Nothing is more dangerous than a faerie tale.
A disgraced fury, cursed to live in the Human Realm.
A nearly magic-less ironborn (half fae/half human).
A fae prince and his retainer, who are bent on finding answers.
And the murderer himself.
A Dark and Hollow Star introduces a rich fae world of magic and otherworldly beings along with humans, from the gods/titans in the Immortal Realm to the fae living in courts among the humans. The magical world must be kept from the humans, but they’re literally everywhere, it seems, right down to faerie cafés in the middle of Toronto. Of particular interest are the Wild Hunt and all sorts of scarier creatures, like reapers.
Multiple perspectives provide a complete view of this rich fantasy world and let you see all the different facets of the murder mystery. You will be endeared toward each of the four main characters in a different way. They are so fleshed out, conflicted, and relatable—causing all the feels! Plus LGBTQ+ representation is everywhere in this book, and I loved it.
A murder mystery really brings a thriller element into this fantasy story. All the characters want to figure it out for different reasons. And alone, they would never be able to, but together they just might ;)
There are so many layers of courtly drama and prejudice/class distinctions. Within the lesser fae, higher fae, humans, and gods/creatures with power like gods. It’s amazingly entertaining.
Then it’s revealed exactly how much the gods/titans are intervening in this ‘game,’ and it adds a whole new layer of intrigue.
Not to mention the complicated romance that lies between the epic cast of characters—all with a ‘will they or won’t they?’ dynamic.
The beginning starts off a little slow with a lot of worldbuilding, but then the plot really heats up when the main characters start to meet each other. Getting to the part where it picks up is so worth it. The different stories fit together stunningly and lead to an unpredictable and clever conclusion.
And it will leave you wanting more. Luckily, there is a second book.
Official blurb:
Choose your player. The “ironborn” half-fae outcast of her royal fae family. A tempestuous Fury, exiled to earth from the Immortal Realm and hellbent on revenge. A dutiful fae prince, determined to earn his place on the throne. The prince’s brooding guardian, burdened with a terrible secret. For centuries, the Eight Courts of Folk have lived among us, concealed by magic and bound by law to do no harm to humans. This arrangement has long kept peace in the Courts—until a series of gruesome and ritualistic murders rocks the city of Toronto and threatens to expose faeries to the human world. Four queer teens, each who hold a key piece of the truth behind these murders, must form a tenuous alliance in their effort to track down the mysterious killer behind these crimes. If they fail, they risk the destruction of the faerie and human worlds alike. If that’s not bad enough, there’s a war brewing between the Mortal and Immortal Realms, and one of these teens is destined to tip the scales. The only question is: which way? Wish them luck. They’re going to need it.
This article was written by Allison Rose.
Allison Rose writes YA fantasy featuring magic and otherworldly beings. Her current series feature a truly unique world of Faerie. Click the covers below to check them out.
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