A very cool color-based magic system and unputdownable in the last 20%, but the FMC is so self-involved, self-destructive, and thoughtless for the preceding 80%. That made this often frustrating to read as a fortysomething, but will likely resonate more with the book’s intended YA audience.

When I first saw this book featured on NetGalley's website, I was excited because it sounded so good and was right up my alley, and not only that, the cover is STUNNING!. However, so many things were wrong with it that I couldn’t pass on. I found the magic system was somewhat unique but confusingly explained. The plot twists felt rushed, and the characters lacked depth. While the action scenes were well-written, the dialogue and character development fell short. Overall, the execution didn't live up to my expectations.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this book.

This is an incredible YA fantasy debut! The magic system is so unique, it got me intrigued from the start. I can see some tropes from the comp Six of Crows being used here (i.e. found family, heist, manipulation, the "magic item" is actually a person) and I personally think it does every well for such common tropes.

However, I omitted two stars for my own personal preference. One being that I cannot get used to the voice. It's too chirpy at the beginning, but turned very solemn when the world building is being explained. It feels quite info dumpy at times because of this, as it does not feel like Cemmy speaking at all. Secondly, also in terms of world building, I think the politics and the technicalities of the magic system are too complicated. It's incredible how I read the entire book and I still don't know the details of anything.

(Lastly, I want to blame the publisher for providing such a bad epub copy, that ruined my reading experience a little).

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Hodderscape for the ARC of this magical book.

I approached this book with excitement I won’t lie, I had seen it hyped up my other authors I love and though I hadn’t read Kate Dylan’s other series, the idea of Until We Shatter had me hooked and let me tell you, I was hooked the entire book.

Cemmy is a brilliant character, she’s full of resilience and passion and fire but at the same time she’s scared, she’s unreliable and she’s weak. I enjoy that in a character, I don’t want them to be perfect and so sure of their powers, I enjoy reading about them learning how to grapple with their powers. Learning how to trust, how to let go of the past, and how to move on.

It wasn’t the perfect story sure, there were a few things I felt got dragged out. But at the crux of it, I devoured this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. The plot reveals we’re well thought out and actually got me at some points, I was rooting for the band of misfits to win. And by the end, I was satisfied and left wanting more from this magical world Dylan has created.

Chase, now can’t leave Chase out can we. He was everything I wanted from the mysterious powerful man Cemmy meets. He’s more than meets the eye, he’s such a well thought out character with real emotions and real stakes in the story.

Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who wants a fun, heist-style story with lots of heart and plenty of wonderful characters.

"Until We Shatter" by Kate Dylan is a riveting standalone fantasy that intertwines elements reminiscent of "Shadow and Bone," "Six of Crows," and "The Black Prism." The story, set against the backdrop of a city on the brink of civil war, delves deep into the lives of those caught in the crossfire of powerful, opposing forces. Dylan’s narrative weaves a compelling tapestry of magic, societal division, and the struggle for survival, making it a standout addition to the fantasy genre.

The city of Isitar is a complex, multi-layered setting, teetering on the edge of chaos. The Council of Shades, representing the magical elite, and the Church, vehemently anti-magic, are at war. Caught in the middle are the Hues—individuals with diluted magical abilities who belong neither to the fully magical nor to the magic-fearing populace. Cemmy, our protagonist, is a Hue and a thief trying to navigate this perilous landscape. Her ability to dip in and out of the shadow realm, the In-Between, makes her a valuable asset but also a target for both sides.

At the heart of the novel is a high-stakes heist, a mission fraught with danger and deception. Cemmy and her band of misfits are blackmailed into stealing a heavily guarded artifact, a task that pushes them to their limits. This heist, while central to the plot, also serves as a vehicle for exploring deeper themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the search for identity in a fractured world.

Cemmy is a deeply flawed and relatable character. Her decisions, often driven by the best of intentions—whether it’s protecting her friends or caring for her sick mother—frequently lead to disastrous consequences. This makes her a frustrating yet compelling protagonist. Her interactions with Chase, another half-shade who is both an ally and a source of tension, add layers of complexity to the narrative. Chase’s bitter pragmatism and Cemmy’s fierce determination create a dynamic that is as volatile as it is captivating.

The novel also excels in its portrayal of found family. Cemmy’s crew of fellow misfits, each with their own quirks and traumas, forms the emotional core of the story. Their camaraderie, coupled with the challenges they face, highlights the themes of trust and solidarity in the face of adversity. The representation of bisexuality and deafness through the characters adds depth and authenticity to the narrative, making it a more inclusive and resonant read.

Dylan’s magic system, while initially overwhelming, is richly detailed and unique. The association of different colors with specific powers and attributes creates a vivid and engaging framework. However, the complexity of this system might be daunting for some readers, and a glossary at the beginning could have eased the initial confusion. Once acclimated, though, the magic system adds a fascinating dimension to the story, enhancing the stakes and the characters' abilities.

One of the novel’s most striking aspects is its exploration of how information and misinformation shape societies. The control of knowledge by those in power and its impact on public perception and prejudice is a recurring theme. This adds a layer of social commentary that is both timely and thought-provoking. Chase’s observation that "a perfect soldier is a Shade they can predict and control" underscores the moral complexities and ethical dilemmas faced by the characters.

"Until We Shatter" is a testament to Kate Dylan’s storytelling prowess. It is a book that combines thrilling action with profound emotional depth and intricate world-building. While the dense magic system and initial world-building may require some perseverance, the rewards are well worth the effort. The novel’s rich character development, inclusive representation, and exploration of moral ambiguity make it a compelling read for fans of fantasy and heist stories alike.

For those who appreciate a blend of high-stakes adventure, complex characters, and thought-provoking themes, "Until We Shatter" is a must-read. It stands as a remarkable achievement in the fantasy genre, promising an emotionally charged and unforgettable journey.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Found family, a heist, a unique magic system - what's not to like about this novel? I also definitely didn't see the twist coming which is always nice. I did feel that Chase/Cassiel was a bit two dimensional, perhaps because he was keeping secrets right until the end of the novel, but in general I enjoyed the relationships and characters. Not quite on the same level as Six of Crows, but fairly close.

Loved every second of it. The stakes were high and the drama was on point. The magic system was interesting and the pull between the use of magic and keeping it hidden kept me reading.

“I was so afraid of losing them, I forgot that love isn’t a blaze you feed by only kindling your strengths. It demands your insecurities, too. It demands faith.”

This book was the second e-arc with a heist trope that I read this month, and this one is far more deserving of being compared to books like Six of Crows (albeit a bit too much so, at some points, due to being too similar).

The plot was really captivating and kept me on my toes. The stakes were incredibly high and I didn’t see most of these twists coming (except for the one where I wanted to hit the female lead‘s head against a wall because she was just being purposefully obtuse). Well, I was annoyed by her character and her behaviour at several points throughout the book, so that’s not very surprising, but then again most of that was quite in character for her age and has me thinking once more that maybe YA isn’t for me any longer.

Or maybe it’s just that I felt like the story revolved too much around her when I would have wanted to see so many more details of the relationships between all of the other members of the group as well.

As for the world building, the magical system was incredibly intriguing, but just as confusing to get into. An overview at the beginning of the book would really have done wonders for my understanding. There were just so many different colours and with the misinformation and not all of them ever becoming very relevant to the story, it was just hard to keep track of everything.

Bonus points for including a deaf character and using sign language, though!

4/5 stars.

Until we shatter sadly wasted a lot of it's potential. 2,5 stars.

The magic is interesting but convoluted, unnessecceraly complex and just gets info dumped to you in a wall of text, twice.

A big theme of this book *supposedly* is found family but all the characters except the FMC and her LI felt incredibly flat and basically just existed for their power.

The plot also has massive issues one of the big "twists" in the end was so obvious that even from the first hint I was angry at the characters for not figuring it out themselves even though they are supposed to be so smart and capable that they are able to pull off a heist and outplay not 1 but 2 super mega powerful entities in this world.

The writing was good and espeacially the last 20% of this book were super engaging and page turners but then I think about the fact that the characters while in the middle of the heist just stand there and TALK for 5 minutes and then get suprised that the evil guys used that time to trap them and I just can't give this book a higher rating.

I think this author has potential and I'm willing to give their next book another shot but this book has massive issues I sadly can't overlook.

I was excited about reading “Until We Shatter” but it did not turn out great at all! Cemmy is a Hue, the child of a magicless human and a shade full of magic based on color. Being a half-breed, she has been hunted her whole life due to her existence being illegal. In order to make ends meet for herself and her dying mom, she uses her gifts in the Gray to steal from those around her. But when a lift goes terribly wrong, she and her other Hue friends must team up with the enemy to save the Gray and the world.

This book was a really rough read!! The characters hardly interact with each other so I never really got a found family vibe from them. Instead of being shown the relationships between everyone, the author just tells us how things are.

The magic in this world made no sense to me either. I wish that there had been some sort of chart or something to help me keep track of which color does what, because I have no idea what a majority of them!

I honestly had no clue what was going on in the world. The little bits I did get were so confusing. For a book that’s only 300 pages, there was way too much info-dumping with almost no explanation. It felt like I was being told “this is how it is” without any real connection to the story, and it just kept repeating without ever being fully explained…

I almost DNF this book and was very disappointed! Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 2.7 stars (rounded up to 3 stars)

There was a lot of potential in this novel, but unfortunately, a lot of it fall short for me.

The book had a very interesting magic system. However, it was confusing and complicated. In this novel, your magic depends on what type of shade of color you are. There are three categories: full bloods (aka Shades) who can use their magic across the physical and the Gray (aka shadow world), the Hues (aka half Shades) whose magic are constrained to the Gray, and the typics who does not have magic and is limited to premade spells in the physical realms. Within the three categories, there are subtypes of colors and each color reflects a different power. There was just so much to remember. I ended up having to take notes in order to keep everything straight. I am glad I did, because understanding the shades of color really plays a huge role in the heist. I think this novel could have benefited from a magical glossary or chart, because the information does get overwhelming as the story progresses.

As for the characters, I found them to be kind of underwhelming. Novi, Ezzo, Eve, and Lyria was an interesting group of characters. Although they had their own unique traits and personality, I just felt they weren’t as fully developed as Cemilla and Cassiel. I would have loved to learn more about their back story and motivation. However, I felt their role was minimized to emotionally supporting our FMC and to drive the plot of the heist forward. I was also conflicted with Cemilla’s character. I found her to be quite frustrating at times. She does let a lot of her personal problems get in the way of making some sound decisions. Surprisingly, I did like Cassiel’s character. He was an enigma, but I enjoyed unraveling the mystery behind his motivation. There is a romance sub plot, which I thought was unnecessary. I would rather have the story focused more on the relationships between each of the characters.

Finally, as for the heist, I enjoyed majority of the plot line. I thought how the author used the specific magic of the characters was very clever. I also liked how there were mini missions before the big heist. The information you learn along the way really sets up the reveal quite nicely. There was a lot of tension, deception, and betrayal that kept the story engaging. What frustrated me though was finally learning about Cemilla’s ability during the pivotal moment of the heist. I don’t understand why this information was withheld. This was one of the big plot-holes for me, because knowing the extent of Cemilla’s ability earlier would have made the heist gone so much smoother.

Overall, I thought the story was okay. Although it lacked character depth and had a confusing magic system, there was still enough intrigue and action that kept me reading.

Thank you Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.

This book was compared to Six of Crows. I am the biggest fan of SoC but this book...should not be compared to the masterpiece.

WHAT I LIKED was the writing. It was beautiful and if i could give a rating just for the writing - it would be a solid 4,5.


BUT (and it's a big BUT)- like a lot of readers, i couldn't 'catch' the magic system. It was much too complicated and i was confused most of the time. I am an adult and i would consider myself pretty smart/inteligent/whatever but i just. couldn't. understand. it. It could be done better because it may get the readers DNF it.

Second - there was not that much chemistry between our main character and the love interest - it was a little too bland for me, i was not rooting for them for the whole book (like a do when i really FEEL the couple).

Overall, i wouldn't say i loved this book but i also wouldn't say 'burn it and don't let anyone read it'. Like i am in the middle - the idea was great, but we just got lost in the middle.










Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC!


All opinions are my own

thank you gor the advanced copy!
3⭐ dnf at 56%
i am always up for a stand alone sff novel and this one had a very interesting premise. the writing itself is excellent, but unfortunately, the world building was too complicated and the plot hard to follow at times.

Unfortunately, this book did not hook me in like others in the past. While I was intrigued by the blurb, I didn't feel motivated to read more than a few pages.

Sometimes you pick up a book, read a handful of pages and think 'No, I don't think this book is for me'. Doesn't necessarily mean the book itself is bad, just that I didn't connect with the story. The star rating is simply based on the fact that I found this book interesting enough to want to read it and not entirely influenced by the book's contents. If a book can achieve that level of persuasion through the blurb alone, then I think other readers should give Until We Shatter a go even if I didn't finish it. After all, this review is based on my thoughts alone and each reader experiences a book differently.

I truly wish the author a successful publishing day, and I thank both the publisher and Netgalley for offering me the chance at reading this eArc 🙂😊

This was just fine. I was pretty bored until 75% of the way in and I didn’t think the payoff was worth it. I just couldn’t be bothered to care.

This is not bad, but it is particularly disappointing because the magic system is so cool and unique (if a little complicated for a book this length).

Thank you Hodder and Stoughton and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy.

If you love dispotic books this was such a great one.

It has been a while since I’ve read one
The world building was great and the entire idea totally captivated me

I’ve loved Kate Dylan’s science-fiction, but this one was a bit of a mix. Loved the complex world and characters, but the system of magic was way too complex to keep track of. I lost the thread of what various people’s motivations were, and who was double-crossing whom long before the main climax. It was also really long, with nothing much happening for most of it.

I was sold when i’ve heard the word “heist” . Have this book disappointed me ? Absolutely not. The world felt rich, immersive and original. The characters were allo well developed and I’m totally fell in love with Cemmy and all the secrets , tension and betrayal of her group. Untill We Shatter was a fast paced read that blenda action, love and friendship perfectly!

I was sold when I read this was about an impossible magical heist and found family. The magical system crafted in this book is unlike anything I've ever read, and I applaud the author for creating such a layered magic system in a YA book of 300 pages. Society is divided into those who can wield magic (Shades), those who cannot (Typics), and those who are children of both and thus can wield magic in a unique but constrained way (Hues). The magical abilities of different colours and their subsequent hues was fascinating and kept me intrigued throughout the story.

Unfortunately the actual heist was a bit of a let down for me. The relationship between the characters and the found family aspect was what held my interest. I would definitely say this is more of a character-driven story than a plot-driven one. I was not entirely convinced by some of the plot developments and felt that a lot of the resolutions to conflicts were deus ex machinas. Having said that, the book was still an enjoyable read overall. If you enjoy unique magic systems and reading about found family, this might be the book for you.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an e-copy of this book. This is my honest review.

Until We Shatter is a thrilling and captivating heist fantasy that delivers on every level. From the first page, Kate Dylan weaves a rich and immersive world, complete with a gorgeously conceived magic system where colour magic adds layers of intrigue and complexity. The characters are wonderfully fleshed out, brimming with emotion, moral dilemmas, and personal stakes that keep you glued to the story.

Cemmy, our fierce and desperate protagonist, faces an impossible choice—survival or destruction. The tension between her, Chase and Nova creates a delicious dynamic, while the love triangle adds further depth without overpowering the central plot. The stakes are high, the betrayals are devastating, and the found family element gives the novel a heart that balances its darker themes.

This book masterfully blends action, magic, and character-driven drama, with blackmail, deception, and a deadly heist at the core. If you're a fan of morally grey characters, impossible quests, and a fantasy world fraught with danger, Until We Shatter is an absolute must-read. A triumph of storytelling.