A Dark and Hollow Star

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Eight proud fae from the Four Courts of Folk made up this panel of judges. One each from the factions of Seelie Winter, Summer, Autumn, and Spring—those folk who drew power from day and most valued the qualities of grace and responsibility in their people. One each from the factions of UnSeelie Winter, Summer, Autumn, and Spring—those folk who drew power from night and were known for their indulgence and their cunning. In Arlo’s opinion, there was no real difference between the Seelie and UnSeelie fae, no matter what each group liked to think. The stony faces before her, for instance, were all the same—as cold and hard as the marble under her feet. They would put this hearing off until a later date? They were actually going to humor Celadon’s desperate scramble for Arlo to be granted full fae status and a place in the Viridian line?

A Cruel and Fated Light by Ashley Shuttleworth | Goodreads A Cruel and Fated Light by Ashley Shuttleworth | Goodreads

The Council shifted uncomfortably, both at Celadon’s implication of negligence with the murders and at the reminder that the Assistance wasn’t as easily rooted out as they’d originally hoped when the group first started attracting wider attention. In response, Arlo’s own unease ratcheted higher, fearing what this not-so-subtle accusation would do to her chances of a favorable outcome in this Weighing. Arlo’s decision hovered on her tongue. She already knew what she wanted to choose, and she was moments from blurting it out, but Councillor Larsen was not yet finished. Marriages between fae and humans had to be approved by the Courts, but in this approval was a caveat: if the marriage ended, the human party had to forfeit what they’d learned of the magical community. It had been Arlo’s father’s decision to file for divorce. He’d given up his memories freely because, as far as Arlo understood, he’d grown a vast contempt for magic and those who had anything to do with it. This was better than nothing, and despite the things Arlo had inherited from her father—her burnt-red hair, her underwhelming height, and the sturdy width of her build—Celadon had never once treated her as anything less than a true Viridian. It filled Arlo with teary relief to see Celadon, blithe as ever, wafting into the room in his tight jeans and crisp sage button-down, as usual looking like he’d just walked off the set of some glamorous photo shoot.

A Dark and Hollow Star: Complex plotting and worldbuilding

She wanted to say something. She always wanted to say something whenever people like Malachite said such terribly rude things to her and others around her, but the words would never leave her tongue. Every time she felt them bubbling up inside her, those good intentions turned to cowardice and were swallowed once more by nerves.”

A Dark and Hollow Star | Hollow Star Wiki | Fandom

The way Ashley created this world . . . it leaves me in awe🥺. I love most how this takes place in modern day with Fae heyy that rhymed AND IN TORONTOOOO😭 (and Nevada) All those mentions made me so happy. I actually knew exactly how the scenes looked like whenever they took place ahhhh the feeling is so nice. The mystery is fantastic and I loved the different POVs though we are mostly learning things through Arlo’s over the others. As we’re piecing together things it just makes the stakes rise even higher and by the end of the book I had no idea what to do with myself. LIKE HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO WAIT FOR THE SEQUEL?! And now I really want to roadtrip to Canada and take the book with me lol. She had several other cousins and relations (however removed) who came and went, passing winds who thought nothing of asking rude and prying questions into her life and made very little effort to keep their whispers about her to themselves.” Now is the perfect time to bring this up,” Celadon countered under his breath. “Anything we can use, Arlo. Remember?”She could take the boon of common citizenship and allow her life to get on with itself as originally planned. She wouldn’t hold the glorious rank of fae, or be allowed to study at fae universities, or take a position in the palace any higher than general help. But she’d at least have a place in both her parents’ worlds, and with all her memories intact. A Dark and Hollow Staris now available. Let us know if you’ll be adding this fantasy to your TBR pile!

A Dark and Hollow Star | Book by Ashley Shuttleworth A Dark and Hollow Star | Book by Ashley Shuttleworth

Tall and lithe, his numerous years were yet unable to conquer his sinewy strength. His voluminous emerald and turquoise robes, fastened by gleaming gold, did little to soften the severe cut of his glamoured ivory face. All eight of these representatives had been chosen to uphold the High King’s laws. Not one of them was known for displays of compassion. Facing them now for their judgment drove home that this meeting was little better than a formality: all eight minds had already made their unanimous decision on the matter of Arlo’s “suitability” for the magical world long before she’d come to plead her case. Celadon ignored her obvious embarrassment. “For most fae, this tiny elemental magic is all they’re ever able to do, on top of the basic Sight and glamour all folk should be able to wield. Not every fae even comes into a true elemental Gift, correct? We don’t all possess the required strength to do things like manipulate others by the water in their bodies, or make weapons out of elements, or pull secrets from the air. Has it not occurred to any of you that it isn’t Arlo Jarsdel’s humanity keeping her from her inheritance, but proper fae biology?” It’s not? Forgive me, Councillor, but your inspection of my cousin has worn out the hour it was meant to take and now runs dangerously close to an interrogation.”There was so much for Arlo to miss if the Council not only denied her fae citizenship but also inclusion in the magical community as a whole. Fae citizenship, with its isolationist rules and responsibilities, was not something she was sure she even wanted, but she knew without a doubt that she didn’t want to be expelled from magic altogether. She didn’t want to forget the truth about her family any more than she wanted to forget that magic had ever survived the collapse of human memory that it had existed. I don't mean to hype this book too much because the hype can sometimes kill a book BUT SERIOUSLY I LOVE THIS SO MUCH I WOULD DIE FOR THESE GUYS😭 which I definitely was not expecting going into this.

A Dark and Hollow Star by Ashley Shuttleworth | The StoryGraph A Dark and Hollow Star by Ashley Shuttleworth | The StoryGraph

The world-building was excellent, I loved the courts and their different locations, I loved the magic for those not fully of the fae realms and the differing levels between the ‘fae’ themselves and other beings. We have a great mix-up of everything and not to mention the world-building is basically attempting to rewrite itself in the plot and holy cow did I love that. From his watch, a sound clip began to play from a video that had gone viral in their community only days ago.Touted as a mix of The Cruel Prince and City of Bones,the story features an array of appealing queer characters and a high-stakes story of politics and murder. Here are just three reasons you should make sure to add it to your winter must-read list this month. A Dark and Hollow Star: Four compelling POV characters If that isn’t enough to satisfy your misgivings, let me remind you of something else: it counts a great deal that your suppliant today is the blood of House Viridian. I, myself, as an example, was a late bloomer. Me, the faeborn son of High King Azurean. I didn’t begin to demonstrate any affinity for air—that element of my Court—until Maturity hit nearly two years ago, when I turned nineteen. And it was only months ago that I discovered I possessed a Gift in addition to that affinity.” Save, of course, that she is fae, and born of one of the Eight Founding Houses,” Celadon replied irritably.