A Dark and Hollow Star

I was totally hooked on A Dark and Hollow Star from the cover alone, this book is incredible! I am a SJM fan but even I will say that fae storylines are starting to lose their appeal/originality and yet this book felt like such a breath of fresh air. I read this copy through NetGalley but immediately preordered the paperback to sit on my shelf, I just love it. There is a lot going on in this book, and a lot of good to talk about; the world building, the writing, the pace, the LGBT representation, the action, the slow burn romance, the humour, this book offers so much.

However what really sets this book apart is the characters which you just learn to love incredibly, with 4 main characters Tarim different backgrounds that must work together following a series of murders of ironborns. As I said at the start, I’m a SJM fan and if you too love Aelin Galathynius, you will love Nos/Nausicaa, right from the start, what an opener! Every time she appeared on the page I just smiled, she’s sarcastic and brazen and hides the huge pain that eats away at her behind a tough exterior. She also has wings and a katana and i would easily die for her. Arlo is the High King’s niece and feels rather irrelevant and insecure, however through the ‘mission’ in this book she learns that she is so much more than what people think she is.

Similarly there is Prince Vehan and his best friend/undeclared love/attendant Aurelian, both under the eye and power of Queen Riadne. They love each other and court obligation and threat have caused distance between them. Aurelian is definitely a slow burn, essentially he has had to emotionally withdraw himself to protect Vehan, and yet you still see that love under the surface. Vehan, on the other hand, feels alone and unloved, thinking Aurelian now hates him, and as a Prince he wants to protect and care for people like he wishes he was cared for. Vehan is a sweetheart, although Nos and Arlo were my favourite characters and my favourite parts of the book.

These characters are all struggling, with insecurity, grief, depression, loneliness etc, and it makes them feel incredibly real. Mental illness and the societal pressure to be ‘okay’ and resilient is referred to, as is suicide, and both are handled maturely, sensitively and with the promise of more exploration while other books would have just thrown it at you. You will find a part of yourself with each character, root for their inner battles, and miss them when the book ends.

This is a fun, fast adventure with characters you will love, characters you will relate to, and a depth and colour on the page that sets this book apart and promises so much for the next book.

Thank you so much Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for a free e-copy of this book.

This review is going to sound like a giant cliché and I apologise in advance. It’s because whenever I love a book perfect like this one, I am terrible at writing a 5-star review. I don’t read much urban fantasy, but I decided to pick up this one as the cover keeps showing up on my social feeds.

This book was a massive surprise. It had a slow start, and at 20% I was actually debating with myself about continuing or not. I am glad I stick with it because after that it was incredibly difficult to put it down.

The story goes around Nausicaä, a fury who was exiled from her realm after killing mortals without permission. She is stranded in the human world until a series of murders force her to get involved with the royal fae family and another human to discover who or what is behind the death of ironborn children.

The most impressive feature of this story is the epic world-building, whenever you think you’ve figured out this world, the writer adds something to the scenario or introduces new supernatural beings, or new rules to the magic system expanding it even further. That was absolutely mind-blowing, how everything from this world was all fitted into an intricated web of faerie politics and mysterious murders. Can you hear my brain exploding? Still, I had the feeling we just scratched the surface of this world and the writer has more to show us with the next book.

I also appreciated that as a change, this story takes place both in modern Toronto and fae world and it’s amazing how mixing these two realities totally works. I loved that it wasn’t the typical New York or London, a lovely change of scenery.

On top of everything, you get a book with a great diversity representation across main and side characters. One of the main characters, Nausicaä is probably the main reason why I loved this story so much. She is such a great character, she talks with no filter, she says whatever she thinks about and she has no problem admitting she has mental health issues, and that she went to see a therapist sometimes. And also, she is absolutely hilarious. I loved all the nerdy jokes, all the references to videogames and Star Wars.

I truly enjoyed every aspect of this story, the plot and the character, and I can’t wait for the sequel. I think it’s darker, grittier and more mature than City of Bones and on the topic, I would add that I strongly recommend checking the content/trigger warnings first, because this book explores a wide range of tough issues.

Side note about this e-arc, I was confused about Hero’s POV as there was no physical sign or break when they started and they were just attached at the end of another character’s POV but I guess this will be fixed in the final version.

This book is going to be your best read of this Winter and thanks to the vivid descriptions and almost informal writing style you will devour this book in no time!

Characters with attitude, Amazing world building and Fae what more could I want from a book?
This book was one of my highly anticipated releases of 2021 and I wasn’t let down not even a bit! With multiple points of view that flowed naturally and a truly interesting magic system I couldn’t put this book down. The characters chemistry was one of the first things that pulled me in and with the hints of romanceu I can’t wait to see where these lead. The plot was fleshed out and had me on the edge of my seat throughout this was such a fast paced book and I loved every minute of it.
What really pushed this book to a 5 star for me was the characters all broken in their own way all coming together to find a serial killer whose crimes could expose the hidden faerie world. The banter between the characters (special mention to Arlo and Nausicaa) had me laughing and really just added something a little extra to the book.


This was such a strong start to a new series and a world I didn’t want to let go of on the last page. P.S Did I mention how much I loved the characters!

The whole time I was reading this I just wanted her to step on my throat because YES.

LGBT rep? (lesbian, bi, gay and gender fluid rep here guys, I’m screaming, we love to see that rep.)

I’m here for anything revolving around fantasy storylines but honestly felt this book impressed me more than any Sarah J. Mass story. Whilst the world building left some room for improvement I was wildly drawn to the characters and each of their backgrounds.

It’s also really bloody cool to have to much mental health exploration, as someone with PTSD it’s awesome to see subjects like these brought up and handled really well (definitely take a look at the TW’s before reading if you have concerns)

All in all I really loved this . It’s a breath of fresh air with solid representation in a genre where that can often be hard to find.

Grab this book🙌🏻

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for approving me for a digital arc, I’ll be off to grab a paper copy on release.

Pheeeeeeeeeeew That was a RIDE.
Look, this met its expectations and that is saying a LOT, because I was expecting a LOT.

A Dark and Hollow Star brings us to Toronto where the High King of all courts resides. That's also where Arlo lives. The King of the fae is her uncle but she was never accepted by her family since her father is just a human and she's never shown proper powers, but, her cousin, Celadon, the High Prince, is her best friend and the two are thick as thieves. Arlo finds herself at the wrong place at the wrong time and witnesses a very weird murder that won't get out of her head, especially since it's linked to a whole series of murder. And there enters, Nausicaä, a banished Fury, also known as the Dark Star and who is pretty much the boogeyman of the magical world. Nausicaä does not want to be in Toronto but she made a promise she can't break and has to see this to the end. She's also trying to catch a Reaper so you know she busy but not to busy to start scheming with Arlo and saving her life from time to time.
Further south, near Las Vegas, we found Vehan, the Prince of the Seelie Court of Summer and his retainer, Aurelian. The two used to be best friends before their relationship soured and now find themselves in the middle of an investigation about missing humans…

This book was great. I was engaged from the prologue to the epilogue with no stops in between. I found myself having to close it and scream from time to time, I was just too stressed.
I just loved everything about it. The plot, the characters, the relationships, the setting, the world, everything. The characters were layered and so imperfect, in the best way. It made them so relatable and I couldn't get enough. Their relationships to each other gave me all the feels, whether they were friendships or romantic or family... They made me laugh and pine and cry and everything in between, all of it did, really.
I found the plot to be perfectly paced and I honestly wouldn't change a thing.
I cannot wait to read this over and over again and everything else by Ashley Shuttleworth. This book definitely made them a one-click author to me.

I wanna start off this review by saying I normally hate fantasy, I hate wordy books because it’s hard to pay attention and I always end up having to reread the chapter to make sure I didn’t misread something, but this book is the exception.

I loved this book, loved the characters loved the descriptions and even dialogue I found myself being obsessed with. Ashley Shuttleworth did an amazing job at writing these characters and giving them their own distinct personalities and even though I still struggled with keeping up with all the foreign words I still managed to paint the picture in my head.

In this book we follow the views of four characters, Arlo Jarsdel (half human fae) Alecto/ Nausicaä (immortal exiled fury) Vehan (a prince) and Aurelian (Vehan’s steward). The chemistry and dynamic between these four characters are amazing so much that I wish we got to see more. Another wish that I had was that we got to see more of prince Celadon who is Arlo’s cousin.

I highly recommend this book.

A good adventurous read with a dash of romance and a bucket of comedy. I don’t know if there’s going to be a second book (looks like the end did set up for a series) but if there is I’d be the first to buy. Look forward to seeing more of these characters.

A Dark and Hollow Star was one of my most anticipated books of the year. It’s urban fantasy at its finest, with fae, magic and all kinds of other fantastical elements, existing right next to our human world, unbeknownst to most. Additionally, it features an ensemble cast made out of only queer characters. It’s truly the book of my teenage dreams!

Right from the beginning, I was mesmerised by the world Ashley Shuttleworth created. The world-building is so vivid and colourful, the different Courts with their rules, the magic, and—of course—the mystery that ties it all together: why are the ironborn being killed? A Dark and Hollow Star is an incredibly enthralling story and I was captivated from page one, when we met the Fury Alecto—known in this book as Nausicaä, after she’s been outcast from the Immortal Realm—and learned of her fate. I love how the different POVs bring this story together, love the different insights in both, life as fae royalty, but also life as a magical being in the human world (in this case, mostly in Toronto). It’s filled with nods to pop culture and so many normal, everyday moments: from Lord of the Rings & Marvel, to smartphones, texting & watching YouTube videos, and much more.

Video game fans in particular will fall in love with A Dark and Hollow Star, I think. Not only is it positively riddled with gaming references (The Legend of Zelda and Finally Fantasy are particular favourites, it seems), but a part of the magic system is even based on dice and games such as Dungeons & Dragons. That’s right: there’s a magic die one of the characters is able to roll to determine the success of the outcome of various situations.

And we have so many amazing tropes and dynamics: there’s the childhood friends to lovers trope (with lots of misunderstandings & obliviousness & pining); the chosen one trope (with a very distinct spin & an unwilling hero!); and one of the characters is a barista—guys, one scene here has two of the main characters in a situation straight out of a coffee shop AU! This could not get any better! And I really want to make clear again that all the main characters are queer, and there are also a lot of queer side characters. The rep is amazing! Out of the four protagonists, one is lesbian, one is gay, one is bisexual, and one is questioning. There are also multiple genderqueer and nonbinary side characters (it's said that many of the deities are genderfluid and use they/them pronouns, which I think is amazing)!

What Ashley Shuttleworth does incredibly well is give the reader a sense of the characters. There are five different POVs, but all of them are so distinct from each other; all have their very own personalities. Through memories and flashbacks, often tied to deep emotions, the characters come alive, become real. Maybe it’s the perfect mixture of fantasy elements and everyday-situations, like visiting cafés or watching movies on a laptop and falling asleep next to each other—whatever the reason, I’ve rarely come across characters that feel so entirely themselves, like they could step out of the pages any moment now. The small, intimate moments in A Dark and Hollow Star are some of my favourite things ever.

And the dynamics between these wonderful characters are just as perfectly developed. They work so well with each other, they form bonds, despite all their differences. In some cases, there’s already a lot of history there, in others, it’s just a sort of instant chemistry. I love how Arlo, Nausicaä, Vehan and Aurelian act as a team, how they come together and decide to go on a mission to find who’s behind these murders, because they all realise that the adults in their lives are too comfortable in their denial to help. I just feel like Ashley Shuttleworth was incredibly aware of the more common tropes in the YA fantasy genre and decided to either draw notice to them (in the case of children having to save the world, while the adults are too divided to decide how to act), or just turn them on their head entirely.

Overall, there just wasn’t a possibility of me giving A Dark and Hollow Star anything less than five stars. From the moment I first heard about it, I knew I would adore it, and still Ashley Shuttleworth managed to surprise me—I loved their story even more than I ever imagined. Fae and magic, all the pop culture and gaming references my fangirl heart could ever desire, a cast made up entirely of queer characters; the way magic and everyday moments come together to create a world that’s both vivid but also almost intimate, in the way the characters seem to come alive, how they live and breath and love and fight on the page. God, I love this book so endlessly much. Fans of books such as City of Bones & The Cruel Prince: this is the book for you (but it has much more queer representation, so it's even better!) ♥️

An original, thrilling and wonderful take on YA fantasy, that breathes new life to the fae that have become commonplace in the genre. These aren’t your medieval faeries from A Court of Thorns and Roses or The Folk of The Air, they’re young, modern, queer and absolutely full of personality. That’s why my review for this book is going to be slightly all over the place when I love a book to this capacity I struggle to put how I feel into words, ironically.

A Dark and Hollow Star meets all the criteria I want from a favourite book and even verges into a comfort book. It has an adventure full of magic with dark stakes, unlikely alliances between hot-headed characters, lots of gay pining and so much worldbuilding you feel completely sucked in. ADAHS followers our four main characters;

Nausicaa - a sarcastic, rightfully stubborn, extremely strong ex-Fury who should have no interest in the murders the plot is based around. However, her strength hides her depression (for which she freely admits to goes to therapy - yes to that!) from losing someone she loved and for that she vowed to never love again. Easily the character you want to root for after you find out about her, her dialogue and interactions with the other characters are the best full of intellect, quick wit and loving condensing remarks and her developing friendship with Arlo is so rewarding.

Arlo - The ‘main’ character, a sweet and naive ironborn (half-fae) girl. She’s slightly awkward and completely unsure of herself, she doesn’t have a sense of belonging. Except her cousin and mother, her fae family don’t want her and the human realm seems to have no place for her. Her character development is one of my favourites, especially because it’s so tied to Nausicaa’s. Also she loves fandom stuff, like manga and video games and it just makes her so much more real.

Vehan - My personal favourite character, my sweet prince, he really is a complex little bean. The High Prince of the Seelie Summer Court, there is so much more going on underneath the perfect exterior he works so hard to maintain and there is a moment where he broke my heart. He understands the privilege of his position and he is so clearly burdened by it.

Aurelian - Vehan’s retainer, his guard, the two of them were once best friends but they’re still madly in love with each other, idiots-to-lovers like the author themself said. Like Nausicaa, he has a hard exterior, which may bring them to a head with each other, but there is no denying he is sweet. The world hasn’t had a chance to properly disillusion him yet, he started maintaining his distance from Vehan from both there own good.

There is also a strong cast of side and supporting characters, every single one of whom feels developed and like a real person regardless of if they appear for one page or are a constant presence. That’s why this is so comforting to me, all of these characters feel real if you take away the fact they’re, fae, faeries, trolls, goblins or whatever else, they all feel like people you could meet on the street. Another brilliant part of this book feeling so real is the world, it’s set between Toronto and Nevada and Shuttleworth’s writing of the former is deeply personal while also being atmospheric and imagination-inducing. The way the magic simply just existed almost makes me want to go to Toronto to find it, even though it isn’t actually real.

Despite this being a debut there are no weak links in the writing, the dialogue is just as brilliant as the prose and I absolutely LOVE when you can tell a book is work of a complete passion by the author and they have even put parts of themselves into the book. Shuttleworth weaved so many influences in here (greek mythology, fae and faerie tales, RPGs, dungeons and dragons) and yet they don’t get muddled up because it’s not written to be confusing like so many other fantasy stories that reach the scale of A Dark and Hollow Star. My only issue was how unresolved Aurelian and Vehan’s story felt, but I suspect it is because they are the ones that will lead us into the sequel.

Before I conclude I wanted to notes few things I adored; a character that uses they/them pronouns, the use of actual sexuality and gender labels for the characters that they use to describe themselves, a character that uses NEOPRONOUNS, describing a girl as handsome, the discussion of mental illness that isn’t forced. But in conclusion, A Dark and Hollow Star is my new comfort book and also a book I want to see completely take over the YA Fantasy genre, it is a shining example of what the genre is headed toward. There are wonderful ships and relatable characters and beautiful writing. It is a book I think any fantasy fan would enjoy, with enough magic and plot to go around because it strikes a perfect balance between character and plot-driven.

I absolutely loved this book. Urban fantasy is something I can never get enough of. I was hooked on this book from the prologue. If you are into these tropes this book is a must for you:
-prince and his bodyguard (mlm)
-Soft girl and badass girl (wlw)
-Chosen one.

The world building in this book was really interesting and I cannot wait to see how this may be developed further on and the challenges which will arise. The four main characters (Arlo, Nausicaä, Vehan and Aurelian) all had interesting POVs which I was invested in and the development each and all these characters had was so great to read. Additionally, the cover for this book is absolutely stunning.

Content warnings: anger, arson, blood/gore, body horror (minor), death of a child, depression, disownment, divorce, drug use/ addiction, grief/grieving, human trafficking, poverty, psychopathy, stalking, suicide (past, off-page), suicidal ideation, toxic relationship/manipulation, trauma/PTSD, racism, violence/gun violence. These triggers are all listed at the start of the book

I am so looking forward to seeing how this series will progress.

I have made two tweets about this book which gained traction and I cannot wait for people to read this book upon release

A Dark and Hollow Star is how I love my Urban Fantasy. The whole idea that humans live beside Fae/Faries/Folk and just don’t know it has always been massively appealing to me, it makes my inner child hopeful and giddy. So straight away I knew I was going to love this book but oh boy did I not expect to love it this much!

Plot and World building: What I loved about the plot of this book is that I never knew where it was taking me, it was constantly surprising and impressing me. As I’m sure we’re all aware Urban Fantasy and Fae are hugely in right now but this book not only has the perfect mix of the faerie and modern world but it also mixes different kinds of mythology and deities giving this book a different take on the usual Urban Fantasy and Fae novels making for a unique experience.

I really enjoyed the way the world was built throughout A Dark and Hollow Star, it was done so organically and smoothly, giving you just little bits at a time and only ever letting you know what you need in the moment that you never feel like you don’t know what’s going on or that you’re getting an info dump. In my opinion the perfect way to build a world.

Characters: There are 4 main characters Arlo, Nausicaä, Aurelian and Vehan and they all have a major role to play. Before I get to our main characters I’d like to take a second to talk about my favourite character Celadon. He’s everything I love my male Fae characters to be; funny, charming, witty, gorgeous and kind. I’d love a book just about him! Arlo was so easy to relate to, she was so unsure of herself and constantly felt on the outside looking in and that she doesn’t belong anywhere. I could easily see myself in her, plus she loves games, manga and books and also has red hair, an easy insert for me. Unlike Arlo, Nausicaä was harder for me to relate to with her confidence, her bravery and going after what she wants but boy did I want to be her and not only because she’s badass and can kickass, she also kind of reminded me of Buffy and I’ve always wanted to be her.

The next 2 main characters weren’t the focus of book 1 (hopefully we get more in book 2!) but were just as important and gave us a different perspective and important information. Vehan wasn’t your typical mean cruel Prince, he was kind and considerate and constantly wanted to help and protect others, it was refreshing. Last but not least we have Aurelian, Vehan’s friend and Guardian. For me he was the most mysterious throughout until we learn his terrible secret. He was brooding and dramatic and obsessed with a certain someone and honestly it was really adorable.

Overall: I’m honestly very impressed with this debut. It felt fast paced, steady and never a dull moment. I loved the mixture of mythology, folklore and deities. The way Ashley mixed them together was done really well and felt seamless. The story was brilliant and woven through the novel very cleverly. I loved this book and cannot wait for the second.

I love urban fantasy books and those with fae so I knew I was going to like this book from get-go but I didn't expect to LOVE it! The characters, especially Nausicaa was amazingly snarky and she has so many quotable lines! I liked how down to earth Arlo was. Vehan, Aurelian and Celadon are all just cinnamon swirls and I love them all so much.
The mix of technology gave an interesting spin on the situation that some authors forget to include. The pacing for the story was great and I loved the idea that there are these higher powers and layers of mysteries about their own legends. I can't wait for the next book in this series ... I don't want to wait!
Also fan art despertley required and someone please point me towards a special edition of this book - I can't find any. This book needs more love and support! This book also has LGBT rep, I myself am straight but I loved how the characters' relationships were woven in to the story. It's not a coming out story either, they simply are their sexuality, which I found really refreshing. It was a fantasy novel first and foremost with romance as a side and those are my favourites kind of books. I'm rooting for the characters (no spoilers who ends up with who!)!

I've decided that I love the Fae! I love the unique twist this book put on something that is somewhat prevalent in YA fantasy atm, and with a fantastic bunch of characters and an intricately woven plot that keeps you guessing A Dark and Hollow Star has cemented itself as one of my favourite books of the year.

Nausicaä was so sure that she would be sentenced to death after revenging the death of her Fury sister, what she didn't expect was to be sent to the mortal world to live out her immortal life. Dubbed the 'Dark Star' she causes as much trouble as possible to the Fae and other mythical creatures who live alongside the humans, determined that if she pushes them far enough her immortal brethren will end her like she wanted in the first place. In her bid to put herself in an early grave she starts investigating the killing of 'Iron Borns' Fae born from mixed blood, but her investigation brings her into contact with Arlo an Iron Born who is worried that no one is taking the deaths seriously. Their first meeting gets a little...heated. Nausicaä warns Arlo off looking into the case, but Arlo is determined to look into the deaths so the pair reluctantly team up. Prince Vehan of the Summer Court lives a life of luxury, wanting for nothing. But he has a secret, something that links him to the deaths of the Iron Born, something that might prove fatal. Alongside his once friend and now protector, Aurelian he follows leads looking into the deaths leading him on Goblin chases and to meetings with annoying and hot headed immortals. But there is something bigger at work, something darker, something years in the making, and before the gang know it they will get dragged in to something so above their heads, they will be lucky to make it out alive.

If there's one thing that will cement my love for a book its a brilliant and diverse cast of characters, something that Ashley Shuttleworth delivers in spades in A Dark and Hollow Star. From our four MC's to a well developed cast of side characters, there is a character for everyone to love... and more than enough for you to hate as well, one in particular who I would quite happily throw off a cliff. Nausicaä, Arlo, Vehan and Aurelian couldn't make a weirder bunch; an immortal, an Iron Born, a Price of Seelie and his protector. They would certainly draw eyes walking down the street together, but their differences, both in power and personality, and the secrets they keep make them uniquely suited to bring down the killer. My favourite of the side characters is Celadon, Arlo's Uncle, though with the whole Fae ageing thing is more like her big brother. They are incredibly close, and he is overly protective of her, especially with her lack of magic meaning she is not so great at protecting herself. Their relationship is just hilarious and I couldn't get enough of their scenes together. I'm a little said that he didn't get a POV in this book, but hopefully we will get one in book 2. There was another character, one I can't say too much about with spoiling certain plot points, but I just loved the scenes they were in. I'm still not 100% sure if they are good or bad, but can't wait for more of them in the second book.

A Dark and Hollow Star brings us a perfect blend of the magical and the mundane. In this world the Fae and other magical beings live hidden alongside humans. We have 8 courts, four Seelie and four Unseelie, Unseelie being seen as 'lesser' and Iron Born the lowest of the low coming from Fae and human parents. There is a lot of take in, a lot of castes of Fae as well as other magical beings but Shuttleworth does a great job of introducing you to them bit by bit. There are no major info dumps, you get the information as a when needed which kept the story flowing. As well as the magical world of the Fae, Shuttleworth graces us with a multitude of pop culture references from Harry Potter to D and D. Nerds, of which I count myself, will love seeing all the little references dotted in, made even funnier by the explanations needed for certain characters to understand the references. The really unique thing about this book is it being set in the modern world, with all the modern convenience's and language that we are accustomed too. Shuttleworth uses this to her advantage making the character's so unbelievably relatable, even the 300 year old immortal.

If you love a good 'idiots in love' and would like 'grumpy immortal + sweet fae' plus ALL the pining, then this is the book for you. There was angst and pining... did I mention the pining, and they were all so sweet and utterly useless at expressing their feelings. Nausicaä has almost sworn off love, being immortal tends to put a damper on the relationships when she knows she will more than likely outlive them, but there is something about Arlo, this girl who has been told she is useless, not even worth calling Fae, yet is determined to help those in need and be a friend... even to the grumpy immortal, that slowly wares away at Nausicaä's walls. Vehan has grown up with everything, everything that is except the heart of the boy he loves. He doesn't know the reason behind Aurelian's sudden shift in behaviour, but just wishes he would look at him like he used to. Aurelian loves the Prince, but for reasons has had to hide his affections putting a wall behind them that is growing too large to hurdle. There were times when I wanted to jump into the book and hit one of them on the head, or found myself shouting 'just kiss already' rather loudly... whilst at work... but when I found out the reasons behind their actions I just wanted to give them a massive hug.

A Dark and Hollow Star is an absolute chunk. But Shuttleworth manages to give us a intricate and fast moving plot, whilst also introducing us to the complexity of the world she has created so the over 500 pages absolutely fly past. The main plot of this book is relatively tied up by the end, but there are plenty of unanswered questions, as well as one shocking twisty ending that had me cursing the authors name (seriously that character better die in book 2!) that will make you extremely eager to get your hands on the next instalment. If I had to nit pick? A glossary or Index would come in incredibly handy for this book. There were a lot of different magical beings, castes of Fae as well as families and magic system. At times I had to flick back pages to make sure I was on the right train of thought for who characters were etc. Ultimately, this didn't detract from my overall love of the book, and boy did I love it! My Third 5 star read of 2021, and a book that will definitely be making it's way onto my favourite reads of the year list.

There's nothing quite like reading a book that keeps you eager for the next chapter, and fully lost in the story. This is exactly what A Dark and Hollow Star does, in a way that brings so much to the table. It's an excellent example of what can happen when a popular concept is taken and life is breathed into it: fae are a staple of YA fantasy, but ADAHS takes those standards and smashes them in a bid for the stars.

There are quite a few different plot threads throughout the book, all tying up at the end in a way that's satisfactory while leaving just the right amount left unknown for you to desperately want the next book. There was also a cliffhanger that was infuriating in the best way, with just enough hints throughout to make it not feel completely out of place, but shocking enough that until the POV characters find out the information the reader now knows, we'll be internally screaming. There was just enough information dropped in via a non-POV character chapter, which balanced the angst of not knowing what was happening with the angst of knowing how badly things were going to go, as well as keeping the expansive plot from getting too expansive. The build-up to the climax was handle excellently, and really brought everything together with a bang. And again, definitely lots of screaming at that ending.

The setting takes contemporary fantasy and leans even more on the fantasy element. Partly because of the different characters, we see different views of magic in the modern world and the levels of separation. There's some really cool blending of magic and modern technology, as is bound to happen in a world like this, and it felt almost like this is actually how things would work. The way the Fae courts were embedded in the world were something I liked a lot, as well as the magical beings, such as the Furies that Nausicaä once belonged to, and I loved the backstory that we got through her POV because of this. I actually want a full guide to the world, because I found it so interesting, but lack of this isn't detrimental to the book itself. There were some really interesting approaches to magic that had definite inspiration from other media (like a d20 that does some pretty awesome things) which really helped build up the magic in this world. I'm so excited to see how this is all built on in the sequel, because there's definitely a lot of potential.

ADAHS is told through four POVs, from the four main characters, and while this seems like it could get overwhelming, Shuttleworth does a really good job of balancing the different perspectives and how they contribute to the story. It was abundantly clear how much thought went into each character, because they were all very distinct and interacted with plot points presented to them in different ways. They also balanced each other out really well in terms of characteristics, which worked well with the plot too. Nausicaä, a former Fury, was full of righteous anger, but she was also considerate and honest with Arlo. Arlo, with her perspective as half Fae, brought a different approach than just 'fight' and her nerdiness and drive, even when she was having to step out of her comfort zone, made her an excellent main character. Aurelian was arguably the most mysterious of the four, with a lot going on and some very valid reasons for how he acted, but he wasn't just the stalwart bodyguard - he also loves Star Trek and space so I am contractually obliged to love him. Vehan was a prince, but he was also so caring and so determined, and his drive to find his place in everything really help flesh him out.

There are two main romantic relationships in the book, as well as a variety of familial relationships. Arlo and Nausicaä were instantly drawn to each other, but not in an Insta-love way. Seeing the progression of the romantic tension between them as they had to work together was really cool, and though there was an age difference in terms of chronological time, Nausiacaä was still very much a teenager (who has definitely sung along to at least one MCR song) and it never felt squicky. Vehan and Aurelian were a completely different story, as they were an infuriatingly good combination of childhood friends, guardian/prince, and pining. Proper, 'can't be together because of spoilery reasons but we'll still send each other loaded looks', having to bridge the gap that grew as our relationship changed because we need to save a bunch of people tension. An honourable mention of Celadon and his awesome cousin relationship with Arlo, because they were the perfect example of a sibling-like bond.

A Dark and Hollow Star is definitely a book you can dig your teeth into for a satisfying meal. It's got depth and dynamic, with a set up for an epic sequel. It's not really the kind of book you read when you're looking for to whet your appetite but not intense, but it will drag you in and not let you out until you've torn through it voraciously. It's difficult for me to put into words how much I loved this book, because there was so much and I can't actually pick one thing I loved more than anything. If you haven't already, go find yourself a copy of this book and dig in.

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. This will be posted on my blog on February 22nd.

A very confusing start became a very captivating and unputdownable book! I loved it and I need the sequel asap because all the pining and the slow burn is making me suffer!

The characters were all different and all very likable. The story is from 4 pov even if not all had the same amount of chapters. Arlo had the most chapters and she seems to be the key of the story, with mystery and twists just waiting to happen.

I want more High Prince Celadon page time because he seems just so sweet and funny, and I liked him a lot. And it seems everyone just like him, and I totally see why.

Aurelian and Vehan storyline is the most mysterious and painful of them all, with all the pining and the secrets and I just wanted to lock them in a room and tell them YOU SHOULD TALK. What's with all these uncommunicative characters? I need communication. Communication is key! If they talk, they will get love, I just know that. But after that ending? Mmmh, okay, I feel like I should be more optimistic so that's how I'm going to be!

Arlo and Nausicaa were just so cute! It was still very slow burn, less slow than Aurelian and Vehan, but still quite slow and maybe we get to see them together in the sequel? That's it, if everyone lives because with how things are getting, nothing is guaranteed!

Maybe it could've been a tad shorter, but all in all, it worked and I really enjoyed it.

I received an E-ARC of A Dark & Hollow Star by Ashley Shuttleworth for free on NetGalley by Hodder & Stoughton in exchange for an honest review! Thank you so much Ashley, Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for this early copy! This review is also available on Book, Blog & Candle!

I need to start off this review by saying WOW what a book! I've seen it all over Twitter for the last couple of months and knew it would be something I would like, so I was so excited when NetGalley accepted my request. I had a feeling that this book was going to be fantastic and it did not disappoint!

In A Dark & Hollow Star we follow our four protagonists Nausicaa, Arlo, Vehan and Aurelian.

Nausicaa, previously known as Alecto, was one of the Fates until she was demoted from her title and forced to live among the humans for eternity. Displeased with this outcome, she fashioned herself a new life and is determined to cause as much chaos as possible. One of my favourite things about Nausicaa is that she has a hard exterior and pretends she doesn't care about anything but deep down she's really a big softie - especially when it comes to Arlo!

Arlo comes from the Royal Fae family, but as half of her heritage is human her eligibility to remain in the fae world is being called into question. She's stuck between not being magical enough for the Fae world and not human enough for the human world. Not sure of where she belongs and feeling pretty unremarkable, Arlo is about to discover that she is far more special than she first thought.

Vehan is the young crown prince of one of the Fae courts and is hopelessly in love with his friend and bodyguard Aurelian. Although he is naive due to his mother hiding him as much as possible from the world, he is deeply worried about the iron born children and is determined to get to the bottom of what is going on, even if he has to do it alone.

Aurelian is the bodyguard of the prince and not a fan of the Queen. He is tasked with trying to keep Vehan safe but the young prince doesn't make it easy.
A stroke of fate brings all of them together as they investigate the mysterious killings and kidnappings of iron born children around Toronto.

I loved all of these characters so much and the fact that the main couples were f/f and m/m was just amazing!! The group work so well together, plus Arlo & Vehan are sweet cinnamon rolls who can do no wrong and no one change my mind!

Additionally, the worldbuilding throughout this book was absolutely extraordinary! Worldbuilding is one of my favourite elements when it comes to reading especially when it goes into as much rich detail like A Dark and Hollow Star did! I felt fully immersed into the story and I loved the blend between the human world and the fae world, especially all of the supernatural creatures that were also mentioned. The amount of thought that has gone into this book is sensational and you can really feel the love that has been poured into every part of this book!

There were so many great ideas that came together amazingly, I loved every page! A Dark & Hollow Star is an amazing blend of fairytale, mythology and fantasy that everyone should read!

Thank you so much Ashley Shuttleworth, Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for this copy, I enjoyed every minute of it!!

This book is the start of something special. I knew this from the very first page and the feeling never once faded across 500 pages of action, banter, magic and pining. Following four queer teens caught up in a series of brutal, ritualistic murders and forced to work together to solve them, A Dark and Hollow Star brings a startling humanity to the ancient faerie courts and breathes new life into the YA urban fantasy genre.

Why is it always so difficult to review a book you loved? I wish I could leave this review as ‘Absolutely incredible, can’t wait to see where this series goes, loved everything about it. Also, I’ve completely fallen in love with Nausicaä Kraken and am the proud founder of the simping-for-nausicaä club hmu if you want in.’ But apparently that’s not ‘professional’ or even really a ‘review’ so allow me to attempt to write something more coherent.

I loved so many things about this book: the plot and mystery, the worldbuilding, the writing, the casual LGBTQ+ and mental illness rep, the characters and their relationships with each other – whether romantic, platonic, familial or barely able to stand each other but forced to form an alliance to save the world. Everything about this book felt like it was written just for me, combining some of the elements I love most into one gorgeous book (both inside and out).

The worldbuilding was a particular strong point and I can’t wait to explore more of this world in the sequel. The combination of a vibrant modern Toronto setting and all the technology and pop culture of the 21st century with ancient fairy tales and legend created a rich urban fantasy setting. I really enjoyed this interpretation of how the courts of fae could function in our world while still retaining their wildness and magic. The world is expertly fleshed out and developed and I found learning about the different creatures and peoples of faerie, the Seelie and Unseelie courts, the deities and the magic system all really interesting.

Ashley Shuttleworth’s writing was spectacular, both in its ability to gently ease you into this world, giving information where necessary but not overwhelming, and in the authentic dialogue, humour and feelings of the characters. I thought the action scenes were written really well and the tension throughout left me unable to put the book down. The multiple perspectives worked really well with the story and I loved how the different dynamics and pieces of the mystery were explored through them. I also found reading from the antagonist’s perspective really interesting and thought it had the perfect balance of creating understanding of their motivation and even sympathy for them, while also establishing them as the enemy. The main mystery of the murders came together really effectively which created a satisfying conclusion, even as other plotlines opened up and left me desperate for more.

In terms of characters, I loved all four of our main perspectives and really enjoyed reading from them all. I particularly loved Arlo and Nausicaä, who we spent slightly more time with, as I felt I got a chance to know them better but I hope to be able to say the same for Vehan and Aurelian as the series progresses. The character dynamics were so much fun and definitely my favourite part of the story. I loved the banter between them all, as they went from reluctant allies to friends, as well as the blossoming relationships – particularly between Nausicaä and Arlo, who had the sweetest dynamic, even if they started out with a murder accusation. And just because I love them so much, here’s a wee bit about each of their characters:


‘“What if I don’t want to be a hero?”’

Arlo Jarsdel is an ironborn: part human, part fae and not particularly blessed in the magic department. She’s gentle and sweet and quite content with a regular – or as regular as possible when you’re part fae and best friends / cousins with a prince – life, she’s loveably naïve and awkward at times and struggles with feeling useless in a society where magical ability is everything. I adored her character right from the start and found her easy to root for and relate to and loved seeing her character grow and develop during the book as she realised her worth.

“Nausicaä was still gorgeous without her glamour, but the nine rings of hell couldn’t come up with anything more terrible than the way her grin split across her face like razor wire catching skin and tearing it apart.”

Nausicaä Kraken (what a name!) was once a terrifying, powerful fury, before her powers were stripped and she was banished to the mortal world. She’s the grumpy to Arlo’s sunshine, the tall to her small, the sword-weilding lesbian of my dreams and determined to wreak havoc. She’s simultaneously the sarcastic, badass, leather-clad typical YA love interest (finally I understand the appeal!) and a lonely young woman struggling with grief and depression who would do anything for those she loves. She’s the type to nickname her friends (and, well, everyone, whether they like it or not), drink unicorn frappuccinos and know all of Arlo’s nerdy references (and even make some of her own). Just look at her on the cover and tell me you’re not already a little in love!

As much as I loved this book, I want to bring attention to the lack of racial diversity by linking this review. Toronto is such a diverse, multi-cultural city and unfortunately A Dark and Hollow Star didn’t fully capture this. This is my main criticism of the book and something I’d love to see improved, especially as the LGBTQ+ and mental health representation were so well done: the four main characters were all queer, there were queer and trans side characters, including one who uses neo pronouns and their identities were never a point of conflict. I also particularly admired Nausicaä being open about having depression and going to therapy.

As I’m sure you can tell from this review, I adored A Dark and Hollow Star. This was a fresh and unique take on YA urban fantasy and faerie stories with queer characters at its forefront. A fun and gritty story, packed full of action and authentic characters, A Dark and Hollow Star has become a new favourite and reminded me why I love fantasy. I can’t wait to see where the story takes us next! (The things I would do to get my hands on the sequel…) And honestly, you need to read this if only to understand why the title makes me feral – it’s so gay guys, so fucking gay.

In this ambitious debut by Ashley Shuttleworth, A DARK AND HOLLOW STAR injects magic into modern day Toronto with the existence of secret magical communities partitioned away from regular humans, but still nestled alongside them. That choice gives the book a unique feel as most stories about fae portray them in a separate world altogether, but keeping mundane mortals in the mix adds higher stakes, more complicated politics and a bunch of fun pop culture references.

My favorite part of this book is that all four main characters are queer. Normally I hope in vain that an author will have just ONE character with LGBT+ rep and my cup overrunneth with joy at the f/f and m/m ships we’re treated to here!

Alecto is the exiled Fury who takes on the name Nausicaä as she sets about causing as much mischief and chaos as possible to distract herself from her grief and depression after the loss of her sister. She’s a sarcastic badass who acts arrogantly aloof, but secretly has a heart of gold, and I love how she’s a twist on the Bad Boy trope, only BETTER!

Arlo is a more typical YA protagonist with one foot in both the human and magical societies, feeling like an outcast who doesn’t truly belong anywhere and desperate to prove she’s good enough to join the fae society. Instead, she’s dangerously close to being deemed unworthy and banished. Their interactions are the highlight of the book for me, I absolutely adore the tension and chemistry between them, and the incredibly slow-burn romance is a thing of beauty!

The boys take more of a backseat in this book, which is fine by me as I’m all about the ladies, but I know a lot of readers will be crushing hard on Vehan, who is an earnestly wholesome little cinnamon roll, too precious for this world. He’s noble and principled, understands his privilege as the High Prince and works hard to do right by everyone and not let anybody down. Vehan is the complete opposite of the arrogant alpha fae prince stereotype we often encounter, and I love that for him.

Aurelian was his childhood friend, later selected to become his bodyguard, and he’s moody, broody and wrestling with deep, dark secrets. The two of them are completely head-over-heels for each other and Because of Reasons, the boys haven’t had the opportunity to confess their mutual affection so while they are always together, they may as well be a thousand miles apart emotionally and so there is ALL THE YEARNING. I’m primarily here for the sapphics, but this is a pretty tasty trope I’m glad the author is exploring!

Obviously I really loved the characters, but the plot was fantastic as well! Fae are popular in YA right now, but the author takes this trend and makes it her own with a unique blend of mythology and intriguing world-building that feels solid and lived in. The political and social dynamics feel real and believable, and I admire the way we’re introduced to all this new society with so much going on but it’s doled out in manageable chunks to keep from overwhelming us. While it would’ve been fun for all the main characters to meet up earlier in the story so we could enjoy the team dynamic, it makes sense to build them up individually first; the second half of the book becomes much more exciting and adrenaline-packed once they start working together!

Pick up this fabulous fantasy for the endearing queer characters, delicious slow-burn romances, creative blend of fairy folklore with modern human society and settle in to enjoy the ride!

Thank you for letting me read this book, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The world building set in Canada made me want to visit and eat Timbits too.
The character development was well written, I enjoyed reading about a mean ex fury who becomes a little less mean over time, she had a good arc. The storyline was interesting and kept me captivated the whole way through.
Will review on Goodreads and my blog.
Thanks again.

This book is fabulous and the characters are so *chef's kiss*. Arlo, Nos, Vehan and Aurelian are really the stars of the show, and so relatable, though Arlo, with her love of anime and reluctance to be a hero was really my favourite. Set in modern Toronto, the premise of this YA urban fantasy is the the fae, with their Seelie and UnSeelie courts, have been living alongside humans all along, protected by their glamour.

I found the worldbuilding really fascinating and well done, and it was great to have an urban fantasy not set in the USA or London. I really enjoyed the different dynamics between all the teens and their different drivers - it made for great character interactions and balanced out the mystery of the plot. Definitely a recommended read from me, and I'll be reading the sequel coming out in 2022 for sure.

Okay first up, the cover… purely because it’s so perfect. It shows one of our main characters, Nausicaä (Nos), who is the Fury, in front of the Toronto skyline as most of the story is set here. She’s one of favourite characters I’ve ever met because she’s just great. She’s full of sass and kick-ass and yet when it comes to people she cares about she’s a cute cinnamon bun. She has a very dark past and she’s clearly suffering with depression and trying to put on a front for the majority of the book but she’s just… awesome.

My daughter, you were meant for so much more than this.
But I’ll digress before this ends up being a review on how much I loved Nos.

The story itself is an urban fantasy where most of it is set in the human world but the fae courts are all hidden within, ironborn (half-fae, half-human) are being murdered every day but the courts don’t seem to care. Nos realises that something weird is happening with their hearts and realises that alchemy is involved, so for the most part she’s just intrigued to see who’s actually committing the crimes.

So, the other main characters. We have Arlo, the half-fae outcast who not many fae seem to like (due to her being half-human) but her cousin Celadon is forever being there for her and you can see he thinks of her more as a sister than anything else. Cel is adorable too. He’s another of those sassy yet lovable characters and I’m just a sucker for sass. I loved Arlo’s character too because her personality is just so relatable? She’s very awkward and unsure of herself but at the same time she’s probably one of the bravest of our main characters, and she ends up being a lot more important than she thought she would be.

Vehan next up! The Seelie Summer prince. He’s just so… good. He’s immensely kind-hearted and gets super involved in helping to find the murderer because he feels like it’s his duty to do so. His mother though, well she’s pretty much gone out of her way to make it so he has no real friends. Her one intention with him seems to be to mould him into a double of her… It’s clearly affecting him but overall he’s still one of the sweetest.

I just want to protect someone the way no one wants to protect me.
Vehan’s guardian (as forced into by Vehan’s mother) is Aurelian… essentially, they both love each other but try to hide it and feel like the other doesn’t feel the same way about them. There’s slightly more to it but that could be breaching into spoiler territory but basically Aurelian will protect Vehan no matter what, which is why he follows him on the investigation in the first place.

Nerdiness is all within this book and my god I did love that! There were little references to things like Pokémon, Lord of the Rings, Zelda… and a lot of the story is basically like a dungeons and dragons game (with it being mentioned a lot also). I can’t help but love a book that makes excellent use of reference to things I love outside of reading so this was a definite plus for me. There were also times that reminded me of Fullmetal Alchemist and since that’s one of my fave animes… all the yes.

Heroes were the stuff of tragedies.
So, yep. I loved this, I need the second book like yesterday… It was perfect. I know that the content warnings provided are extensive but for the most part they’re quite minimal to the story and it was just such a good book. I’ve tried to describe how I feel as best as I can but if you’re into fae stories I think you’ll love this one as much as I did!

I can’t wait to grab a physical copy of this book, and I have a mega need to try my hand at making a custom Pop! of Nos… so I’ll update this post when I can!

A Dark and Hollow Star is a magically thrilling YA Fantasy set in the gritty,supernatural underworld of Toronto.

The murders of ‘Ironborn’ half-fae mortals have been plaguing the Fae High Council, but four strangers may hold the key to catching the killer.

Four very different characters (a half-fae outcast, a former Fury, a dutiful prince and a brooding guardian) must band together to stop these murders (and the killer) from exposing the existence of fae kind. In order to succeed they must put their differences (and animosity ) aside or risk destruction,of faerie and human worlds alike.

When I saw it described as The Cruel Prince meets City of Bones I knew I had to read this and it didn’t disappoint. Faeries,Furies,Deities and Reapers. Magic, alchemy and nefarious plots. This remarkable Urban Fantasy has it all;a vast kickass LGBTQ+ cast of characters and witty pop culture references galore- I couldn’t help but love it.

The story is told primarily from the four protagonists’ POVs, though we do get a glimpse at the antagonist’s POV in some of the chapters. This does make it easy for the reader to quickly work out the identity of the antagonists’ main cohort,which was quite entertaining- in a pantomime kinda way (especially when the main characters are trying to work out the villains identity).

Ashley Shuttleworth’s epically detailed world building and magic system made this an incredibly enjoyable (and addictive) read. I’d recommend to fans of YA Urban Fantasy or Holly Black and Cassandra Clare.

And also just wanted to give a huge thank you to Hodder&Stoughton and Net Galley for the Digital ARC of this book.

A Dark and Hollow Star is a fast-paced fantasy filled with tons of action that will keep readers glued to their seats. The world-building is outstanding! This is a world where fae exist but are concealed to the rest of the world until there is a series of ritualistic murders threatening to expose faeries. There is excellent LGBTQ+ representation. The characters are fantastic and ones you feel passionate for. The plot was an exciting ride. Highly recommended to those who enjoy fantasy blended with mystery. Be sure to check out A Dark and Hollow Star today!

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for providing an eARC.

I did not expect to love this as much as I did but I have a feeling that this will end up being on my favorite 2021 releases list! It was so good!

I must admit that it took me two tries to get into it as the world is quite complex and I really needed to pay attention to understand what was happening, but I‘m glad I decided to start over and give it a proper shot when I actually had the time to sit down and fully immerse myself in the world. It was definitely worth it.

A Dark and Hollow Star is an urban fantasy but packs so much magic and just incredible worldbuilding that I really didn‘t expect. I loved how the bustling and modern setting of Toronto was combined with epic faerie courts and ancient fairytales. There are different timelines and several POVs so it‘s a bit confusing at first but figuring out how things play together and to see everything click into place was awesome. After the first 100 pages, I was really hooked and couldn’t stop reading it! The characters try to solve crimes so following them as they uncover this mystery gave the book a lot of suspense. The flow of the story was great and really made me go “just one more chapter”.

I honestly really loved the cast of characters! Arlo, Nausicäa, Vehan and Aurelian are all queer which of course made me very happy but they were also just very interesting and unique characters. I really enjoyed learning about their backstories, their powers and their hopes and fears. The story is more focused on Arlo and Nausicäa (aka the sapphic ship of my dreams) but I wasn’t mad about that because I absolutely adored them. Arlo is such a realistic “chosen one” character – she doesn’t really believe in herself and doesn’t think she’s cut out to be the heroine, she’s a bit awkward and a typical teenager (which I loved) but she’s also incredibly brave in her own way. And Nausicäa… *dreamy sigh*. I saw someone say in their review that they’re not sure if they want to be Nausicäa or if they’re in love with her, and I feel the exact same way. She’s such an awesome character and so layered and for sure on the morally grey side but just so badass so, yes, I guess I‘m in love with her.
I really hope we‘ll get to see more of Vehan and Aurelian in the sequel because I really enjoyed their dynamic. They kinda already made my heart ache a lot so I‘m ready for lots of pain.

The LGBTQ+ rep in this really was one of my highlights. Getting two very angsty but also very shippable queer love stories really brought me a lot of joy. But I loved how we not only got both a f/f and a m/m romance but also several queer side characters. I especially appreciated how there were several non-binary/genderfluid characters who used different pronouns. We also got some (rather casual) mentions of depression and mental health which is so rare in fantasy novels. However, I do have to point out the lack of BIPOC characters.

A Dark and Hollow Star was a very promising start to a new urban fantasy series and I can‘t wait to read the sequel. Action-packed, magical and with the queer heroes I’ve been waiting for.
4.75 stars.