumping for joy when I saw that Kemmerer was returning to the world. Forging Silver into Stars showed so much potential, just from the synopsis and it delivered. It was everything I wanted and more. This book was 110% addictive and I devoured it in one sitting! And now, once again, I need more. I can't wait for the next one.

A welcome return to Emberfall and Syhl Shallow, but seen through new perspectives.

I asked the author if this could be read as a standalone, as I hadn't read the Cursebreaker trilogy before receiving this book, and she said it could be, but I disagree with that. Luckily, I went ahead and binge-read the previous three books before starting this one, and while technically, you can follow the plot, the plot and all of the character interplay builds on the events and relationships in the past three books. I cannot imagine understanding where certain trust issues, or bonds came from without having read that trilogy, and, as this book is more character-driven than plot-driven, I would say, that makes reading the first three books crucial, at least to me.

The Cursebreaker Trilogy was obviously about a curse to be broken, and the aftermath of that, and was very much centred on the ruling characters, this book starts a story focussed more on the people they reign over, and highlights their difficulties and how the powerful are perceived outside of that bubble. Some of the opinions I totally get, as I didn't understand how some of the reasons why a person should inherit over the other (trying to be spoiler free here) worked, or why they might be accepted as a monarch in the first place, especially in a foreign land. This book explores that a little bit more (though it doesn't address the tenuous claim of inheritance).

The book primarily focuses on the character of Tycho and his relationships, which I loved, he was a side character in the Cursebreaker books, and he makes a great perspective to follow in this new narrative. Through his eyes, we can learn more about the flaws of the reigning characters, as well as how to understand those flaws, and how they both work to overcome them, something which I think is missing from some of the YA fiction I've read from other authors, who show a red flag, then that's it, that character is enemy number 1, and irredeemable. I much prefer this more compassionate, thoughtful exploration of motives, experience, and redemption.

I love the male-male relationship in this book so much! I was so excited to see this romance bloom, though the mirrored romance felt a little contrived as it seemed written as a contrast. What it did serve to explore though is how one person can see a traitor, another can see a justified distrust of the person who suddenly is in a position of power. An interesting demonstration of how perception of events can twist a person's view.

I do miss the strong female character that Brigid Kemmerer had in Harper. I was really excited by Lia Mara's character when she first showed up in the Cursebreaker trilogy, she is penned as being brave and kind, and that her form of bravery isn't though force or fear, but through kindness, but she quickly descended into a trembly side character to her male counterpart, and is now an invisible queen in her own realm, relegated to the role of mother.

Love the title, love the multiple perspectives, especially loved Rhen and Tycho's relationship, and will definitely read more to see where this building plot goes, but please! Give Lia Mara a backbone, some agency of her own, like she had in her first book, and a role!

Book review: Forging Silver into Stars by Brigid Kemmerer

First and foremost, while this book takes place in the same world as the Cursebreakers trilogy, Forging Silver into Stars is not just a sequel to the trilogy. Sure, the story takes place after the events in A Vow So Bold And Deadly and some already known characters make themselves known. But having read only A Curse So Dark and Lonely, I had to problem getting caught up in this new story. It’s very well written and definitely be read even though one haven’t read the Cursebreakers trilogy. (Although I definitely plan to continue reading those books soon, much because of this book!)

I already liked Brigid Kemmerer´s writing style and way of telling stories even before reading this book. It was why I requested it in the first place. But I didn’t actually think I would enjoy it this much. I was enraptured by the story from the very first page. I didn’t want to stop reading and during those times when I really had to take a break, I couldn’t wait to get back to the story.

I love the character depth and how there’s no doubt that much effort and work is behind the making of this book. Everything is high quality, from the writing to worldbuilding and it feels like nothing was left to chance.

Forging Silver into Stars is a story about friendship and love, hate and betrayal. A story of doing, and sometimes failing to do, what’s right. They all makes mistakes, some worse than others, because like in our world, nobody is perfect. But the good ones are those who owns up to their mistakes and tries to do better.

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WARNING - minor spoiler ahead!
I ship Tycho and Jax so hard! I loved how they were sort of enemies at first put just couldn’t stay away from each other. Also, it was about time we got another well-written YA fantasy novel with a M/M romance subplot.

Tycho might just be one of my all time favorite characters. It literary hurts to read of how little he thinks of himself sometimes and how he blames himself so easily. How he’s always so careful about doing what other people want so they not turn against him. I felt that in my soul.

| Thank you so much to Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) for providing me with an eArc of this book through NetGalley! |

Perfect entrance back into the world created by the Cursbreaker series. If familiar with this author then you'll know her writing style and this book is just as good as her previous trilogy.
Set in a different perspective of characters we have had glimpses of before, there are tales of plots and rebellions against magic and whispers of treason.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book which is the start of a new trilogy and I'm excited for the next one.