What do you think?
Rate this book
All the Stars and Teeth #1
All the Stars and Teeth
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction (2020)Set in a kingdom where danger lurks beneath the sea, mermaids seek vengeance with song, and magic is a choice.
She will reign.
As princess of the island kingdom Visidia, Amora Montara has spent her entire life training to be High Animancer — the master of souls. The rest of the realm can choose their magic, but for Amora, it’s never been a choice. To secure her place as heir to the throne, she must prove her mastery of the monarchy’s dangerous soul magic.
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.
She will reign.
As princess of the island kingdom Visidia, Amora Montara has spent her entire life training to be High Animancer — the master of souls. The rest of the realm can choose their magic, but for Amora, it’s never been a choice. To secure her place as heir to the throne, she must prove her mastery of the monarchy’s dangerous soul magic.
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.
380 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 4, 2020
About the author
Adalyn Grace
5 books4,744 followersAdalyn Grace is the #1 New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, International, and Indiebound bestselling author of Belladonna and the All the Stars and Teeth duology.
Prior to becoming an author, Adalyn spent several years working in live theatre and studied storytelling as an intern on Nickelodeon Animation’s popular series The Legend of Korra.
Local to San Diego, Adalyn spends her non-writing days by watching too much anime, and by playing video games with her two dorky dogs.
Prior to becoming an author, Adalyn spent several years working in live theatre and studied storytelling as an intern on Nickelodeon Animation’s popular series The Legend of Korra.
Local to San Diego, Adalyn spends her non-writing days by watching too much anime, and by playing video games with her two dorky dogs.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,907 reviews
February 2, 2018
THIS BOOK YOU GUYS
I was lucky enough to read an early draft of this book because the and i LOVED IT
Picture Furiosa from Mad Max: Fury Road leading her own Pirates Of The Carribean Ship
This epic sea adventure empowering as hell, exciting, bloody, and it takes no prisoners! It's also powerful--there are parts of this books that gave me goosebumps.
I can't WAIT to read the final draft and then I can't wait for everyone else to read it so we can geek out about it together!!
I was lucky enough to read an early draft of this book because the and i LOVED IT
Picture Furiosa from Mad Max: Fury Road leading her own Pirates Of The Carribean Ship
This epic sea adventure empowering as hell, exciting, bloody, and it takes no prisoners! It's also powerful--there are parts of this books that gave me goosebumps.
I can't WAIT to read the final draft and then I can't wait for everyone else to read it so we can geek out about it together!!
September 24, 2020
$2.99 kindle US today 9/24/20
*******
Holy shit ass snacks!. Wait, let me show you the pretty cover that came in my Owlcrate box!
Okay, holy shit ass snacks!! I thought I was falling off the rail with ya books but this book kicked ass! And to think, I was going to dnf this book because the beginning was all like: a princess, she’s not allowed to do shit, put her in a damn dress when she wants to be included in more important things, make her do some dumbass magic ceremony to prove her worth. Yada yada.
But hell to the no!! I thought I jumped into a smidge of grimdark fantasy with a badass chic. Let’s just say her ceremony was to kill someone for reasons but she did a major over kill (that I quite enjoyed) and we were off to the races!
I loved all of the characters and I will be looking forward to this new series, trilogy, whatever!
Mel 😘🖤🐶🐺🐾
*******
Holy shit ass snacks!. Wait, let me show you the pretty cover that came in my Owlcrate box!
Okay, holy shit ass snacks!! I thought I was falling off the rail with ya books but this book kicked ass! And to think, I was going to dnf this book because the beginning was all like: a princess, she’s not allowed to do shit, put her in a damn dress when she wants to be included in more important things, make her do some dumbass magic ceremony to prove her worth. Yada yada.
But hell to the no!! I thought I jumped into a smidge of grimdark fantasy with a badass chic. Let’s just say her ceremony was to kill someone for reasons but she did a major over kill (that I quite enjoyed) and we were off to the races!
I loved all of the characters and I will be looking forward to this new series, trilogy, whatever!
Mel 😘🖤🐶🐺🐾
February 9, 2020
finally! a new YA fantasy release that i actually found to be entirely enjoyable. 2020 is finally looking up!
yes, its full of tropes and predictable material, but THE ADVENTURE! its fun, its fresh, its exciting. the entire journey of the story is what kept me hooked. it made me long for a life where i sail the seven seas, and i hate the ocean, so thats saying something. lol. with mermaids, pirates, legendary sea monsters, and blood magic, there is never a dull moment. yes, the adventure could be a little more intense and emotionally charged, considering an entire kingdom is in danger, but the great pacing and entertaining characters make up for it.
overall, im decently impressed with this debut. quite a bit of the story is resolved by the end, so im interested to see where the sequel takes this!
↠ 4 stars
yes, its full of tropes and predictable material, but THE ADVENTURE! its fun, its fresh, its exciting. the entire journey of the story is what kept me hooked. it made me long for a life where i sail the seven seas, and i hate the ocean, so thats saying something. lol. with mermaids, pirates, legendary sea monsters, and blood magic, there is never a dull moment. yes, the adventure could be a little more intense and emotionally charged, considering an entire kingdom is in danger, but the great pacing and entertaining characters make up for it.
overall, im decently impressed with this debut. quite a bit of the story is resolved by the end, so im interested to see where the sequel takes this!
↠ 4 stars
December 8, 2020
The Written Review
OHMYGOSH. Goodreads Choice Nominees are in and My Reaction Video is up! Don't forget to vote!
Amora Montara knows she's her kingdom's only hope as the next High Animancer (master of souls).
She's been training all her life to wield Soul Magic - which allows her to control and destroy enemies of her country.
However, it is a fickle power. One where if it goes wrong, there are disastrous consequences.
On the very night she was supposed to demonstrate complete and utter mastery of Soul Magic...things go terribly wrong.
Amora is thrown into the dungeon and her only way of survival is to escape from her own kingdom.
Rumors abound about a new, destructive magic running rampart on her island-kingdom.
Only by reigning that in would she be able to prove her worthiness for the crown...but the question remains...will she survive long enough to destroy that magic? Or will her magic destroy her first?
Ultimately this one was an okay read for me.
I was interested by the magic and the world that was created.
I thought the secrets that Amora hunted were compelling and interesting.
But...the actual characters felt a bit bland to me.
Maybe my expectations were too high based on that gorgeous cover but I just didn't feel the bookish obsession that I wanted.
YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads
May 21, 2020
Well, that was… painfully average
First, let it be known that this is in no way a ‘bad book'. The writing was decent. The characters are likable. The plot is engaging enough. But I’ve definitely read this book before. Many, many times. And I’m sure you have too.
I could call every reveal, every twist, every next step of the story. It follows the same formula as countless YA fantasies out there, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing!
If you like those stories and aren’t in the market for anything particularly new, then totally read this one. It’s not a bad book, and many of you will love it. I just wasn’t one of those people.
Even though I didn’t love it, I still did have a good time reading it. Whenever I picked it up I would fly through it. The problem was that when I put it down for whatever reason, I never felt the urge to pick it back up. I didn’t have the need to know what happened next and how it was all going to play out because, as I said, I already knew the formula and could already guess what was to come.
In the end, I did enjoy this book. It was decent and quick to read. Also, Ferrick deserves some love. This boy went through so much. I felt so bad for him. They were literally using him for parts at some points, a thing that I found both tragic and hilarious.
The romance was predictable and felt a bit shallow. The two characters barely knew each other. Also, you know in stories when one character will keep a huge secret from the other and they have this huge confrontation when character A asks "why didn't you tell me. Didn't you trust me?" and Character B goes into this whole apology speech and promises to trust them?
I hate that.
And it's not something that only this book has. So much of YA has this. In fact, a lot of stories have this but I hate it most in YA because it usually happens between two characters that barely know each other and have no reason to be spilling their deepest secrets.
It's like, of course, they didn't tell you! Why would they tell this to someone they meet two weeks ago!
So, yeah, I guess I recommend it. I don’t doubt that many people will like it. But be cautious, the synopsis on Goodreads says, “for fans of Stephanie Garber’s Caraval and Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass series” and that is exactly what it is, for better or worse. It felt at times like it was trying very hard to emulate those other books.
First, let it be known that this is in no way a ‘bad book'. The writing was decent. The characters are likable. The plot is engaging enough. But I’ve definitely read this book before. Many, many times. And I’m sure you have too.
I could call every reveal, every twist, every next step of the story. It follows the same formula as countless YA fantasies out there, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing!
If you like those stories and aren’t in the market for anything particularly new, then totally read this one. It’s not a bad book, and many of you will love it. I just wasn’t one of those people.
Even though I didn’t love it, I still did have a good time reading it. Whenever I picked it up I would fly through it. The problem was that when I put it down for whatever reason, I never felt the urge to pick it back up. I didn’t have the need to know what happened next and how it was all going to play out because, as I said, I already knew the formula and could already guess what was to come.
In the end, I did enjoy this book. It was decent and quick to read. Also, Ferrick deserves some love. This boy went through so much. I felt so bad for him. They were literally using him for parts at some points, a thing that I found both tragic and hilarious.
The romance was predictable and felt a bit shallow. The two characters barely knew each other. Also, you know in stories when one character will keep a huge secret from the other and they have this huge confrontation when character A asks "why didn't you tell me. Didn't you trust me?" and Character B goes into this whole apology speech and promises to trust them?
I hate that.
And it's not something that only this book has. So much of YA has this. In fact, a lot of stories have this but I hate it most in YA because it usually happens between two characters that barely know each other and have no reason to be spilling their deepest secrets.
It's like, of course, they didn't tell you! Why would they tell this to someone they meet two weeks ago!
So, yeah, I guess I recommend it. I don’t doubt that many people will like it. But be cautious, the synopsis on Goodreads says, “for fans of Stephanie Garber’s Caraval and Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass series” and that is exactly what it is, for better or worse. It felt at times like it was trying very hard to emulate those other books.
February 6, 2021
December 5, 2020 UPDATE:
Signed and personalized copies are available for order through Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore
--CONTENT WARNINGS--
Now that ARCs are beginning to circulate, I also wanted to hop on here and talk about some of the content warnings in this book. Skip now, if you don't want to read them:
Violence and Death: There are 7 main forms of magic in this book. One of the most commonly used ones is violent in nature, requiring blood/skin/bones, or other parts of the body. The methods to obtain these are often violent and sometimes torturous in nature. There's a blanket statement on this book for on-page graphic violence, blood, and murder.
There are several character deaths throughout the novel. One of these deaths is death by suicide.
There is self injury (fingernails digging into the palms to the point of blood) in chapter 31
There is a brief moment of animal abuse (no animal death) in chapter 29.
Sexual Assault:
A character mentions past attempted sexual assault in chapter 19.
Abusive Relationship:
There is a severely toxic relationship that portrays emotional and physical abuse (gripping too tightly/fingers digging into skin) in chapter 29.
Drinking:
There is on page drinking as well of mentions of alcohol throughout the novel.
Please read only the material you're comfortable with <3
----
I wrote this, so I'm definitely going to go ahead and mark this as read for my goodreads challenge.
I'm a little biased, but this book is pretty cool and I think you'll like it. More to come, soon!
Signed and personalized copies are available for order through Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore
--CONTENT WARNINGS--
Now that ARCs are beginning to circulate, I also wanted to hop on here and talk about some of the content warnings in this book. Skip now, if you don't want to read them:
Violence and Death: There are 7 main forms of magic in this book. One of the most commonly used ones is violent in nature, requiring blood/skin/bones, or other parts of the body. The methods to obtain these are often violent and sometimes torturous in nature. There's a blanket statement on this book for on-page graphic violence, blood, and murder.
There are several character deaths throughout the novel. One of these deaths is death by suicide.
There is self injury (fingernails digging into the palms to the point of blood) in chapter 31
There is a brief moment of animal abuse (no animal death) in chapter 29.
Sexual Assault:
A character mentions past attempted sexual assault in chapter 19.
Abusive Relationship:
There is a severely toxic relationship that portrays emotional and physical abuse (gripping too tightly/fingers digging into skin) in chapter 29.
Drinking:
There is on page drinking as well of mentions of alcohol throughout the novel.
Please read only the material you're comfortable with <3
----
I wrote this, so I'm definitely going to go ahead and mark this as read for my goodreads challenge.
I'm a little biased, but this book is pretty cool and I think you'll like it. More to come, soon!
May 24, 2020
“I am Amora Montara, Princess of Visidia, and I will be the future High Animancer. I am the right choice. The only choice. And I will protect my kingdom.”
This book is full of MAGNIFICENT characters and DANGEROUS adventures. I enjoyed reading the heck out of it. However, it’s also just like any other typical YA fantasy books—which I’m not gonna lie, the whole gig is getting a little too old for me. I’m not about to put words in your mouth and tell you not to read it because if you’re in for some fun, I think this book certainly delivers. Just don’t go in expecting something extraordinary.
Amora is forced to flee her kingdom after she fails her test in becoming the High Animancer. Desperate for a second chance, she agrees to an alliance with a mysterious pirate and goes on a mission that’ll hopefully help prove she’s fit to rule.
First and foremost, my appreciation goes to the author for making my dreams come true with this magical tale of pirates, mermaids and princesses, curses and treachery. I LOVE SEA BOOKS and authors don’t write enough of them to keep me sated. The only thing this book lacks is grit and intensity—which I’ve decided that this is a preference issue and not the book’s fault.
Don’t get me wrong, this book is bloody and action packed. You can’t go braving the open sea and saving a kingdom from a certain doom while being a fugitive without once having to spill some lives in the process. It’s just that despite all the minacious situations our characters have to get themselves out of, I never really felt the adrenaline rush. There were scenes where I should’ve felt mortified, disgusted, or scared, but I just didn’t.
“We’ve shared an experience only a few people will understand, and it’s marked our souls. The sea is a beast more fearsome than even the lusca.”
The characters are well written. There are no better crew members to lead you on a sailing quest than a charming pirate, a vicious yet lovely mermaid, a loyal protective healer, and a strong determined princess. For some reason though, while I can recognize that our heroine has some great qualities, I couldn’t fully root for her in the beginning. She treats her fiance like he’s some dirt under her shoe. I understand her frustration, but at the very least she could treat him like a friend.
“Are you flirting with me?” he teases. “It’s a bit hard to tell, considering how terrifying you are.”
The romance has a nice dynamic that’s completely seperate from other elements of the story. I mean, it’s not the focal point but it has its moments. The banter is absolutely amusing. Sometimes during—what’s supposed to be—a heartfelt scene, the dialogues come across as sweet but also a little cheesy. There’s some twist at the end that’ll sure complicate this romantic relationship in the next book. There’s a possibility of a new pairing as well.
This book also incorporates topics such as menstruation, sexism, sexual assault, and abusive relationship into the story. Those are some big heavy words. While some readers who are close to young adult age can maybe feel the empowerment, they are neither hard hitting nor impactful for me. I acknowledge the sentiment nontheless. It’s appreciable to have those kinds of discussions in YA books.
“Fear is part of life; all that matters is what we do with it.”
All in all, this is not a bad debut book by any means. The characters, the plot, the world building, and the romance are solid. The pacing is steady, albeit the writing is fairly simplistic. There’s a predictability in some of the twists, but this book is otherwise enjoyable to read. Personally, I’m just neither disappointed nor blown away by this as I’ve tasted this recipe too many times and I feel like this book offers nothing particularly special.
If you like this book, you might like:
↠ Crown of Coral and Pearl
↠ To Kill a Kingdom
May 5, 2020
TW: some blood magic/self harm
This was an unexpected delight. The world is lush and well described, with a ocean vibe that could have been cheesy but I really enjoyed. There were a few tropes that I thought would be typical and predictable, but they actually got turned in their head in this story and felt new. Our main character is flawed while still being ultimately determined to be a good leader in a way that I don’t always find believable when it’s been done in other books. The romance is also banter-filled while developing into something very supportive and mature. I also enjoyed the found family aspects of the friend group. This is a duology I’m looking forward to continuing.
This was an unexpected delight. The world is lush and well described, with a ocean vibe that could have been cheesy but I really enjoyed. There were a few tropes that I thought would be typical and predictable, but they actually got turned in their head in this story and felt new. Our main character is flawed while still being ultimately determined to be a good leader in a way that I don’t always find believable when it’s been done in other books. The romance is also banter-filled while developing into something very supportive and mature. I also enjoyed the found family aspects of the friend group. This is a duology I’m looking forward to continuing.
July 1, 2020
Ship ahoy! Hurrah! Pirates of Caribbean dances with darker versions Peter Pan and Little Mermaid !
There is a lot of things for me to adore this journey:
Amora: flawed but brace and mature for own age, born to be a leader and likable heroine.
Bastian: charming pirate, powerful, charismatic, witty and so far my favorite character of the book( reminds me of Colin O’Donoghue’s performance as Captain Killian “Hook”Jones at OUAT. Actually his interactions with Amora reminded me of Emma Swan and Hook’s story at the series!)
A vicious, killer mermaid:Vataea already stole the spotlight. Could a supporting character be better than the heroine? Yes, she definitely could! I chant for her! She is amazing!
The world building, dark powers of magic theme and feminism vibes of the story worked also well.
I loved the loyalty and beautiful bounding of the crew.
Action packed parts were written rivetingly. The ending was also breathtaking and intriguing enough to make you read the conclusion of the story.
When you put romance, world of pirates, magic, mermaids, moving dialogues into an equation with a remarkable cover: this means I’m sold at the first sight.
Only thing made me cut one star was the slow and flat beginning of the story.
In the beginning: we’re introduced with Amora who is princess and the heir who will rule the kingdom in near future. We start to learn about her family dynamics, her father’s over protective attitudes, her aunts. Then we witness Amora’s soul magic demonstration which is important for her to prove she is powerful enough to control the magic for becoming strong leader but as you may see her demonstration doesn’t go well as it was planned. She is involuntarily pushes to leave her home and makes an agreement with charming pirate to bring him his stolen magic back which take them to the dangerous journey to face with powerful monsters, vengeful mermaids. Amora slowly starts to realize the kingdom has its own secrets. She has to deal with them properly to become a true leader.
I think till the journey on the ship starts, the book was solid three starred read for me but after passing first quarter of the book, the real magic starts to grow on you.
I’m giving shiny, adventurous, dazzling, entertaining four stars and i cannot wait to get my hands on to the next installment! Hurrah!
There is a lot of things for me to adore this journey:
Amora: flawed but brace and mature for own age, born to be a leader and likable heroine.
Bastian: charming pirate, powerful, charismatic, witty and so far my favorite character of the book( reminds me of Colin O’Donoghue’s performance as Captain Killian “Hook”Jones at OUAT. Actually his interactions with Amora reminded me of Emma Swan and Hook’s story at the series!)
A vicious, killer mermaid:Vataea already stole the spotlight. Could a supporting character be better than the heroine? Yes, she definitely could! I chant for her! She is amazing!
The world building, dark powers of magic theme and feminism vibes of the story worked also well.
I loved the loyalty and beautiful bounding of the crew.
Action packed parts were written rivetingly. The ending was also breathtaking and intriguing enough to make you read the conclusion of the story.
When you put romance, world of pirates, magic, mermaids, moving dialogues into an equation with a remarkable cover: this means I’m sold at the first sight.
Only thing made me cut one star was the slow and flat beginning of the story.
In the beginning: we’re introduced with Amora who is princess and the heir who will rule the kingdom in near future. We start to learn about her family dynamics, her father’s over protective attitudes, her aunts. Then we witness Amora’s soul magic demonstration which is important for her to prove she is powerful enough to control the magic for becoming strong leader but as you may see her demonstration doesn’t go well as it was planned. She is involuntarily pushes to leave her home and makes an agreement with charming pirate to bring him his stolen magic back which take them to the dangerous journey to face with powerful monsters, vengeful mermaids. Amora slowly starts to realize the kingdom has its own secrets. She has to deal with them properly to become a true leader.
I think till the journey on the ship starts, the book was solid three starred read for me but after passing first quarter of the book, the real magic starts to grow on you.
I’m giving shiny, adventurous, dazzling, entertaining four stars and i cannot wait to get my hands on to the next installment! Hurrah!
March 26, 2020
3.25 YA Fantasy Stars
I am not really into the pirate genre...or books about ships...or YA fantasy as much lately, if I'm truly honest...and yet something about this blurb intrigued me when I got my Book of the Month picks for February.
I told myself I could only buy more YA books if I read any new ones right away and started to make some headway with the scores already completely littering my shelves. So here we are.
I thought this was a really solid start to a new YA fantasy series. I trudged through the first part a bit (I think the first 50% took me over a week to read), but that's typical of first-in-series fantasy books where the author is busy building worlds and magic systems, etc. Things really started to pick up once I hit the halfway point though and I ended up finished it in one sitting.
I really liked the magic systems used here. I wouldn't say they are wholly original or mind-blowing by any means, but they also didn't feel like complete carbon copies of all the other fantasy systems out there. I especially enjoyed the darker nature of Amora's magic. Because blood and stabby-ness always make this girl's day.
There were some minor twists that I saw coming and some that were mildly surprising. I do wish some of the characters has been a little more developed. But all in all, a really solid start and I will be picking up book two whenever it comes out.
I am not really into the pirate genre...or books about ships...or YA fantasy as much lately, if I'm truly honest...and yet something about this blurb intrigued me when I got my Book of the Month picks for February.
I told myself I could only buy more YA books if I read any new ones right away and started to make some headway with the scores already completely littering my shelves. So here we are.
I thought this was a really solid start to a new YA fantasy series. I trudged through the first part a bit (I think the first 50% took me over a week to read), but that's typical of first-in-series fantasy books where the author is busy building worlds and magic systems, etc. Things really started to pick up once I hit the halfway point though and I ended up finished it in one sitting.
I really liked the magic systems used here. I wouldn't say they are wholly original or mind-blowing by any means, but they also didn't feel like complete carbon copies of all the other fantasy systems out there. I especially enjoyed the darker nature of Amora's magic. Because blood and stabby-ness always make this girl's day.
There were some minor twists that I saw coming and some that were mildly surprising. I do wish some of the characters has been a little more developed. But all in all, a really solid start and I will be picking up book two whenever it comes out.
October 15, 2019
I love pirates, but have been let down with a lot of the pirate-type books! However, here is one that totally changed my mind! I'll also add that the cover is one of my favorites of the year!
Amora was pretty freaking awesome! I easily connected with her and what she was going through and had to face! Then there were the boys! I loved Bastian and Ferrick, especially Bastion, though! And Vataea has my heart! She was vicious and lovable at the same time! The bond between the crew was one that I would want to truly be a part of.
All I want in my life right now is to set sail on Keel Haul—that's the ship, by the way! The author put a whole unique spin on the pirate life with wonderful and vivid descriptions that had me captivated from one. Now, give me all the bones and all the magic, and I'm seriously excited for book 2!
Amora was pretty freaking awesome! I easily connected with her and what she was going through and had to face! Then there were the boys! I loved Bastian and Ferrick, especially Bastion, though! And Vataea has my heart! She was vicious and lovable at the same time! The bond between the crew was one that I would want to truly be a part of.
All I want in my life right now is to set sail on Keel Haul—that's the ship, by the way! The author put a whole unique spin on the pirate life with wonderful and vivid descriptions that had me captivated from one. Now, give me all the bones and all the magic, and I'm seriously excited for book 2!
December 30, 2021
Instagram || Twitter || Facebook || Amazon || Pinterest
DNF @ 15%
One of my 2022 goals is to clean out my Kindle and this book has been sitting on there since September. I've been really looking forward to it because of THAT COVER and also because there's just a serious shortage of good nautical fantasy, and I was hoping this would be The One. Sadly, it was not. I couldn't get into this book at all. There is so much info-dumping that I really felt like I was being bludgeoned over the head with the world building and it didn't feel organic at all. I also didn't really care for the main character. I appreciate what the author was trying to do with her character-- instead of the more passive heroine that's typical in YA, she was trying to make her an arrogant antiheroine that's more like a lot of the heroes in YA. I applaud the subversion of the trope and the attempt to make a female antiheroine but I did not like the way her character was done. She felt like a Celaena Sardothien clone, and maybe if you're into that I'M SO TOUGH LOL LOOK AT ME brand of girl power, you will like Amora's character, but I was not #TeamAmora at all.
The biggest obstacle for me, however, was the writing style. ALL THE STARS AND TEETH is written in that overly ornate style that feels really forced to me and I couldn't get into it at all. I tried to find a passage to illustrate what I mean and I think this one kind of shows what I'm talking about:
Sprawling mountains of ripe green and lush cliffsides stretch before us as the sea tugs our ship towards the docks of Arida, my home island. The cliffsides are thickly shrouded with bioluminescent flora, which, while beautiful in the daylight, will steal a person's breath when they spread their brilliant purple and pink petals beneath the moon (2%)
YMMV.
1 star
June 16, 2020
I received this complimentary ARC from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
I LOVED THIS! There was so much fun and adventure!
I love anything that takes place at sea and this didn’t disappoint. It had such a unique magic system. There were pirates and mermaids and sea monsters and various islands and ... it was just FUN!
Of course, there were the usual politics and drama that comes with characters being members of the royal family, but it’s been a while since I’ve read a book that was just simply a fun adventure. I also liked the snark and sass that came from the characters, especially the pirate hehehe.
I HIGHLY recommend it and can’t wait for the sequel!
I LOVED THIS! There was so much fun and adventure!
I love anything that takes place at sea and this didn’t disappoint. It had such a unique magic system. There were pirates and mermaids and sea monsters and various islands and ... it was just FUN!
Of course, there were the usual politics and drama that comes with characters being members of the royal family, but it’s been a while since I’ve read a book that was just simply a fun adventure. I also liked the snark and sass that came from the characters, especially the pirate hehehe.
I HIGHLY recommend it and can’t wait for the sequel!
June 6, 2020
I loved this book!! It checks so many of my boxes. YA fantasy? Check! Pirates? Check! Mermaids? Check! A lovely romance? Check!
Amora is a princess and the heir that will one day rule Visidia. To prove that she deserves to rule, Amora must display that she can use her soul magic and control it without it controlling her, since it is a dangerous magic that can cause mass death if used incorrectly. When Amora's demonstration doesn't go as planned, she is forced to run away from her home island of Arida with Bastian, who is a pirate. The two are accompanied by a stowaway, Ferrick, who was meant to marry Amora, and the three of them travel throughout the kingdom and eventually meet a mermaid named Vataea as well. Amora begins to find out that some of her kingdom's secrets have been kept from her, and she wants to discover all she can about the kingdom she will one day rule, and the kingdom she might soon have to save.
Actual Rating: 4.2
Let me warn you by saying that the first 50 or so pages of this are pretty terrible. It was boring and I didn't have enough interest in the characters or plot to want to keep reading. Even the prose was a little annoying in the beginning. We were introduced to several characters, including Amora's parents, her aunt, Mira, and Casem. They are never really fleshed out and I would have liked to have seen more from them. Hopefully, these characters will get a chance to become a little more three dimensional in the sequel.
I also didn't particularly like Amora. She was very naive and I thought I would give her a free pass because she is young and has been sheltered by her parents, but she continues to make poor decisions later on. At least she has flaws, but it didn't help to endear me to her, especially since she seems to think she is edgy, repeatedly calling herself a monster. On the other hand, I do like it when Amora deals with leadership. A large part of her identity is her desire to lead her kingdom, but I like how well Amora deals with issues within her own little crew throughout the story. When she sees a problem and someone else is the perfect person to fix it, she doesn't hesitate to delegate the task, but she also isn't afraid to take action herself when she knows she can help. I liked this because it shows that Amora might be a future ruler because she was born into a royal family, but she isn't just a ruler. Amora is a leader.
Bastian and Vataea were by far my favorite characters. I had hoped that Bastian would be a little more pirate-y, but I loved him all the same. Vataea was very interesting and I feel like she has so many more stories locked inside her, which I hope will be shared in the sequel. I'm also curious about Keel Haul. Is there a story behind where she got her name? How was she originally obtained? I have so many questions. If we never find out more I will be sorely disappointed, because it will be a missed opportunity.
There are also subtle feminist themes, which I adored. It was nothing particularly shocking, but the period scene was a great addition and I support it wholeheartedly.
P.S. If you want a fun treat, check the copyright warning. No other copyright warning will ever compare.
Amora is a princess and the heir that will one day rule Visidia. To prove that she deserves to rule, Amora must display that she can use her soul magic and control it without it controlling her, since it is a dangerous magic that can cause mass death if used incorrectly. When Amora's demonstration doesn't go as planned, she is forced to run away from her home island of Arida with Bastian, who is a pirate. The two are accompanied by a stowaway, Ferrick, who was meant to marry Amora, and the three of them travel throughout the kingdom and eventually meet a mermaid named Vataea as well. Amora begins to find out that some of her kingdom's secrets have been kept from her, and she wants to discover all she can about the kingdom she will one day rule, and the kingdom she might soon have to save.
Actual Rating: 4.2
Let me warn you by saying that the first 50 or so pages of this are pretty terrible. It was boring and I didn't have enough interest in the characters or plot to want to keep reading. Even the prose was a little annoying in the beginning. We were introduced to several characters, including Amora's parents, her aunt, Mira, and Casem. They are never really fleshed out and I would have liked to have seen more from them. Hopefully, these characters will get a chance to become a little more three dimensional in the sequel.
I also didn't particularly like Amora. She was very naive and I thought I would give her a free pass because she is young and has been sheltered by her parents, but she continues to make poor decisions later on. At least she has flaws, but it didn't help to endear me to her, especially since she seems to think she is edgy, repeatedly calling herself a monster. On the other hand, I do like it when Amora deals with leadership. A large part of her identity is her desire to lead her kingdom, but I like how well Amora deals with issues within her own little crew throughout the story. When she sees a problem and someone else is the perfect person to fix it, she doesn't hesitate to delegate the task, but she also isn't afraid to take action herself when she knows she can help. I liked this because it shows that Amora might be a future ruler because she was born into a royal family, but she isn't just a ruler. Amora is a leader.
Bastian and Vataea were by far my favorite characters. I had hoped that Bastian would be a little more pirate-y, but I loved him all the same. Vataea was very interesting and I feel like she has so many more stories locked inside her, which I hope will be shared in the sequel. I'm also curious about Keel Haul. Is there a story behind where she got her name? How was she originally obtained? I have so many questions. If we never find out more I will be sorely disappointed, because it will be a missed opportunity.
There are also subtle feminist themes, which I adored. It was nothing particularly shocking, but the period scene was a great addition and I support it wholeheartedly.
P.S. If you want a fun treat, check the copyright warning. No other copyright warning will ever compare.
February 28, 2021
This was wildly entertaining. Magic and Pirates? I was already sold and sold even further by the writing, plot and characters which were all so gripping.
The only thing I didn't buy into was the love interest, I didn't feel the chemistry and thought the plot would function just as well without it if I'm honest (which is saying a lot for me!)
The only thing I didn't buy into was the love interest, I didn't feel the chemistry and thought the plot would function just as well without it if I'm honest (which is saying a lot for me!)
Read
October 10, 2020I've DNFed more books that I care to lately, but nowadays when I say I don't have time for boring books, I really mean it. Since I'm studying and attending college for up to 30 hours a week (ha! Get that education, bruh!), I genuinely have to ration my time, and that means not gritting my teeth through books like this, which are the literary equivalent of candy floss: partially corporeal, not something you go out looking for but tend to pick up as an impulse buy. I always see candy floss and buy it because it looks nice, but then as soon as it passes my lips, I remember how much I hate it. It's not food. It's not even food-adjacent. It's like the devil's armpit hair.
What I'm trying to say is that this book is devoid of substance. It might be a fun little read if you're feeling blue and want to switch your brain off, but...well. Wattpad exists, and that shit's free.
What I'm trying to say is that this book is devoid of substance. It might be a fun little read if you're feeling blue and want to switch your brain off, but...well. Wattpad exists, and that shit's free.
January 19, 2020
All the cover love here! While my rating is middle of the road, I'd ask you to take my thoughts with a grain of salt, as I am NOT the target audience, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with this book. I think it's more a case of right book, wrong reader, mainly due to my fickle mood lately and my having read so many pirate themed YA fantasy books in the past year. The writing was really well done and I have no doubt that the author is one we'll see many great things from in the years ahead. Definitely recommended to those searching for more of the nautical adventures that YA fantasy has to offer!
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
August 26, 2021
~ 2 stars ~
I did not hate this book, but I certainly didn't like it. At all. It was boring if I'm being honest. I had to push myself to read it because I didn't care about anything that was going on or anyone.
The plot was really lackluster and predictable for the most part. Nothing caught me off guard because it was so heavy handed with the foreshadowing. And while I did think there was so much potential with the concept and the magic system, it fell flat.
I also did not connect with any of the characters. Some were annoying, others underdeveloped. I think the only character I liked was that one mermaid, whatever her name was. I forgot her name. If that doesn't tell you enough about my experience with this book, then I don't know what does.
I will be reading the second book, just out of curiosity, but overall, this book was not for me. I was so excited for this, but was sadly, I was ultimately disappointed.
I did not hate this book, but I certainly didn't like it. At all. It was boring if I'm being honest. I had to push myself to read it because I didn't care about anything that was going on or anyone.
The plot was really lackluster and predictable for the most part. Nothing caught me off guard because it was so heavy handed with the foreshadowing. And while I did think there was so much potential with the concept and the magic system, it fell flat.
I also did not connect with any of the characters. Some were annoying, others underdeveloped. I think the only character I liked was that one mermaid, whatever her name was. I forgot her name. If that doesn't tell you enough about my experience with this book, then I don't know what does.
I will be reading the second book, just out of curiosity, but overall, this book was not for me. I was so excited for this, but was sadly, I was ultimately disappointed.
November 12, 2019
Adalyn Grace has delivered a phenomenal debut, filled with unexpected magic and a fiery female protagonist. Readers will fall hard for this high seas adventure!
February 15, 2021
My initial thoughts were is this Red Queen in reverse?
Included in my January Wrap Up video youtube.com/watch?v=NBn9SQpYUvQ
I could tell from the first chapter that I probably wasn't going to like this but the trooper I am I ploughed on. You can smell the love triangle from chapter 3.
The protagonist Amora is a self-centred, privileged, entitled, spoilt brat. Huh ok then mayb- NO, THERE IS LITTLE TO NO CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT.
I thought there was a fairly good twist towards the end - but the ending felt kinda rushed. The book takes ages and ages to build everything up and then the climax is over in a couple of chapters.
Not going to read the sequel.
1.5 stars
Included in my January Wrap Up video youtube.com/watch?v=NBn9SQpYUvQ
I could tell from the first chapter that I probably wasn't going to like this but the trooper I am I ploughed on. You can smell the love triangle from chapter 3.
The protagonist Amora is a self-centred, privileged, entitled, spoilt brat. Huh ok then mayb- NO, THERE IS LITTLE TO NO CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT.
I thought there was a fairly good twist towards the end - but the ending felt kinda rushed. The book takes ages and ages to build everything up and then the climax is over in a couple of chapters.
Not going to read the sequel.
1.5 stars
January 29, 2021
This is a very standard and well done YA novel, but as someone that leans more towards adult lately, it wasn't amazing for me.
✅ THE MAGICAL WORLD and different types of magic were really creative. I had never seen some of the magical practices and applications before so it was refreshing to see something new for once!
❌ SOUL MAGIC WAS NOT MY FAVORITE and even though it was definitely unique, I just didn't like it. Maybe I'm being too logical, but it just seemed like a very impractical form of magic and I could not understand why it was considered so strong.
🆗 THE BOOK WAS FILLED WITH TROPES and although they aren't all bad, it just made the storyline somewhat predictable. Some things about the ending surprised me but others were definitely obvious.
🆗 THE ROMANCE was cute and fun to follow but definitely PG-13. I think their relationship will likely grow a lot more in the sequel as they've both gone through a lot in this book.
✅ MERMAIDS ARE AWESOME! I have not read a book that incorporates mermaid before and after reading this it's definitely something more authors should do. Very feminine... very badass... perfect if you're looking for a strong female character.
Overall, I thought this was well written and interesting with a lot things going for it that made it unique. If you are looking for a standard YA Fantasy novel that has a clean romance then I would recommend this to you!
✅ THE MAGICAL WORLD and different types of magic were really creative. I had never seen some of the magical practices and applications before so it was refreshing to see something new for once!
❌ SOUL MAGIC WAS NOT MY FAVORITE and even though it was definitely unique, I just didn't like it. Maybe I'm being too logical, but it just seemed like a very impractical form of magic and I could not understand why it was considered so strong.
🆗 THE BOOK WAS FILLED WITH TROPES and although they aren't all bad, it just made the storyline somewhat predictable. Some things about the ending surprised me but others were definitely obvious.
🆗 THE ROMANCE was cute and fun to follow but definitely PG-13. I think their relationship will likely grow a lot more in the sequel as they've both gone through a lot in this book.
✅ MERMAIDS ARE AWESOME! I have not read a book that incorporates mermaid before and after reading this it's definitely something more authors should do. Very feminine... very badass... perfect if you're looking for a strong female character.
Overall, I thought this was well written and interesting with a lot things going for it that made it unique. If you are looking for a standard YA Fantasy novel that has a clean romance then I would recommend this to you!
September 1, 2020
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
2.5 stars.
All the Stars and Teeth has an interesting premise – a princess with a unique and dangerous magic who must take her throne by showing her might, but ends up on the run with a mysterious and snarky pirate who wants to save the world. It has all the elements of a good YA fantasy, but unfortunately I just didn’t find this unique enough to stand out.
I really enjoyed the sea aspects of the story. Grace makes it very easy for the reader to imagine this magical island world, where each island represents a different type of magic. We have wind weavers and healers, time manipulators and soul stealers. Each magical system feels distinct and interesting, but I don’t think we really got to examine a lot of the world itself to fully appreciate this.
There’s also plenty of action, and the pacing is pretty good as we hop from island to island, but the plot itself is extremely predictable and one I’ve seen done a hundred times before. AT times, the logic is also rather questionable, with characters with specific traits that are needed to advance the plot just happening upon our group. I won’t even go into all the ways the mermaid character just didn’t make sense to me, how she is basically just there as a deus ex machina, and woefully underdeveloped. She had so much potential to be this sassy, smart mouthed independent woman…and she just felt very one dimensional.
I also didn’t really feel connected to the other characters. Amora is a very stereotypical YA princess, one of those ‘I’m just a girl’ chosen types who can miraculously slay sea demons and wants to do everything for the better of the kingdom. It got old rather quickly, and I just wanted to see more of a personality and character growth. The hints of romance were quite good, and I did get invested in the overt sexual tension and sort of love triangle that isn’t – but again, why try and pair everyone off? Not everyone needs a love interest to be a worthwhile character.
That said, this was a reasonably fun ride despite the tropes. The writing is good, and I felt invested enough in the plot to want to find out what happened. I just won’t be in a hurry to pick up the concluding book.
2.5 stars.
All the Stars and Teeth has an interesting premise – a princess with a unique and dangerous magic who must take her throne by showing her might, but ends up on the run with a mysterious and snarky pirate who wants to save the world. It has all the elements of a good YA fantasy, but unfortunately I just didn’t find this unique enough to stand out.
I really enjoyed the sea aspects of the story. Grace makes it very easy for the reader to imagine this magical island world, where each island represents a different type of magic. We have wind weavers and healers, time manipulators and soul stealers. Each magical system feels distinct and interesting, but I don’t think we really got to examine a lot of the world itself to fully appreciate this.
There’s also plenty of action, and the pacing is pretty good as we hop from island to island, but the plot itself is extremely predictable and one I’ve seen done a hundred times before. AT times, the logic is also rather questionable, with characters with specific traits that are needed to advance the plot just happening upon our group. I won’t even go into all the ways the mermaid character just didn’t make sense to me, how she is basically just there as a deus ex machina, and woefully underdeveloped. She had so much potential to be this sassy, smart mouthed independent woman…and she just felt very one dimensional.
I also didn’t really feel connected to the other characters. Amora is a very stereotypical YA princess, one of those ‘I’m just a girl’ chosen types who can miraculously slay sea demons and wants to do everything for the better of the kingdom. It got old rather quickly, and I just wanted to see more of a personality and character growth. The hints of romance were quite good, and I did get invested in the overt sexual tension and sort of love triangle that isn’t – but again, why try and pair everyone off? Not everyone needs a love interest to be a worthwhile character.
That said, this was a reasonably fun ride despite the tropes. The writing is good, and I felt invested enough in the plot to want to find out what happened. I just won’t be in a hurry to pick up the concluding book.
Shelved as 'not-released-tbr'
May 24, 2020
April 2, 2022
Reread - I still liked this book, just not as much as before .
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Princess Amora has lived out her entire eighteen years on the island of Arida. Disconnected from the rest of her kingdom, Amora longs to travel to all of its islands, sailing across the high seas. The kingdom of Visidia is made up of six islands. Magic used to be practiced freely across Visidia until, as legend has it, a beast started killing those who practiced multiple magics to punish them for their greed. Now, each individual is only allowed to practice one type of magic and must live out their lives on the island which is dedicated to their chosen power.
The royal family is the only family who can practice soul magic, allowing them to read souls and inflict pain without touching a person. The beast is said to live within the royal bloodline and the heir to the throne is required to prove to their people that they can control the beast. When Amora's chance to prove herself comes along, things don't go as planned. Amora is forced to flee and soon finds herself in league with a pirate on a mission to save her kingdom from a threat she had no idea existed.
What I liked about this book
The characters - I loved the characters in this book. My favourite character is Ferrick. He is so loyal and fiercely brave. I hope to see more of him and Vataea in the next book.
Magic ships, pirates, mermaids - need I say more?
The story - this book is full of adventure and a few twists. The pacing is great from the get go and it is consistent throughout the story.
What I didn't like
Absolutely nothing! - I thought really hard and I could not think of one thing I didn't like about this book.
If you enjoy magic, pirate and adventure? Then this book is for you!!
5 Stars
✮✮✮✮✮
Find this review and others on my blog
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Princess Amora has lived out her entire eighteen years on the island of Arida. Disconnected from the rest of her kingdom, Amora longs to travel to all of its islands, sailing across the high seas. The kingdom of Visidia is made up of six islands. Magic used to be practiced freely across Visidia until, as legend has it, a beast started killing those who practiced multiple magics to punish them for their greed. Now, each individual is only allowed to practice one type of magic and must live out their lives on the island which is dedicated to their chosen power.
The royal family is the only family who can practice soul magic, allowing them to read souls and inflict pain without touching a person. The beast is said to live within the royal bloodline and the heir to the throne is required to prove to their people that they can control the beast. When Amora's chance to prove herself comes along, things don't go as planned. Amora is forced to flee and soon finds herself in league with a pirate on a mission to save her kingdom from a threat she had no idea existed.
What I liked about this book
The characters - I loved the characters in this book. My favourite character is Ferrick. He is so loyal and fiercely brave. I hope to see more of him and Vataea in the next book.
Magic ships, pirates, mermaids - need I say more?
The story - this book is full of adventure and a few twists. The pacing is great from the get go and it is consistent throughout the story.
What I didn't like
Absolutely nothing! - I thought really hard and I could not think of one thing I didn't like about this book.
If you enjoy magic, pirate and adventure? Then this book is for you!!
5 Stars
✮✮✮✮✮
Find this review and others on my blog
June 23, 2021
Full review now up @ https://bookerification.com/all-the-s...
Rating: 3.5 stars
There’s no denying that 'All the Stars and Teeth' is an entertaining, action-packed read. Even so, it could have been far more thrilling if it were not stuffed with various tropes associated with most young adult (YA) fantasy books. These tropes make the storyline painfully average and predictable.
Take, for instance, the main character - princess Amora Montara. The burden she feels from the expectations of others and herself makes her very relatable. However, her character soon becomes repetitive and one-dimensional as her desire to be a great ruler is mentioned repeatedly.
"I am the right choice. The only choice. And I will protect my kingdom."
________________________________
Full review to come @ https://bookerification.com/
3.5 stars.
A nice, fun read but somewhat predictable and cliche
Rating: 3.5 stars
There’s no denying that 'All the Stars and Teeth' is an entertaining, action-packed read. Even so, it could have been far more thrilling if it were not stuffed with various tropes associated with most young adult (YA) fantasy books. These tropes make the storyline painfully average and predictable.
Take, for instance, the main character - princess Amora Montara. The burden she feels from the expectations of others and herself makes her very relatable. However, her character soon becomes repetitive and one-dimensional as her desire to be a great ruler is mentioned repeatedly.
"I am the right choice. The only choice. And I will protect my kingdom."
________________________________
Full review to come @ https://bookerification.com/
3.5 stars.
A nice, fun read but somewhat predictable and cliche
June 27, 2022
why is it always 1am when I finish good books?
okay but for real, I loved this even more than the first time I read it! there’s something about Adalyn Grace’s writing style that makes me feel as if I’m in the story. like, I’m not even absorbing the story at this point, the story is absorbing me (d-does that make sense?).
can we just appreciate the dark feel this has to it, too? it’s literally a story with dark magic set at sea...can you hear me scream? I don’t know about you but I’m absolute trash for that.
plus these characters are so soft yet badass and I need more from them. I stan Ferrick (for some reason), Amora is a queen (and that character development!! we stan!!) Bastian is a big softie (I said what I said) and I love him and sorry for the bisexual energy here but Vataea...yes.
so ehm, if you’re looking for me? I’m down the Vataea fanart hole...
okay but for real, I loved this even more than the first time I read it! there’s something about Adalyn Grace’s writing style that makes me feel as if I’m in the story. like, I’m not even absorbing the story at this point, the story is absorbing me (d-does that make sense?).
can we just appreciate the dark feel this has to it, too? it’s literally a story with dark magic set at sea...can you hear me scream? I don’t know about you but I’m absolute trash for that.
plus these characters are so soft yet badass and I need more from them. I stan Ferrick (for some reason), Amora is a queen (and that character development!! we stan!!) Bastian is a big softie (I said what I said) and I love him and sorry for the bisexual energy here but Vataea...yes.
so ehm, if you’re looking for me? I’m down the Vataea fanart hole...
March 25, 2020
If there's one truth I know, it's that I will make things right for my kingdom. That is my fate, and I will do whatever I must to see it through.
Have you ever met people who are so full of themselves? Yes, confidence is a virtue. But arrogance isn't. When it comes to fiction, proud characters can be tolerable as long as they deserve to be that way. Katniss Everdeen is an example of this. She's generally a haughty girl, but you can't question her archery skills and capability to provide for her family.
On the other hand, we have heroines like Celaena Sardothien, supposedly exceptional assassins who fail to dispose of their targets. And of course, we readers can't judge them because THEY'RE THE CHOSEN ONES. This book gave birth to another Celaena, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes.
All the Stars and Teeth is a dark fantasy story about a kingdom named Visidia. In this archipelagic society, each island specializes in a particular kind of magic (there are seven in total). Amora Montara, the MC, is a special snowflake because she and the other royals of Arida are the only practitioners of soul magic, which enables them to kill criminals in very creative ways. Amora is basically a glorified witch who can harm others by cursing various body parts, including their teeth and bones. And before she inherits her father's throne, she has to prove her magical prowess.
As you might have predicted, her public performance goes awry, and Amora finds herself fleeing from her homeland and partnering with a magicless pirate, a potential fiance, and a dangerous mermaid. Together, they travel to Visidia's other islands in hopes of stopping a rebellion that can eradicate the monarchy.
At first, this book was fascinating, mainly because of its elaborate magic system. Each kind of magic (e.g., time, curse, and soul) was associated with a particular jewel (e.g., sapphire, ruby, and amethyst), and this quickly reminded me of Final Fantasy IX, one of my favorite RPGs. Gems are also a significant part of the novel I'm writing, so I was quite excited to find another source of inspiration. Moreover, the magic system was so extensive that even the second half of the book had world-building.
But as the plot progressed, Amora began to get on my nerves. Throughout the story, she was anything but meek. When she saw an opportunity to threaten others with her deadly magic, she gladly took it. Not even her friends were safe. And their feelings didn't matter because unlike Amora, they weren't the fated saviors of Visidia. Only those with soul magic could rule and "protect" the kingdom, and Amora didn't hesitate to the point that out.
Imagine my satisfaction when she realized her family's role in the destruction of Visidia. King Cato, her exalted ancestor, was a power-hungry jerk with an annoying inferiority complex. Because of him, the Montara bloodline was cursed, learning multiple magics was forbidden, and soul magic lost its purity. So if anyone deserved to sit on the throne, it wasn't the Montaras.
Bastian, Ferrick, and Vataea didn't hold this against Amora, but I wish that they did just to give her a slice of humble pie. After a week or so of wallowing, Amora regained her vanity and resolved to disclose the truth to her people AFTER she "makes things right." I guess she achieved her dream of being like her dad, who was such a good liar.
Amora was too cold and vain to be likable. She was also obsessed with ensuring her reign that she forgot to act like a human. She was vulnerable only when she was with Bastian, and she resented that. In light of her failures and family history, her self-importance wasn't justified. Other readers might blame it on her upbringing, but don't we have agency or the freedom of choice?
Overall, Amora tarnished my reading experience. Still, I refuse to give the book a 1-star rating on the off chance that the author intentionally created a dislikable protagonist or anti-hero. A sequel is in the works, so I hope that Amora will finally have an accurate perception of her value. ^^
Have you ever met people who are so full of themselves? Yes, confidence is a virtue. But arrogance isn't. When it comes to fiction, proud characters can be tolerable as long as they deserve to be that way. Katniss Everdeen is an example of this. She's generally a haughty girl, but you can't question her archery skills and capability to provide for her family.
On the other hand, we have heroines like Celaena Sardothien, supposedly exceptional assassins who fail to dispose of their targets. And of course, we readers can't judge them because THEY'RE THE CHOSEN ONES. This book gave birth to another Celaena, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes.
All the Stars and Teeth is a dark fantasy story about a kingdom named Visidia. In this archipelagic society, each island specializes in a particular kind of magic (there are seven in total). Amora Montara, the MC, is a special snowflake because she and the other royals of Arida are the only practitioners of soul magic, which enables them to kill criminals in very creative ways. Amora is basically a glorified witch who can harm others by cursing various body parts, including their teeth and bones. And before she inherits her father's throne, she has to prove her magical prowess.
As you might have predicted, her public performance goes awry, and Amora finds herself fleeing from her homeland and partnering with a magicless pirate, a potential fiance, and a dangerous mermaid. Together, they travel to Visidia's other islands in hopes of stopping a rebellion that can eradicate the monarchy.
At first, this book was fascinating, mainly because of its elaborate magic system. Each kind of magic (e.g., time, curse, and soul) was associated with a particular jewel (e.g., sapphire, ruby, and amethyst), and this quickly reminded me of Final Fantasy IX, one of my favorite RPGs. Gems are also a significant part of the novel I'm writing, so I was quite excited to find another source of inspiration. Moreover, the magic system was so extensive that even the second half of the book had world-building.
But as the plot progressed, Amora began to get on my nerves. Throughout the story, she was anything but meek. When she saw an opportunity to threaten others with her deadly magic, she gladly took it. Not even her friends were safe. And their feelings didn't matter because unlike Amora, they weren't the fated saviors of Visidia. Only those with soul magic could rule and "protect" the kingdom, and Amora didn't hesitate to the point that out.
Imagine my satisfaction when she realized her family's role in the destruction of Visidia. King Cato, her exalted ancestor, was a power-hungry jerk with an annoying inferiority complex. Because of him, the Montara bloodline was cursed, learning multiple magics was forbidden, and soul magic lost its purity. So if anyone deserved to sit on the throne, it wasn't the Montaras.
Bastian, Ferrick, and Vataea didn't hold this against Amora, but I wish that they did just to give her a slice of humble pie. After a week or so of wallowing, Amora regained her vanity and resolved to disclose the truth to her people AFTER she "makes things right." I guess she achieved her dream of being like her dad, who was such a good liar.
Amora was too cold and vain to be likable. She was also obsessed with ensuring her reign that she forgot to act like a human. She was vulnerable only when she was with Bastian, and she resented that. In light of her failures and family history, her self-importance wasn't justified. Other readers might blame it on her upbringing, but don't we have agency or the freedom of choice?
Overall, Amora tarnished my reading experience. Still, I refuse to give the book a 1-star rating on the off chance that the author intentionally created a dislikable protagonist or anti-hero. A sequel is in the works, so I hope that Amora will finally have an accurate perception of her value. ^^
March 17, 2020
This was my most anticipated release of 2020.
There are some books that have the power to transport you. They evoke your senses, they tether you to another world. They are powerful enough to make it seem like you are watching a movie through your mind's eye.
And then there are books like this.
I'm not going to sugarcoat it - I really didn't like this book. Everything about it felt extremely flat. The characters were cardboard cutouts. They were tropey, fanfictiony, protagonist worshipping zombies. They were robots without the metal casing - I could practically see WHY they existed in the first place, as devices for pushing the narrative or developing another character's traits, and it didn't do anything for my immersion into the story. The whole world felt completely soulless, the characters devoid of chemistry or wit.
And our heroine, Amora, she's a real piece of work, this one. Once again, the immature, bratty, know it all Hermione Granger typecast, holier than thou but still edgy warrior princess character gets to be mean and pushy and naïve but somehow gets every potential suitor to fall in love with her? She pushes people and constantly has snarky comments that are uncalled for. She tells her poor poor wet towel of a fiancé that she will never love him right in front of the guys she's been openly flirting with, completely embarrassing him and giving zero f**ks.
The writing is simple, almost juvenile. If there weren't some particularly gruesome scenes (and some moderately intense intimacy), I would suspect that this was tailored to a much younger audience within the YA scene. It seems like it can't make up its mind, and it kinda leaves this weird juxtaposition of morbid, shock and awe imagery but fit into this overly simplified, cartoonish mold. It's very jarring and completely threw me off.
Moral of the story - if you want a good siren/pirate book, the Daughter of the Pirate King series is a far better option.
Sorry I'm not sorry.
There are some books that have the power to transport you. They evoke your senses, they tether you to another world. They are powerful enough to make it seem like you are watching a movie through your mind's eye.
And then there are books like this.
I'm not going to sugarcoat it - I really didn't like this book. Everything about it felt extremely flat. The characters were cardboard cutouts. They were tropey, fanfictiony, protagonist worshipping zombies. They were robots without the metal casing - I could practically see WHY they existed in the first place, as devices for pushing the narrative or developing another character's traits, and it didn't do anything for my immersion into the story. The whole world felt completely soulless, the characters devoid of chemistry or wit.
And our heroine, Amora, she's a real piece of work, this one. Once again, the immature, bratty, know it all Hermione Granger typecast, holier than thou but still edgy warrior princess character gets to be mean and pushy and naïve but somehow gets every potential suitor to fall in love with her? She pushes people and constantly has snarky comments that are uncalled for. She tells her poor poor wet towel of a fiancé that she will never love him right in front of the guys she's been openly flirting with, completely embarrassing him and giving zero f**ks.
The writing is simple, almost juvenile. If there weren't some particularly gruesome scenes (and some moderately intense intimacy), I would suspect that this was tailored to a much younger audience within the YA scene. It seems like it can't make up its mind, and it kinda leaves this weird juxtaposition of morbid, shock and awe imagery but fit into this overly simplified, cartoonish mold. It's very jarring and completely threw me off.
Moral of the story - if you want a good siren/pirate book, the Daughter of the Pirate King series is a far better option.
Sorry I'm not sorry.
October 5, 2021
I read an ARC of this book.
I know everyone is so excited to read this book (I thought it sounded very interesting), but I just could not get into it. The author spent quite a bit of time, especially at the beginning, describing scenery, locations, and people's wardrobes and make-up, and I kept waiting for the action to start. Then time was spent explaining the mythology, culture, and background of the world of the characters, but I still was waiting for the action to start.
Once it finally did, I just could not get into the story. For me, the characters felt two-dimensional and didn't have much rooting value. I found myself not caring what happened to them, and not even liking them very much. When I put the book down, I really had no desire to pick it back up.
I know this is a highly anticipated title, and probably many people who enjoy fantasy YA will like it. I did not, though.
I know everyone is so excited to read this book (I thought it sounded very interesting), but I just could not get into it. The author spent quite a bit of time, especially at the beginning, describing scenery, locations, and people's wardrobes and make-up, and I kept waiting for the action to start. Then time was spent explaining the mythology, culture, and background of the world of the characters, but I still was waiting for the action to start.
Once it finally did, I just could not get into the story. For me, the characters felt two-dimensional and didn't have much rooting value. I found myself not caring what happened to them, and not even liking them very much. When I put the book down, I really had no desire to pick it back up.
I know this is a highly anticipated title, and probably many people who enjoy fantasy YA will like it. I did not, though.
July 18, 2020
It's not you, it's me. Or maybe not.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,907 reviews