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Diamond Crier #1
Curse of Stars
Sabi Perez is the last Diamond Crier, only she doesn’t know it. Not until a crazed ruler from another world comes to collect her priceless tears and won’t take no for an answer.
Living in New York, Sabi’s seen some nasty things, but the lengths to which her captor will go to keep his crown are things found only in the darkest nightmares. Afraid and alone, Sabi finds solace in her cellmate, Anya, and Cabal, a fellow Crier who also has powers, a rare combination that buys his favor from the ruler. Only it’s a favor he doesn’t want.
In a fit of rage, power erupts out of Sabi, the same power Cabal has, and a spark of hope ignites. Together they may have a chance at escape, something no other Crier has done. Except a ruler hellbent on draining them of every last diamond tear isn’t their only hurdle. If they escape they’ll be hunted to the ends of the earth, if they survive the trek to safety. If they stay the ruler will leech them dry. Sabi would rather die trying than lie down and die, even if that means running away into even more danger.
"Both original and exciting - with a fierce heroine, a fast-paced plot, and a fascinating world. Fans of dark fantasy - pick this one up!" Mari Mancusi - Award winning author of the Scorched series and the Blood Coven Vampires
". . . vividly imagined and deftly plotted dark fantasy . . ." BookLife Prize in Fiction
Living in New York, Sabi’s seen some nasty things, but the lengths to which her captor will go to keep his crown are things found only in the darkest nightmares. Afraid and alone, Sabi finds solace in her cellmate, Anya, and Cabal, a fellow Crier who also has powers, a rare combination that buys his favor from the ruler. Only it’s a favor he doesn’t want.
In a fit of rage, power erupts out of Sabi, the same power Cabal has, and a spark of hope ignites. Together they may have a chance at escape, something no other Crier has done. Except a ruler hellbent on draining them of every last diamond tear isn’t their only hurdle. If they escape they’ll be hunted to the ends of the earth, if they survive the trek to safety. If they stay the ruler will leech them dry. Sabi would rather die trying than lie down and die, even if that means running away into even more danger.
"Both original and exciting - with a fierce heroine, a fast-paced plot, and a fascinating world. Fans of dark fantasy - pick this one up!" Mari Mancusi - Award winning author of the Scorched series and the Blood Coven Vampires
". . . vividly imagined and deftly plotted dark fantasy . . ." BookLife Prize in Fiction
- GenresFantasyYoung Adult
ebook
First published February 19, 2017
About the author
Donna Compositor
1 book40 followersDonna has been writing since she was in the single digits when she first realized she needed to do something about all the thoughts in her head. After a stint with bad poetry she finally found her way to novels, mainly of the young adult fantasy variety. When she's not cranking out more stories she works a regular 9 to 5, reads anywhere from 2 to 3 books a week, drinks copious amounts of tea, eats way too much, and makes her own beauty products because her skin turns into a sentient hive if she uses anything else. This is mostly because she lives in the desert where the air siphons water clean out of her. She lives with a man named Steve and several quadrupeds: three cats named Renfield, Sam, and Dean; and a MinPin named Malfoy.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
March 18, 2017
Her parents ran away. They took her to Earth in order to hide her. They knew he was going to come for her one day and take her away. There are only a few Diamond Criers left, and he wants to collect them all, and have all their tears for himself.
The Curse of Stars is full of action, has interesting characters, and a captivating world.
The storyline of this book starts off fairly fast. Only a few chapters in, Sabi is taken from her parents, and the action begins. As a captive, she is tortured and neglected. It is her two friends, Anya and Cabal who manage to keep her sane, with thoughts of escape and revenge.
The world that Donna Compositor created is very dark, yet captivating at the same time. The author didn't sugar coat things, and talked about various torture methods in a horrific way. When Sabi was held captive, it wasn't all rainbows and ponies, it was pain, torture and a lot of things that had her scared. This was one of the reasons the book really held my interest at the beginning. It was truthful, dark and good.
As the book went on, I found myself getting a bit bored. While there was a good amount of action in the second half of the book, there was no real climax. It was basically a rollercoaster ride, with a bunch of small little bumps, there was no big drop at the end. It was also around this time that I found the main character to be a little too paranoid and annoying at times. I'm not sure if it was just me, but unfortunately I just didn't find the second half of the book as good as the first.
Overall, it was still a wonderful novel. I'll be looking forward to reading the next book.
Happy Reading,
Aneta
The Curse of Stars is full of action, has interesting characters, and a captivating world.
The storyline of this book starts off fairly fast. Only a few chapters in, Sabi is taken from her parents, and the action begins. As a captive, she is tortured and neglected. It is her two friends, Anya and Cabal who manage to keep her sane, with thoughts of escape and revenge.
The world that Donna Compositor created is very dark, yet captivating at the same time. The author didn't sugar coat things, and talked about various torture methods in a horrific way. When Sabi was held captive, it wasn't all rainbows and ponies, it was pain, torture and a lot of things that had her scared. This was one of the reasons the book really held my interest at the beginning. It was truthful, dark and good.
As the book went on, I found myself getting a bit bored. While there was a good amount of action in the second half of the book, there was no real climax. It was basically a rollercoaster ride, with a bunch of small little bumps, there was no big drop at the end. It was also around this time that I found the main character to be a little too paranoid and annoying at times. I'm not sure if it was just me, but unfortunately I just didn't find the second half of the book as good as the first.
Overall, it was still a wonderful novel. I'll be looking forward to reading the next book.
Happy Reading,
Aneta
February 28, 2017
I am taking part in the blog tour for this book! Head over to my blog to read the full post as well as enter in an international giveaway: https://marriedtobooksreviewsandblog....
I gave this 4.5 out of 5 stars!
For me, this was a great YA Fantasy read. Sabi lives in modern day New York but has no idea her parents have kept this big secret away from her. When her father gets killed and Sabi finds herself kidnapped and imprisoned away in another world, she is determined to not only break free but find out her true heritage without getting herself or her friends Anya and Cabel killed. As a group, they learn the magic of the Crier world hoping this would bring the freedom that they dream about. I found the world building to be excellent portraying a clear image exactly where Sabi and the group were. I also liked the build-up of action, this made the novel exciting and powerful. My only little complaint was the length of the book was a little short but it was easy to read. Would totally recommend this to all Fantasy lovers!
I gave this 4.5 out of 5 stars!
For me, this was a great YA Fantasy read. Sabi lives in modern day New York but has no idea her parents have kept this big secret away from her. When her father gets killed and Sabi finds herself kidnapped and imprisoned away in another world, she is determined to not only break free but find out her true heritage without getting herself or her friends Anya and Cabel killed. As a group, they learn the magic of the Crier world hoping this would bring the freedom that they dream about. I found the world building to be excellent portraying a clear image exactly where Sabi and the group were. I also liked the build-up of action, this made the novel exciting and powerful. My only little complaint was the length of the book was a little short but it was easy to read. Would totally recommend this to all Fantasy lovers!
February 27, 2017
I'm trying to read more science fiction this year which is one of the reasons I requested this book. Sabi is living in New York and knows something isn't quite right with her family, but little does she know how right she is - Sabi and her family are from another planet. Sabi is the last born Diamond Crier - her tears become diamonds and are the way the current leaders of her planet maintain their wealth and power. Trying to save Sabi, her family fled to Earth with her sister. However, eventually Sabi's unknown past catches up with her and before long, she is being held captive. She meets Anya and Cabal and together they formulate a plan to escape. However, Cabal is secretly aware their escape will start a planet-wide war.
I enjoyed learning more about Sabi's home planet and really felt sorry for Sabi. Not only did she not know what she was or where she was from, she is out through torturous means to harvest her diamond tears and is hated by almost everyone who encounters her because her family's escape of brought on a "sickness" which took many lives. I really liked the developing friendship between Anya and Sabi, which starts out rocky. Sabi never fully trusts Cabal and I shared her instincts throughout the entirety of the book. There is lots of actions in "Curse of Stars." The book covers a lot of territory and is a good setup for future installments. However, I never felt fully connected with the story and at times I felt it bogged down. I will more than likely read the next book, but this isn't a tale where I'm dying for the next installment immediately. If you like YA, science fiction and diverse characters, you may find "Curse of Stars" something you will enjoy.
I enjoyed learning more about Sabi's home planet and really felt sorry for Sabi. Not only did she not know what she was or where she was from, she is out through torturous means to harvest her diamond tears and is hated by almost everyone who encounters her because her family's escape of brought on a "sickness" which took many lives. I really liked the developing friendship between Anya and Sabi, which starts out rocky. Sabi never fully trusts Cabal and I shared her instincts throughout the entirety of the book. There is lots of actions in "Curse of Stars." The book covers a lot of territory and is a good setup for future installments. However, I never felt fully connected with the story and at times I felt it bogged down. I will more than likely read the next book, but this isn't a tale where I'm dying for the next installment immediately. If you like YA, science fiction and diverse characters, you may find "Curse of Stars" something you will enjoy.
March 3, 2017
Wow what a great cover it certainly reflects the story very well. Poor Sabi you had to feel for her, coming home from school and finding a stranger waiting in your home that appears to know you. This goes from New York to a planet full of monsters, and a nightmare of epic proportions.
Suddenly being blamed for something your parents did, and having to adjust to her new reality was not easy for Sabi. An enjoyable first book with lots of world building. This is not an easy read, there is so much to take in for a first in a series. I can’t wait for book two to see what happen to Anya, Sabi and Cabal. I recommend this for readers of fantasy and Sci-Fi.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Suddenly being blamed for something your parents did, and having to adjust to her new reality was not easy for Sabi. An enjoyable first book with lots of world building. This is not an easy read, there is so much to take in for a first in a series. I can’t wait for book two to see what happen to Anya, Sabi and Cabal. I recommend this for readers of fantasy and Sci-Fi.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 10, 2016
Release Date: February 19th 2017
Page Count: 316
Star Rating: 4.5/5
Synopsis:
Sabi Perez is the last Diamond Crier, only she doesn’t know it. Not until a crazed ruler from another world comes to collect her priceless tears and won’t take no for an answer.
Living in New York, Sabi’s seen some nasty things, but the lengths to which her captor will go to keep his crown are things found only in the darkest nightmares. Afraid and alone, Sabi finds solace in her cellmate, Anya, and Cabal, a fellow Crier who also has powers, a rare combination that buys his favor from the ruler. Only it’s a favor he doesn’t want.
In a fit of rage, power erupts out of Sabi, the same power Cabal has, and a spark of hope ignites. Together they may have a chance at escape, something no other Crier has done. Except a ruler hellbent on draining them of every last diamond tear isn’t their only hurdle. If they escape they’ll be hunted to the ends of the earth, if they survive the trek to safety. If they stay the ruler will leech them dry. Sabi would rather die trying than lie down and die, even if that means running away into even more danger.
Curse of Stars will forever hold a special place in my heart, since it is the first ARC I have ever received. With that being said, I by no means feel biased by the overwhelming joy that came with receiving the ebook, the I say I really enjoyed this book.
At first, I was a little weary about where the story was going to go, but about a quarter of the way in, I started to get more into the story.
The book was a lot darker than I though it was going to be when I received it, but I definitely enjoyed how the author didn't try and make certain elements of the story toned down, and showed them as realistic as you can get in a fantasy setting.
The only part of the book that I wasn't too fond of, was the fact that a lot of time was skipped, and we didn't get to see what was going on, though I understand that if we had've, it probably would have been very boring and repetitive.
Another aspect that I absolutely loved, was the possible relationship that was threaded throughout the story. When the two characters met, it was definitely something that was in the back of my mind, but I figured it wouldn't ever happen given the other character that seemed like the predictable choice that you tend to see more of in young adult books.
All in all, Curse of Stars was an amazing read and I cannot wait until the next book comes out! Make sure to pick it up on February 19th 2017 if it sounds like something you'd be interested in!
Find my whole review here: http://www.caperreads.com/2016/12/10/...
Page Count: 316
Star Rating: 4.5/5
Synopsis:
Sabi Perez is the last Diamond Crier, only she doesn’t know it. Not until a crazed ruler from another world comes to collect her priceless tears and won’t take no for an answer.
Living in New York, Sabi’s seen some nasty things, but the lengths to which her captor will go to keep his crown are things found only in the darkest nightmares. Afraid and alone, Sabi finds solace in her cellmate, Anya, and Cabal, a fellow Crier who also has powers, a rare combination that buys his favor from the ruler. Only it’s a favor he doesn’t want.
In a fit of rage, power erupts out of Sabi, the same power Cabal has, and a spark of hope ignites. Together they may have a chance at escape, something no other Crier has done. Except a ruler hellbent on draining them of every last diamond tear isn’t their only hurdle. If they escape they’ll be hunted to the ends of the earth, if they survive the trek to safety. If they stay the ruler will leech them dry. Sabi would rather die trying than lie down and die, even if that means running away into even more danger.
Curse of Stars will forever hold a special place in my heart, since it is the first ARC I have ever received. With that being said, I by no means feel biased by the overwhelming joy that came with receiving the ebook, the I say I really enjoyed this book.
At first, I was a little weary about where the story was going to go, but about a quarter of the way in, I started to get more into the story.
The book was a lot darker than I though it was going to be when I received it, but I definitely enjoyed how the author didn't try and make certain elements of the story toned down, and showed them as realistic as you can get in a fantasy setting.
The only part of the book that I wasn't too fond of, was the fact that a lot of time was skipped, and we didn't get to see what was going on, though I understand that if we had've, it probably would have been very boring and repetitive.
Another aspect that I absolutely loved, was the possible relationship that was threaded throughout the story. When the two characters met, it was definitely something that was in the back of my mind, but I figured it wouldn't ever happen given the other character that seemed like the predictable choice that you tend to see more of in young adult books.
All in all, Curse of Stars was an amazing read and I cannot wait until the next book comes out! Make sure to pick it up on February 19th 2017 if it sounds like something you'd be interested in!
Find my whole review here: http://www.caperreads.com/2016/12/10/...
July 30, 2017
2/5
Date Reviewed: 21 January 2017
This Review was first posted on Keep Reading Forward. If you want to see more, check out our other locations as well as here.
Thank You Xpresso Book Tours and NetGalley for giving an eARC for an honest review.
In "Curse of Stars," the main protagonist Sabi discovers she is a Diamond Crier when she is captured by an otherworldly ruler and is forced into knowing an entire new world.
I really hate giving this a rating of two stars, I really do. I thought it had so much potential to be a good series, but I think it was just me. The beginning was really good going into, but once the ruler met with the main protagonist, I felt that I lose it all. There was no information be given. All I can remember is that Sabi asking the ruler what he wants and the ruler keeps replying that he wanted his property. When Sabi asked her father what a "Diamond Crier" is after her father reveals who she is? No information is given except Sabi looking at her own tear. When Sabi is thrown into the new world? All she gets is the name of the place. Up until the 50% mark, it was just Sabi trying to find her way through and dealing with her captivity and not much background information seemed to appear. It kept wondering what everything was. It would have been nice to know a little bit of information to understand the story better.
Right before the 50% mark, I was questioning if I really wanted to continue. However this was the starting point when it finally started giving information and started getting interested. It must of have been me, because that interest dwindled fast on me. For the next 10%, it was good and mythology was introduced and I am a sucker for mythology. I thought this was really going to start being good to the end. After this part, I don't know what happened except that I kept questioning what the heck was going on. Some bits I understood, some bits I got lost in.
There was one scene I did not enjoy. I am not going to go into details, but all I can say is that the ruler almost forced Sabi into something she didn't want to do with no choice and no permission. This scene was to prove a point a special use of Sabi's special powers to the ruler, but I felt that there was definitely another way to show this. I just couldn't believe what I was reading.
Overall, I believe this series has potential for others, but it just wasn't for me. I really wanted to enjoy it, but I just couldn't find myself to enjoy it. I really hope others do enjoy this.
Date Reviewed: 21 January 2017
This Review was first posted on Keep Reading Forward. If you want to see more, check out our other locations as well as here.
Thank You Xpresso Book Tours and NetGalley for giving an eARC for an honest review.
In "Curse of Stars," the main protagonist Sabi discovers she is a Diamond Crier when she is captured by an otherworldly ruler and is forced into knowing an entire new world.
I really hate giving this a rating of two stars, I really do. I thought it had so much potential to be a good series, but I think it was just me. The beginning was really good going into, but once the ruler met with the main protagonist, I felt that I lose it all. There was no information be given. All I can remember is that Sabi asking the ruler what he wants and the ruler keeps replying that he wanted his property. When Sabi asked her father what a "Diamond Crier" is after her father reveals who she is? No information is given except Sabi looking at her own tear. When Sabi is thrown into the new world? All she gets is the name of the place. Up until the 50% mark, it was just Sabi trying to find her way through and dealing with her captivity and not much background information seemed to appear. It kept wondering what everything was. It would have been nice to know a little bit of information to understand the story better.
Right before the 50% mark, I was questioning if I really wanted to continue. However this was the starting point when it finally started giving information and started getting interested. It must of have been me, because that interest dwindled fast on me. For the next 10%, it was good and mythology was introduced and I am a sucker for mythology. I thought this was really going to start being good to the end. After this part, I don't know what happened except that I kept questioning what the heck was going on. Some bits I understood, some bits I got lost in.
There was one scene I did not enjoy. I am not going to go into details, but all I can say is that the ruler almost forced Sabi into something she didn't want to do with no choice and no permission. This scene was to prove a point a special use of Sabi's special powers to the ruler, but I felt that there was definitely another way to show this. I just couldn't believe what I was reading.
Overall, I believe this series has potential for others, but it just wasn't for me. I really wanted to enjoy it, but I just couldn't find myself to enjoy it. I really hope others do enjoy this.
December 2, 2016
A young girl in NYC is abducted and flung into a wholly new world. She's subjected to pain and torture, until she's made aware of hidden magical powers. An interesting adventure as well as a relatively easy read. The characters reach out and grab you, making you vested in the outcome of this morbid tale. There are assuredly high points in this adventure, but make no mistake, this is a dark tale.
Read
January 9, 2018They say that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results. Well, I guess that this is me breaking out of the loop. Because, guys, I've been trying to read this book for months, I'm serious. I started this book June 11, 2017. And I didn't end up DNFing it because of the actual content of the book! In fact, from the 50% that I read, there was strong well developed characters; an intriguing plot; there was even enough action to keep me trying to read. But at the end of the day, I knew that it was time to stop making myself feel guilty over not being able to read this one.
You see, the first problem that I faced with this book was the technical difficulties that came with it. You see, when I opened up the book, all of the font was a very light grey, almost white. I though, "huh, this is weird," and decided proceed to try and look through settings to see if I had accidentally pushed button. I couldn't find anything wrong, and it was only happening to this book. I did some research, I contacted Amazon Support to see if they could help me, I even tried NetGalley. Nobody knew what was going on.
So, me being me, I decided that I was just going to read it like this. How bad could it be? (Spoiler alert: it was really bad) Every time I would try to read, I would leave with a headache, and just having not enjoyed myself. It's hard to enjoy book with most of your concentration is going into trying to figure out what was actually written on the page. It's hard to read what you can't see.
And that brings me to reason number two why I have decided not to finish this one, all of this hassle caused a dread in me. I didn't want to read it, and it put me in a reading slump! Not! Cool! *shakes fist*
So, was this a bad book? From what I read, no. But, due to unfortunate circumstances, this one will have to remain unread, both for my eyes and my sanity. I hope that one day I will be able to return with a review of a copy that I could actually see the words in.
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You see, the first problem that I faced with this book was the technical difficulties that came with it. You see, when I opened up the book, all of the font was a very light grey, almost white. I though, "huh, this is weird," and decided proceed to try and look through settings to see if I had accidentally pushed button. I couldn't find anything wrong, and it was only happening to this book. I did some research, I contacted Amazon Support to see if they could help me, I even tried NetGalley. Nobody knew what was going on.
So, me being me, I decided that I was just going to read it like this. How bad could it be? (Spoiler alert: it was really bad) Every time I would try to read, I would leave with a headache, and just having not enjoyed myself. It's hard to enjoy book with most of your concentration is going into trying to figure out what was actually written on the page. It's hard to read what you can't see.
And that brings me to reason number two why I have decided not to finish this one, all of this hassle caused a dread in me. I didn't want to read it, and it put me in a reading slump! Not! Cool! *shakes fist*
So, was this a bad book? From what I read, no. But, due to unfortunate circumstances, this one will have to remain unread, both for my eyes and my sanity. I hope that one day I will be able to return with a review of a copy that I could actually see the words in.
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February 1, 2017
Find this review and others like it on my blog:
This novel is not a cheery story, it is dark and has very few happy moments. To quote Lemony Snickett, "If you are interested in stories with happy endings, you would be better off reading some other book. In this book, not only is there no happy ending, there is no happy beginning and very few happy things in the middle." Curse of Stars is a bleak, action filled book. It opens following the protagonist, Sabi Perez, on an average day in New York City. Her regular world quickly changes when a nefarious figure appeared in her home. Her family quickly went on the run, but to no avail. Jeviar, the antagonist of the novel, apprehends her and takes her to a different world. Soon after her imprisonment, Sabi is introduced to Anya and Cabal, the other main character's of the novel. She discovers she is a diamond crier, someone who's tears are incredibly valuable and she his being held captive for Jeviar to harvest them. And so sets the tone for the rest of this dark fantasy novel.
General Thoughts
This novel was entertaining but moved at a swift pace. The majority was action with very little world building. That was the biggest issue to me. Sabi was supposedly transported to another world, but there was very little description given regarding it. So little that it frequently just felt like it took place on earth, just in a different time period. It was incredibly disappointing, considering fantasy novels should always have a solid amount of world building that takes place. The pacing was also off, in my opinion. Tons of action, then parts that just drug on yet did not give any detailed information pertinent to the plot. The plus side of it being primarily action is that the novel was never boring. It was also a quick read as a result. I personally enjoy a mix of world building and action to create a balanced novel. However, I do know there are plenty of people who love primarily action packed stories.
I did appreciate the tone of the novel. It was dark, bleak, and barely had a smidge of hope. The writing felt very realistic given the novel's circumstances. YA has a habit of being too cheery regardless of circumstances or glossing over negativity. I like the Curse of Stars does not shy away from the dark.
Characters
Sabi
I had mixed feelings towards Sabi. While I related to her feelings, particularly her fear and reluctance towards her new position and the world she was thrust into, there was just something that prevented her from fully making a connection. I believe it is because her personality is a bit flat. It could be due to lack of detail or information about her, but it was difficult to relate to her fully. Sabi also exhibited minimal character growth, but some was present. She is vaguely described as a POC but later her skin is described as being pale or browning in the sun, so it makes it a bit harder to picture her. I do appreciate reading characters of diverse ethnicities and backgrounds, I just wish it was more pertinent to the story other than being briefly mentioned in the beginning.
Anya
Anya is one of the main characters the novel but she is flat and underdeveloped. There is not even much information given about her in the way of background and personality. The only personality traits repeatedly given are crazy and broken, but should definitely more to a character than those two traits. I wanted more details on her past, and definitely needed more conversations with other characters. I felt for her situation since she had gone through hell. But sympathizing with a situation is not the same is having a well-rounded, relatable character. The novel fell short of really making me care about her.
Cabal
How a character can be flat, yet constantly have allusions to having hidden sides is beyond my comprehension. A reader needs to see that there is a personality, that he is hiding things, to make you worry about what he is capable of instead of being told about it. He lacked personality, but we were told how he showed emotions, typically with his face. Otherwise, no hint of personality was shown. It is to the point where I am wondering if he was intentionally written in this manner to give a bit a mystery. However, if that is the case, it fell short. The plot gives times for when the reader questions his motives, but nothing is done to truly make him a mysterious, complex character.
Jeviar
Another character with plenty of potential, but no follow through, so he fell flat. First issue was with the very little page time he was given. Sure, the reader is told about how evil he is, can see his evil by extension, see the direct effects of his decisions. But when he is on the page, Jeviar does not really exhibit it beyond slapping people around and threats. He reminded me of a cartoon villain just twisting his mustache, being evil because he can. Beyond the family legacy, there is no motivation to be shown as to why he is a cruel ruler. He just is. A complex villain makes for an infinitely better story, so it always bothers me when they are flat, just like Jeviar. Hopefully he will be developed more in subsequent novels.
Varkek/Naileigha/Sevinus
These characters were not introduced until the end of the novel. As a result, there was not much development given to them. My assumption is they will become more important in subsequent novels and will have more characterization there.
*Spoilers to follow*
Closing
If you enjoy fast paced action and a darker tone, this novel is for you. If you prefer world building and rich details, you may not enjoy this novel since it lacks in those areas. That being said, give the novel a chance. It is a debut and a first of a series, which shows promise.
*I received a free copy of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
This novel is not a cheery story, it is dark and has very few happy moments. To quote Lemony Snickett, "If you are interested in stories with happy endings, you would be better off reading some other book. In this book, not only is there no happy ending, there is no happy beginning and very few happy things in the middle." Curse of Stars is a bleak, action filled book. It opens following the protagonist, Sabi Perez, on an average day in New York City. Her regular world quickly changes when a nefarious figure appeared in her home. Her family quickly went on the run, but to no avail. Jeviar, the antagonist of the novel, apprehends her and takes her to a different world. Soon after her imprisonment, Sabi is introduced to Anya and Cabal, the other main character's of the novel. She discovers she is a diamond crier, someone who's tears are incredibly valuable and she his being held captive for Jeviar to harvest them. And so sets the tone for the rest of this dark fantasy novel.
General Thoughts
This novel was entertaining but moved at a swift pace. The majority was action with very little world building. That was the biggest issue to me. Sabi was supposedly transported to another world, but there was very little description given regarding it. So little that it frequently just felt like it took place on earth, just in a different time period. It was incredibly disappointing, considering fantasy novels should always have a solid amount of world building that takes place. The pacing was also off, in my opinion. Tons of action, then parts that just drug on yet did not give any detailed information pertinent to the plot. The plus side of it being primarily action is that the novel was never boring. It was also a quick read as a result. I personally enjoy a mix of world building and action to create a balanced novel. However, I do know there are plenty of people who love primarily action packed stories.
I did appreciate the tone of the novel. It was dark, bleak, and barely had a smidge of hope. The writing felt very realistic given the novel's circumstances. YA has a habit of being too cheery regardless of circumstances or glossing over negativity. I like the Curse of Stars does not shy away from the dark.
Characters
Sabi
I had mixed feelings towards Sabi. While I related to her feelings, particularly her fear and reluctance towards her new position and the world she was thrust into, there was just something that prevented her from fully making a connection. I believe it is because her personality is a bit flat. It could be due to lack of detail or information about her, but it was difficult to relate to her fully. Sabi also exhibited minimal character growth, but some was present. She is vaguely described as a POC but later her skin is described as being pale or browning in the sun, so it makes it a bit harder to picture her. I do appreciate reading characters of diverse ethnicities and backgrounds, I just wish it was more pertinent to the story other than being briefly mentioned in the beginning.
Anya
Anya is one of the main characters the novel but she is flat and underdeveloped. There is not even much information given about her in the way of background and personality. The only personality traits repeatedly given are crazy and broken, but should definitely more to a character than those two traits. I wanted more details on her past, and definitely needed more conversations with other characters. I felt for her situation since she had gone through hell. But sympathizing with a situation is not the same is having a well-rounded, relatable character. The novel fell short of really making me care about her.
Cabal
How a character can be flat, yet constantly have allusions to having hidden sides is beyond my comprehension. A reader needs to see that there is a personality, that he is hiding things, to make you worry about what he is capable of instead of being told about it. He lacked personality, but we were told how he showed emotions, typically with his face. Otherwise, no hint of personality was shown. It is to the point where I am wondering if he was intentionally written in this manner to give a bit a mystery. However, if that is the case, it fell short. The plot gives times for when the reader questions his motives, but nothing is done to truly make him a mysterious, complex character.
Jeviar
Another character with plenty of potential, but no follow through, so he fell flat. First issue was with the very little page time he was given. Sure, the reader is told about how evil he is, can see his evil by extension, see the direct effects of his decisions. But when he is on the page, Jeviar does not really exhibit it beyond slapping people around and threats. He reminded me of a cartoon villain just twisting his mustache, being evil because he can. Beyond the family legacy, there is no motivation to be shown as to why he is a cruel ruler. He just is. A complex villain makes for an infinitely better story, so it always bothers me when they are flat, just like Jeviar. Hopefully he will be developed more in subsequent novels.
Varkek/Naileigha/Sevinus
These characters were not introduced until the end of the novel. As a result, there was not much development given to them. My assumption is they will become more important in subsequent novels and will have more characterization there.
*Spoilers to follow*
Closing
If you enjoy fast paced action and a darker tone, this novel is for you. If you prefer world building and rich details, you may not enjoy this novel since it lacks in those areas. That being said, give the novel a chance. It is a debut and a first of a series, which shows promise.
*I received a free copy of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
February 28, 2017
I saw Curse of Stars on Netgalley, and I was interested in Donna’s work. The story is a rather novel take on a tired trope: A young woman is something more than she had originally thought, and she’s thrust into a situation where her true hidden talents are revealed resulting in her impressing the first cold and now hot native who just wants her to reach her full potential and rid both worlds of a particular evil that scores of trained persons couldn’t defeat in all the years she was hidden in exile on Earth.
Following existing tropes is not necessarily a bad thing, and Donna’s story definitely has an interesting take. Sabi Perez cries diamonds. The bad guy wants her for her ability. But wait, she has hidden allies! The story is most definitely dark, even bleak. There’s lots of action, and what romance is in the story is minimal. Young Adult novels tend to be cheery or angsty, so it was nice to read a YA story that that didn’t shy away from difficult situations or ignore the negativity that the world Sabi ends up in is not a nice place. Donna doesn’t ignore the fact that people are sometimes selfish, and do things to hurt people to get what they want. A lot of YA novels ignore this. The tense storytelling requires you to keep reading until the end.
Fans of YA will enjoy Curse of Stars. It’s pretty much standard fare as far as the genre is concerned. Fans of dark fiction, or even grimdark fantasy will also enjoy it. Personally, I’d rate it just shy of four stars.
Following existing tropes is not necessarily a bad thing, and Donna’s story definitely has an interesting take. Sabi Perez cries diamonds. The bad guy wants her for her ability. But wait, she has hidden allies! The story is most definitely dark, even bleak. There’s lots of action, and what romance is in the story is minimal. Young Adult novels tend to be cheery or angsty, so it was nice to read a YA story that that didn’t shy away from difficult situations or ignore the negativity that the world Sabi ends up in is not a nice place. Donna doesn’t ignore the fact that people are sometimes selfish, and do things to hurt people to get what they want. A lot of YA novels ignore this. The tense storytelling requires you to keep reading until the end.
Fans of YA will enjoy Curse of Stars. It’s pretty much standard fare as far as the genre is concerned. Fans of dark fiction, or even grimdark fantasy will also enjoy it. Personally, I’d rate it just shy of four stars.
November 29, 2020
This is an interesting story. I’m excited to continue the series to see where it goes.
Follows Sabi who was taken from her parents and New York to a whole new world because she is a diamond crier.
Enslaved and harvested.
She breaks free and starts a revolution.
Interesting magic aspects.
Alien worlds.
Well written and exciting dynamics.
Highly recommend.
I got this book through a free giveaway for an honest review.
Follows Sabi who was taken from her parents and New York to a whole new world because she is a diamond crier.
Enslaved and harvested.
She breaks free and starts a revolution.
Interesting magic aspects.
Alien worlds.
Well written and exciting dynamics.
Highly recommend.
I got this book through a free giveaway for an honest review.
August 10, 2017
The was a good dark fantasy. The pace of the story was fast and entertaining. The characters were well written and interesting. There was a lot of action. I really enjoyed reading this. A great for anyone who likes fantasy. I received an ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 4, 2017
Sabi Perez along with her parents and little sister find themselves on the run from a man from another world. Sabi has no idea why this man is chasing them or what he wants. Sabi soon learns that she is a diamond crier and that this man, Jeviar wants her tears.
Later Sabi finds herself in a cell with another girl Anya whose tears this guy Jeviar is taking as well. She finds out that they are not the only ones that Jeviar has taken. Sabi finds out later that Jeviar has more in store for her than just draining her tears things that Sabi wants no part of and has no intentions of being this man’s prisoner for the rest of her life or until she is dry whichever comes first.
After Sabi discovers her powers and learns that another prisoner; Cabal is from the same place as she is and that he has powers like her they start to make plans to escape. They know once they escape that their lives will never be their own as Jeviar will hunt them down and they will be on the run and hiding till the day they die or he does.
If they can make it to sanctuary, their home maybe they can find the help they need to stand up against Jeviar and put a stop to what he and his wrong doings. Can they find their safe place? Can they find someone to help them? Can they find someone to stand up for them? Will Jeviar find them and take them back?
Come take a journey with Sabi, Anya and Cabal as they face their many obstacles while they are imprisoned; on their planning and escape from Javiar. If you like books that are filled with action and adventure and are very mysterious then Curse of Stars is just the book for you.
Later Sabi finds herself in a cell with another girl Anya whose tears this guy Jeviar is taking as well. She finds out that they are not the only ones that Jeviar has taken. Sabi finds out later that Jeviar has more in store for her than just draining her tears things that Sabi wants no part of and has no intentions of being this man’s prisoner for the rest of her life or until she is dry whichever comes first.
After Sabi discovers her powers and learns that another prisoner; Cabal is from the same place as she is and that he has powers like her they start to make plans to escape. They know once they escape that their lives will never be their own as Jeviar will hunt them down and they will be on the run and hiding till the day they die or he does.
If they can make it to sanctuary, their home maybe they can find the help they need to stand up against Jeviar and put a stop to what he and his wrong doings. Can they find their safe place? Can they find someone to help them? Can they find someone to stand up for them? Will Jeviar find them and take them back?
Come take a journey with Sabi, Anya and Cabal as they face their many obstacles while they are imprisoned; on their planning and escape from Javiar. If you like books that are filled with action and adventure and are very mysterious then Curse of Stars is just the book for you.
March 8, 2017
Now, I am a fan of science fiction and fantasy, so I was excited to read this. One of my favorite things about the sci-fi/fantasy genres is the world building and mythology, which this didn't really have a lot of.
We start off with Sabi, a teenage girl who lives in New York City, being followed by a strange man who calls her his property and threatens her sister. From there, Sabi discovers that she is not from Earth (or, at least, not the same Earth?) and that she has a special ability that was hidden from her somehow for over a decade. She is ripped from her family and imprisoned by the apparently evil man who came for her.
Then, we get a small amount of mythology, a couple of new characters - Anya and Cabal - who sort of answer some of her questions, and mostly a whole lot of misery. This goes on until close to 50%. Around the middle, we get more world building and mythology, but just a taste before moving along to the next setting.
This had some interesting aspects and a lot of potential, but I feel that it missed the mark in most ways. None of the characters are especially deep or developed, even Sabi, and there are some strange things that happen that made me confused about the morality of both of Sabi's companions and whether they were good or bad.
If you are someone who enjoys dark fantasy that is still fairly light, then this is for you.
We start off with Sabi, a teenage girl who lives in New York City, being followed by a strange man who calls her his property and threatens her sister. From there, Sabi discovers that she is not from Earth (or, at least, not the same Earth?) and that she has a special ability that was hidden from her somehow for over a decade. She is ripped from her family and imprisoned by the apparently evil man who came for her.
Then, we get a small amount of mythology, a couple of new characters - Anya and Cabal - who sort of answer some of her questions, and mostly a whole lot of misery. This goes on until close to 50%. Around the middle, we get more world building and mythology, but just a taste before moving along to the next setting.
This had some interesting aspects and a lot of potential, but I feel that it missed the mark in most ways. None of the characters are especially deep or developed, even Sabi, and there are some strange things that happen that made me confused about the morality of both of Sabi's companions and whether they were good or bad.
If you are someone who enjoys dark fantasy that is still fairly light, then this is for you.
March 8, 2017
What a unique concept. The idea of Diamond Cryers that are a sub-set of humans whose tears are coveted and some even have magical effects is interesting. The way these characters are treated though broke my heart. As they are coveted and numbers are dwindling, the ruler of basically the galaxy imprisons these people and harvests their tears. Sabi’s parents run away with her to Earth when they discover she is a Diamond Cryer so that she does not have to face this fate. However, the ruler finds her and she becomes imprisoned. The action in this book is there from page one and I can’t help but relate to different sci-fi movies like Jupiter Ascending. My heart was in all for Sabi as she plans escape with her newfound friends and as we follow her on this journey in a place she never knew existed. This is truly a unique book that literally had be gripping the edge of my seat wishing for Sabi’s safety.
March 3, 2017
In fantasy novels, one of the key elements to a good story, in my opinion, is the strength of the world building and the translation of that from the author's imagination to the page. Here, the author does a good job of that and I think that one of the fundamental reasons for this is that she has kept an element of realism throughout. The world that Sabi is taken to is different, yes, but there is an element of familiarity for the reader to hook into.
As for the plot line, I did find this a little overly convoluted in places and tricky to keep up with the various character machinations.
Nevertheless, the underlying story is decent, even if far more questions have been raised than have currently been answered. A promising start to the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
As for the plot line, I did find this a little overly convoluted in places and tricky to keep up with the various character machinations.
Nevertheless, the underlying story is decent, even if far more questions have been raised than have currently been answered. A promising start to the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
March 1, 2017
You can see my full review of this title (and learn more about the blog tour for this book, including a giveaway), on my book blog, So Few Books, at: https://sofewbooks.blogspot.com/2017/...!
I really wanted to like this book more than I did. The cover was gorgeous and the description sounded interesting. But I just didn’t feel like it reached its potential in the story. Right from the start, bad things happen to Sabi Perez... Things only go from bad to worse though, with very few pockets of happiness or hope. I found almost the entire book to be very confusing, dark and depressing... The last two or three chapters, however, things finally seemed to look up, at least minimally, for the three main protagonists of the story... I’m definitely willing to read the sequel, but I hope it comes across as not quite so dreary and depressing as this novel.
I received a free eBook copy of this book from XpressoBookTours, and have willingly provided and honest review.
I really wanted to like this book more than I did. The cover was gorgeous and the description sounded interesting. But I just didn’t feel like it reached its potential in the story. Right from the start, bad things happen to Sabi Perez... Things only go from bad to worse though, with very few pockets of happiness or hope. I found almost the entire book to be very confusing, dark and depressing... The last two or three chapters, however, things finally seemed to look up, at least minimally, for the three main protagonists of the story... I’m definitely willing to read the sequel, but I hope it comes across as not quite so dreary and depressing as this novel.
I received a free eBook copy of this book from XpressoBookTours, and have willingly provided and honest review.
February 20, 2017
DNF @ 16%
I really tried to get into this book. The cover was beautiful, the synopsis was intriguing, and I was excited to read it. Unfortunately, it just couldn't hold my interest.
Curse of Stars reads sort of like a first draft. There's really no build-up to the story. It just sort of starts off with a weird guy coming after the main character, Sabi, and her trying to escape him with the help of her family. Her secret is revealed to her really early on, and once she's captured by the strange man, she's immediately transported to a new world. It's extremely rushed.
There is no real world-building going on, or so it seems. It's just, bam! Sabi is now on this strange new world, but it's not really described. I didn't get a sense of... anything from it. She's just thrown into a dark room and made to wait for some creepy looking thing to come and force-feed her this goop so it can collect her tears.
I honestly felt zero connection to any of the characters. They all seem sort of one-dimensional, and because they aren't as fleshed out as they should be, you, as a reader, find yourself indifferent to what's happening to any of them.
I wish I could have made it a little farther into the book, but I gave up at 16% mostly because I kept dozing off every time I tried to read it. I found myself bored because it was so rushed. Very disappointed in this one.
I rated it two stars instead of one because the cover really is gorgeous, and I really think the book, if fleshed out more and properly paced, could have potential.
I really tried to get into this book. The cover was beautiful, the synopsis was intriguing, and I was excited to read it. Unfortunately, it just couldn't hold my interest.
Curse of Stars reads sort of like a first draft. There's really no build-up to the story. It just sort of starts off with a weird guy coming after the main character, Sabi, and her trying to escape him with the help of her family. Her secret is revealed to her really early on, and once she's captured by the strange man, she's immediately transported to a new world. It's extremely rushed.
There is no real world-building going on, or so it seems. It's just, bam! Sabi is now on this strange new world, but it's not really described. I didn't get a sense of... anything from it. She's just thrown into a dark room and made to wait for some creepy looking thing to come and force-feed her this goop so it can collect her tears.
I honestly felt zero connection to any of the characters. They all seem sort of one-dimensional, and because they aren't as fleshed out as they should be, you, as a reader, find yourself indifferent to what's happening to any of them.
I wish I could have made it a little farther into the book, but I gave up at 16% mostly because I kept dozing off every time I tried to read it. I found myself bored because it was so rushed. Very disappointed in this one.
I rated it two stars instead of one because the cover really is gorgeous, and I really think the book, if fleshed out more and properly paced, could have potential.
March 1, 2017
Full review on http://diaryofawannabewriter.blogspot....
I love the premise behind the story, it is just so unique. The magic, the world, everything is amazing. All this greatness gets lost in the writing for me. I just could not connect to it.
I love the premise behind the story, it is just so unique. The magic, the world, everything is amazing. All this greatness gets lost in the writing for me. I just could not connect to it.
February 19, 2017
Dangerously devouring!
A crier. No, a crier whose tears are diamonds. This is a very interesting fantasy that is suited to the YA audience, but I thoroughly enjoyed it as well. Sabi is a powerful heroine in the story, and her journey just begins as she is a prisoner. This is an exciting story that will keep the reader engrossed in its powerful words. A unique plot and no hokey storylines. Great read.
A crier. No, a crier whose tears are diamonds. This is a very interesting fantasy that is suited to the YA audience, but I thoroughly enjoyed it as well. Sabi is a powerful heroine in the story, and her journey just begins as she is a prisoner. This is an exciting story that will keep the reader engrossed in its powerful words. A unique plot and no hokey storylines. Great read.
February 9, 2017
Curse of Stars –
I was graciously given this title to read through Netgalley for a full and honest review.
From the title to the cover to the description, I SO wanted to love this book.
I'm really sad that I didn't. I feel it could have offered so much more. It seemed a little tell-y to me at the start, and I felt as though we were rushing through the action with little character to truly draw me in.
I didn’t know enough about the characters to care who the man was at the top of the stairs so early on in the proceedings, and by the time they reached the train station in chapter 2 I wasn’t 100% sure what their aim was.
Also the dialogue was very clipped, and revealed only what the story needed, which under any circumstance is fine but it read like a bad stage play. I think given a bit more natural dialogue, and easing into the story a bit more, it would have maybe set up for the action events later.
I didn’t get a sense of character from it, and it felt a little juvenile in the way it was presented? IDK maybe I’m just picky but I found it hard to continue when I cared so little.
It's with regret I give this 2*.
I was graciously given this title to read through Netgalley for a full and honest review.
From the title to the cover to the description, I SO wanted to love this book.
I'm really sad that I didn't. I feel it could have offered so much more. It seemed a little tell-y to me at the start, and I felt as though we were rushing through the action with little character to truly draw me in.
I didn’t know enough about the characters to care who the man was at the top of the stairs so early on in the proceedings, and by the time they reached the train station in chapter 2 I wasn’t 100% sure what their aim was.
Also the dialogue was very clipped, and revealed only what the story needed, which under any circumstance is fine but it read like a bad stage play. I think given a bit more natural dialogue, and easing into the story a bit more, it would have maybe set up for the action events later.
I didn’t get a sense of character from it, and it felt a little juvenile in the way it was presented? IDK maybe I’m just picky but I found it hard to continue when I cared so little.
It's with regret I give this 2*.
December 18, 2016
NetGalley Review
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was defiantly not what I was expecting at all. In fact, it was so much better.
Overall, the story is unique in a dark, cynical way. I absolutely loved the truth of Compositor’s voice. She doesn’t attempt to hide the ugly truth of reality within the story. She shows it how it is, which is fantastic. Her writing it great. She takes you on a journey that you never want to end. Another aspect in which Compositor nailed was the complex story building. I honestly felt like I was there with the characters.
However, one thing that I didn’t really like was the time lapses. I understand move the story along, especially if nothing really important happens between stages. But it felt as if I had missed a large portion of the time. Maybe if there weren’t so many or as large of a gap between, I would’ve liked it better.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was defiantly not what I was expecting at all. In fact, it was so much better.
Overall, the story is unique in a dark, cynical way. I absolutely loved the truth of Compositor’s voice. She doesn’t attempt to hide the ugly truth of reality within the story. She shows it how it is, which is fantastic. Her writing it great. She takes you on a journey that you never want to end. Another aspect in which Compositor nailed was the complex story building. I honestly felt like I was there with the characters.
However, one thing that I didn’t really like was the time lapses. I understand move the story along, especially if nothing really important happens between stages. But it felt as if I had missed a large portion of the time. Maybe if there weren’t so many or as large of a gap between, I would’ve liked it better.
February 4, 2017
:..Reviewed for Red's Midnight Readers..::
I was given an ARC copy via netgalley and have given it 4 stars.
First of all....I love the cover. A cover should catch your eye and make you want to pick the book up and this one certainly does that.
I went into this never having heard of the author and not knowing what to expect from the novel but found myself pleasantly surprised at it's content.
The plot itself is very intriguing and quite an interesting concept, having read nothing of it's kind before.
The story moves along quite quickly to begin with and then proceeds at a steady pace but lacks any real action until the second half.
However, I found there was too much detail in some places that made it difficult to follow the story and had to go back and re-read sections where I had found myself skimming the story.
Overall this is pleasant and reasonably well written fantasy that I would recommend to any fantasy fan.
I was given an ARC copy via netgalley and have given it 4 stars.
First of all....I love the cover. A cover should catch your eye and make you want to pick the book up and this one certainly does that.
I went into this never having heard of the author and not knowing what to expect from the novel but found myself pleasantly surprised at it's content.
The plot itself is very intriguing and quite an interesting concept, having read nothing of it's kind before.
The story moves along quite quickly to begin with and then proceeds at a steady pace but lacks any real action until the second half.
However, I found there was too much detail in some places that made it difficult to follow the story and had to go back and re-read sections where I had found myself skimming the story.
Overall this is pleasant and reasonably well written fantasy that I would recommend to any fantasy fan.
January 19, 2017
I received this ebook in exchange for an honest review on Netgalley.
I went into this story without knowing what to expect. I was agreably surprised. It was a suspensful and magical story. The writing style was beautiful and I put me in a mind to keep reading.
I went into this story without knowing what to expect. I was agreably surprised. It was a suspensful and magical story. The writing style was beautiful and I put me in a mind to keep reading.
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