This second instalment in the series was brilliant!

The plot was fast paced and kept me turning the pages; although the beginning of the book is simply building momentum and placing the pieces of the puzzle down, it is powerfully intriguing.

The political drama is intriguing, the danger the characters find themselves in is so nerve-wracking, and the multiple POVs will keep you guessing and glued to this book.

The characters all have so much depth and personality, you can feel your emotions getting tied to each of them as you make your way through the chapters.

Kemmerer is so talented, and is a master at creating these magical fantasy plots and books.

CARVING SHADOWS INTO GOLD is a tense second instalment that really gets the most out of relationships between well known characters.

The draw for me with this book, as it was with FORGING SILVER INTO STARS, was the old characters. Tycho's relationships with Grey and Rhen have been my favourite part of this series so far, and this book was no different. I've really enjoyed seeing how the examination of loyalty on relationships has carried on, particularly this book look at the two way nature of it. The way that fed into where Tycho and Grey's relationship ended up in this book was a nice spark of warmth and hope (given everything else that happens in the ending!)

It was really interesting seeing Grey and Lia Mara's relationship through other eyes. Like last book, they don't narrate so the tension between them is seen through other characters, making you wonder at times how much is real, how much is wild speculation.

The ending is certainly very intense (and it's clear that it is ramping up for the third and final book!) It is a good example of how a series (and in particular, a spin off/follow on series) can up the stakes by using the world and the consequences of previous actions without feeling like it's getting a bit excessive. Everything feels very believable within the rules of the world and the characters' personalities.

I found this one slow to start, but once I got o to the rhythm, the story really went for it!

I have been awaiting this sequel for some time, and it absolutely did not disappoint! The authors writing is so beautiful, and I love the way everything is described. This one ended up being jam packed full of action and I really enjoyed it! I liked the additions of new characters, as well as the development of the old ones too!

Brigid Kemmerer can do no wrong in my eyes. It's been so long since the first book in this spin off trilogy, I was worried we'd never see this! This is a brilliant addition to the series. Tensions are high and Tycho, Jax and Callyn are all adjusting to their new roles after the battle of Briarlock. Scravers are attacking and the truthbringers are rallying against King Grey.
This book is fast paced and exciting. The new characters of Callyn and Jax are wonderful additions and I just adore Tycho. I was hoping we'd get Alek's POV after the last epilogue but, nope.
A seriously wonderful book, filled with politics, love and dangerous magic. There's wonderful disability rep in the book. A must for anyone who loves YA fantasy!
Thank you so much to the publishers and Netgalley for providing an arc in return for an honest review.

'Carving Shadows Into Gold' is the latest novel in Kemmerer's 'Cursebreaker' series - although technically part of a second trilogy, it follows on from the events of the 'Cursebreaker' trio and features the same characters albeit in secondary roles, with different viewpoint characters. Set in a fantasy world, the kingdoms of Emberfall and Syhl Shallow have been united by the marriage of the king of the former and queen of the latter, but 'happily ever after' is much more complicated than fairy tales might have you believe. The story is told from the perspectives of Tycho, a courier to the king; Callyn, nursemaid to the young princess; and Jax, a blacksmith and Tycho's romantic interest. The three are mainly on separate trajectories, although the story does hang together well despite that, as the action passes between the two countries.

Kemmerer is a reliably good writer and always creates characters you can care about and stories that are engrossing and exciting. She never fails to get a few tears from me during her novels. It's technically a young adult book, but I have enjoyed all of the series so far despite being far from young. After all, a lot of characters in adult fantasies are youthful, and the responsibilities and challenges of the characters in this series give them a gravity beyond their years. I'd say it can be enjoyed by a range of ages.

It's true I've never 'bonded' with Jax, Callyn and Tycho in the same way I did with the original pair of couples from the first three books. But at least we still get to follow their stories and all four make at least brief appearances - although Harper's is very brief, which is a shame. She has always seemed to be a bit unfairly served in the later books of the series, having been at the very centre of the first. However there are a number of strong supporting characters that I felt a bond with, particularly the soldiers Malin and Sephran, and Nakiis the scraver. I did struggle to remember all the details of what happened in the previous book, and a bit more of a reminder would have been helpful - particularly around the cause of the rift between the king and Tycho. But on the whole it didn't affect my enjoyment.

I'd recommend this series to anyone who enjoys fantasy adventure stories or 'romantasy'. Kemmerer has done a good job of keeping the momentum up with new storylines and characters, creating new facets of her world and new dangers to negotiate. I'm already looking forwards to the next one.

“Maybe instead of wishing, it’s time to start doing.”

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The King's Courier Tycho has made a treacherous bargain. Now beholden to the magical scraver who saved King Gray's life, one false move could end everything. Jax escaped his life in Briarlock and traveled with Tycho to Emberfall. But life outside his small village brings unexpected challenges--and unlikely adversaries. After years of hating the royal family and their magic, Callyn never expected to be at the Queen's side, with magic on her fingertips. But at the royal court, she can't trust anyone--including the man she thought she loved. Cast apart, Tycho, Jax, and Callyn must learn to wield the magic that is dividing their kingdom. As the magical scravers attack from the north and the king's rivals gain strength, time is running out. War is looming. Love is tested. And magic could be the only answer. . .

Tycho really cannot seem to catch a break. He is so dedicated to those he sees as family, yet it all feels like he can do nothing right and he is stuck in place. I absolutely adore Tycho and have done since we were first introduced. Here we get to see him start to build more bridges and friendships with those around him - something certainly needed considering the one who he initially relied on the most seems to keep turning his back on him. His interactions with Gray in this book are increasingly more tense and I found it incredibly interesting seeing this dynamic change. Gray is more paranoid and reclusive and that has a profound impact on everything in the vicinity - his people, his family and his relationships with others. As a result, Tycho seems to stand taller on his own two feet which was brilliant. He seems to think more broadly about everything going on now as well. Before it was very much how he could serve his king and do his country proud. His focus has certainly shifted more to himself and how he can make himself proud - which I was so happy to see.
Jax really finds his feet. Away from the pressure of his forge and the implications of a drunken, abusive father, he has the chance to truly flourish - for perhaps the first time in his life! I really enjoyed seeing him forging friendships with those around him and working extra hard to fit in amongst the soldiers and people of Emberfall. Due to the circumstances, he is left floundering for a while in an unfamiliar kingdom, surrounded by many who despise him because of his origins and very few who actually understand him. However, he proves that he cannot be pushed away or intimidated and really shines. His interactions with Rhen were definitely interesting to read. The prince offers what he can to Jax, but there is always underlying tension. The way this is approached by Kemmerer was so engaging and whenever a moment between the two of them arrived, I was engrossed and desperate to see how things would unfold. The camaraderie that develops between the two of them was so great and I really hope we get to see more in the future.
Callyn has always had a lot on her shoulders and there is certainly no change to that. If anything, she has increased responsibility for everything going on. Being a carer for the princess alongside her sister, it offers a unique position where she is aware of a lot of the goings on in the palace - and with the royal family. But it is incredibly clear that she is anxious about having her position taken from her should she misstep in the slightest. I did like her tenacity in trying to do her very best to be a positive companion - for her little charge, but also for the queen. Getting to see more of Lia Mara was fantastic but seeing her be so vulnerable with Callyn was absolutely brilliant. It added extra layers to the story and overall atmosphere in the palace, whilst also allowing Callyn to feel more cemented in her position. She also clearly has the queen’s trust - as seen in her interactions with Alek who still stirs up plenty of trouble. Though Callyn definitely seems to keep him in his place! I hope we get to see more of Callyn’s confidence in the future.

I could scarcely get enough of this sequel. The plot was absolutely fantastic. Filled with tension, and angst and intrigue, I could scarcely put the book down! Flow is something that Kemmerer has always excelled at, and this was certainly not an exception. There is just something about how brilliantly each chapter moves from one to another - especially when they’re from a different point of view! The characters, as always, are wonderful and incredibly engaging to read. In the first book, it was great getting to see familiar faces from the original trilogy set in this world. But this sequel takes it to a brand new level and we get to see the new faces as they grow but also older and familiar characters in a completely different light. I’ve always loved getting to see characters I’ve fallen in love with through unfamiliar eyes because they always lend a perspective I’ve not previously considered - how they interact with others, how their actions impact others. This time jump from the original trilogy still continues to blow my mind! There are so many emotions explored in this book and I think that was the biggest highlight for me. We’ve seen in the past that Kemmerer is not afraid to include a variety of emotions in her books (thank goodness!) and here is no exception. We see angst, fear, betrayal, anxiety, confusion, trepidation in amongst relief and happiness. All of which blends so well together to add increasing amounts of depth to the overall story. The romance is top notch too. There is an enormous amount of longing (understandably) but there is also rocky romance too. Sometimes it is incredibly refreshing to see imperfect couples and their struggles. It makes the love they share all the more sweeter! We also get some very, very light spicy moments and I absolutely loved them. So emotionally charged and incredibly sweet! That ending has me absolutely flabbergasted. My jaw is on the floor and I am DESPERATE for book three! How am I meant to wait for the next one?!

Overall, Carving Shadows into Gold is a brilliant sequel that I was utterly swept away with.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you again to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for an advanced copy of this book. Review will be live on my blog on release day and available immediately on Goodreads.

This was fun and fast paced, the new characters introduced were really interesting additions to the story and the characters from the first book were well developed and have interesting individual story lines happening, which has me very excited for the next book.

I can't say too much as this is part of a series but I will say that this was a captivating read from start to finish, full of action, adventure, mystery and romance. I enjoyed every second of this!!

I’m grateful I have been able to read this early, I honestly adore this world so much.

I am livid that I had to put up with Alek in this story. Alek is a menace, he’s so adamant his cause is just and it blinds him to the fact nothing is black and white.

I really enjoy the queen, callyn, Nora and princess Sinna’s interactions, it adds a wholesome quality and a mothers touch that Callyn and Nora have clearly missed.

Jax is making leaps and strides with his confidence, I thoroughly enjoyed his growth and the new characters he meets that become friends. Tycho goes through the motions in this story, I honestly wasn’t sure if he was going to keep his cool.

Magic is the root of controversy, and it’s hard to tell what the next book will mean for anyone with magic and the future of both kingdoms. There’s so much that happened in this book and I’m happy with the pacing, it’s not an information overload but the story progressed quite a bit.

Such a great return to these characters, I absolutely ADORED Forging Silver Into Stars and this didn’t disappoint ☺️

It definitely has a bit of middle book syndrome, lots happens but it doesn’t really move the wider plot along too much! I loved it anyway though, spending all the time with Jax, Tycho & Callyn was amazing although I need more Jax and Tycho together in the next book 😏

I found the slow pacing a little frustrating at times and it took me longer to read than I had hoped as a result of this 🥲

I also got so mad at Callyn’s decisions but I really hope it’ll make for some epic and impactful moments in the next book 🫶

4 stars

Thank you so much to Bloomsbury & NetGalley for my e-ARC xxx

Miss Kemmerer, what are you doing to me!

The book started out slow, which is why I took a wee bit longer to finish, but that is honestly the only qualm I have with it.

The author really has a way to keep me on my toes without it developing into frustration. The characters are young adults, but behave in a very mature way and that such a breath of fresh air. You can really feel they are doing their best during adversities which makes you root for their success.

I am already looking forward to the next book!

This is long awaited and did not disappoint. However, it is definitely a middle.novel in a trilogy which brings its own frustrations for those of us who want more now please!

I really enjoyed getting back into the worlds of Emberfall and Syhll Shallow, particularly viewing the action from the points of view of Tycho, Jax and Callyn.. Weare drawn into into the drama surrounding both counteies and the quest to stop a war over magic. The characters are well drawn and the newer characters are equally interesting broadening our view.. We are left wondering where the final chapters will lead us…

Can’t wait for the next instalment!

I'd really hoped this one would be better than the first as I adored a curse so dark and lonely series so really wanted to give this one another go with the second book of this series. Unfortunately the characters still lacked depth and the romance was minimal. I'd of loved to connect with them more but I didn't.

I would highly recommend to family and friends. I love author’s that can describe a scene and you are immediately there, you close your eyes and you picture the scene. This author does that for me.

Thank you to Bloomsbury YA and NetGalley for the chance to read Carving Shadows into Gold. I loved diving back into the Cursebreaker universe and meeting these new characters! This book had everything I love: the intrigue, the romance, the deliciously slow burn…

The King’s Courier, Tycho, is caught in an impossible bargain with the magical scraver, and watching him try to navigate this treacherous path while keeping King Grey safe was tense and gripping. Jax’s journey from Briarlock to Emberfall brought a fresh perspective, with plenty of new struggles and enemies waiting for him — it was fantastic to see his growth and grit. And Callyn at the Queen’s side, grappling with her newfound magic? Her uncertainty and the secrets around her added so much depth and tension.

With the kingdom on the edge of war, Tycho, Jax, and Callyn’s stories are woven together in a way that kept me glued to the page. The magic, the shifting alliances, and the looming threats all come together in such an intense way. Brigid Kemmerer does an amazing job balancing action with those intimate, heart-wrenching moments that left me needing the next book!

This one left me with chills, and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

“Carving Shadows into Gold” is the second book in the “Forging Silver into stars” series. As this is a spinoff series, I recommend reading the “Cursebreakers” trilogy before.

This book has the same POVs as the previous one (Tycho, Jax and Callyn). The start is slow and follows the relationship between Tycho and Jax, after they get to Emberfall. Unfortunately, they do not get to spend much time together.
On the other side, Callyn’s time at the royal court is full of complications and she doesn’t know who she can trust. She needs to hide her magic and does her best to help the queen. Her relationship with Alek is complicated and I still do not know if I like him or not.

You can expect magic, a lot of action and dangerous situations, politics but also emotional moments and a lot of character development.
We get more information about the scravers and what they are planning. This is the book that prepares the way to the inevitable war. The wait until the next one will be hard.

Thank you Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc for an advanced copy of the book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thanks to Bloomsbury and Netgalley for a review copy of this novel. Every time I read a Brigid Kemmerer novel I am struck by the rich characters she creates, the command she has for writing tense and absorbing plotting and great dialogue whether she is writing contemporary or fantasy fiction. This novel is a worthy addition to her library of wonderful novels that linger in the mind. Part of the Forging Silver into Stars series that continues the world in which the Curse Breaker series inhabited, the novel once again features the narratives of Jax, Tycho and Callyn. All around them lurks danger from court intrigue, Scravers or the angry Truthbringers who disapprove of magic in Syl Shallow. Jax has a new life at the forge at Prince Rhen’s court in Emberfall, Tycho is the King’s courier, facing great danger as he tries to navigate the worlds of both Emberfall and Syl Shallow and the growing magic inside of him while he wrestles with his feelings for Jax and his anger at King Grey. And Callyn attempts to make a place for herself and her sister in King and Queen’s household looking after their daughter and deal with her feelings of betrayal against the noboleman Alek, who once again indicates he wants to rekindle things between them. The three are forced to face these struggles alone while Scraver attacks in both kingdoms increase and Tycho’s bond with one particular Scraver hangs over him and the unrest against King Grey in Syl Shallow grows to dangerous levels.

Brigid Kemmerer’s deft writing and plotting shines strongly in this novel in what is a middle book in a series, an accomplishment that many aren’t able to achieve. Once the scenes are set, the characters firmly in place the novel takes off at an absorbing pace and the characters captivate as always. She handles each relationship well—Tycho’s complex relationship with Grey, his developing feelings for Jax, while Jax’s growing friendships and his struggle with establishing his own understanding of what he means to Tycho are realistic and poignant as is his dynamic with Prince Rhen. Callyn’s growing connection to the Queen and Callyn’s relationship with her sister are subtly drawn too. All of these elements combine along with a good solid plot and pacey writing are Kemmerer hallmarks and make for a really good novel.

For me Brigid Kemmerer is the perfect YA writer. Her books make you feel like you've just stepped into a fairy tail.
I loved this sequel to Forging Silver into Stars. And I was so happy to be back in this world again!
Auto buy author for me!