Title: All the Stars and Teeth Author: Adalyn Grace Rating: 4.5 Stars Genre: YA Fantasy Publisher: Imprint Publication Date: February 4, 2020 How Did I Get This Book: Owlcrate and BOTM Format: Hardcover Why Did I Read This Book: Well. . . . It's a funny story really. I got my Owlcrate box and was so excited for this book BUT I completely forgot that I got the book two weeks later when it was time to choose my book of the month subscription book and I choose this one again! Opps!! Amazingly BOTM refunded my credit and let me keep the book even though it was my mistake so I traded my BOTM copy with someone else for another book! BOTM and Owlcrate are amazing! If you want to subscribe to them click the buttons below! |
Synopsis
When her demonstration goes awry, Amora is forced to flee. She strikes a deal with Bastian, a mysterious pirate: he’ll help her prove she’s fit to rule, if she’ll help him reclaim his stolen magic.
But sailing the kingdom holds more wonder—and more peril—than Amora anticipated. A destructive new magic is on the rise, and if Amora is to conquer it, she’ll need to face legendary monsters, cross paths with vengeful mermaids, and deal with a stow-away she never expected… or risk the fate of Visidia and lose the crown forever.
I am the right choice. The only choice. And I will protect my kingdom.
Review
The types of magic used are the same as most fantasy books you will read with the exception of Amora's magic. The reigning monarch and their heir are the only practitioners of soul magic (or are they) and it is devastating and dangerously beautiful! We see Amora practice her soul magic early on in the book and when things so terribly wrong that sets the scene for the epic adventure Amora goes on to protect her kingdom!
I loved the different types of animals described in this book from beautiful Zapa Rays to the fearsome Lusca a monster Amora thought only existed in fairy tales. Adalyn Grace did an exceptional job creating and fully fleshing out a unique fantastical world! The descriptions of each of the individual islands, their landscapes, cultures and people are so well thought out it truly feels like you are stepping into a real place!
Of course there is the smallest bit of romance but it takes place between characters you never thought would have feelings for each other and doesn't take over the plot which is a huge relief. At one point in the story Amora gets her period which I love seeing! This is only the second book I have ever read in which a female character experiences something so mundane but yet something nearly every person with a uterus has to deal with! Very refreshing!
I did end up giving this a 4.5 stars because the climax of the story took nearly the entire book to get to and it felt rushed as a result. When we were nearly all the way to the end of the story I thought it would end there and honestly the last portion could have been made into an entire second book but maybe they author just wanted this to be a duology... I'm not sure. Nonetheless, I am excited to read the conclusion of this story!