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When Stars Are Bright
WHEN STARS ARE BRIGHT is a historical Thumbelina retelling with a touch of magic.
For Lina Holt, a Dutch seventeen-year-old with a flair for singing, 1930 is going to be her year. Her long-time boyfriend is about to propose and her mother will finally realize their relationship isn’t a passing phase. But when a stranger snatches her from her backyard, everything changes.
Lina is thrust into the spotlight of a New York vaudeville show where she’s paired with Nik, a mysterious pianist. The two bond during rehearsals and it doesn’t take long before Nik puts himself at risk to confess a hidden truth. Without Lina, the show is in its last season and there’s no way she’ll be allowed to slip through the owner’s fingers. Not when she carries fairy magic in her blood—an gift that turns her song into a dangerously addictive drug.
If Lina ever wants to return home, she must learn who to trust before she’s forced to remain a prisoner on stage forever.
WHEN STARS ARE BRIGHT is a historical Thumbelina retelling with a touch of magic.
For Lina Holt, a Dutch seventeen-year-old with a flair for singing, 1930 is going to be her year. Her long-time boyfriend is about to propose and her mother will finally realize their relationship isn’t a passing phase. But when a stranger snatches her from her backyard, everything changes.
Lina is thrust into the spotlight of a New York vaudeville show where she’s paired with Nik, a mysterious pianist. The two bond during rehearsals and it doesn’t take long before Nik puts himself at risk to confess a hidden truth. Without Lina, the show is in its last season and there’s no way she’ll be allowed to slip through the owner’s fingers. Not when she carries fairy magic in her blood—an gift that turns her song into a dangerously addictive drug.
If Lina ever wants to return home, she must learn who to trust before she’s forced to remain a prisoner on stage forever.
WHEN STARS ARE BRIGHT is a historical Thumbelina retelling with a touch of magic.
346 pages, Paperback
First published January 7, 2020
10 people are currently reading
862 people want to read
About the author
Amber R. Duell
30 books251 followersAmber R. Duell is a native of Central New York but currently lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two sons. She survives on caffeine and baked goods. When not reading or writing, she enjoys snowboarding, embroidering, staying up way too late to research genealogy, and discovering real-life adventures.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
February 9, 2020
I received a copy of this book via the author, Amber Duell, in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! In no way does this affect my rating or review.
All included quotes have been taken from an ARC and may not match the finished publication.
Content Warning: Abduction, Physical & Emotional Abuse, Bystander Effect, PTSD, Profanity
Thumbelina was my favorite Disney movie when I was little. I didn’t understand all of it back then, in all honesty. It’s quite a dark tale--a girl wanted by everyone for her voice. But that tiny girl’s intoxicating voice held me captive back then. I think what made Thumbelina slightly confusing in my young mind was that she didn’t react to what was going on around her. To me, her near-indifference didn’t make me feel like anything was truly wrong. The only thing she cared about was finding her fairy prince. Lina Holt, the representative of Thumbelina in When Stars Are Bright is so well depicted, and absolutely brings this character to life. Lina undergoes several traumatic experiences and has PTSD to prove it.
When Stars Are Bright begins in Holland. Lina, a seventeen-year-old, has grown up humbly with her mother working the tulip fields. She’s always loved to sing, but had been warned against it by her mother as it draws unwanted attention. Even if it’s against the laws of propriety, Lena has fallen in love with Christian Van Buren, the incredibly wealthy heir to a petroleum fortune. Against her mother’s wishes, Lena sneaks around with Christian, and expects his proposal soon. While his intentions are the same, his family doesn’t approve of Lena, either. The situation grows dire when Lena occompanies Christian to a family event, and is labeled as a gold-digger. Distraught, Lena heads home. On her way, she’s abducted by a slimey man that had been following her around, commenting on her voice.
Forced onto a ship sailing for the United States, Lina is desperate to get back home. No one knows what happened to her, and she doesn’t know what this man’s intentions are. No matter how she begs people for help, they don’t believe her. This is one of the most shocking moments in this story, and shows how terrible the Bystander Effect can be.
While much of this reaction to Lina’s torment was due to the era in which this was set, it also gives a profound look into how dangerous failing to intervene in a person’s situation can be dire. Lina suffers from PTSD after the experience for a long while.
Once landing in Depression-riddled New York, Lina is thrust into singing in a Vaudeville show in order to earn enough wages for a fare back to Holland. She meets Nik, a pianist in the show who is the only one that shows her kindness. She learns along the way that her ability to sing is tributed to something she had no idea existed. Time passes, and Lina begins to believe that she’ll never make it back to Holland, and that Christian has forgotten about her. Nik, however, grows to be a close and steadfast friend in his stead.
The ending is certainly a sorrowful one. It isn’t a happy one for everyone, and definitely will leave you with heartache. Twisting these character’s position from the original story was so effectively done and created such a bittersweet finale that will leave you in tears. I would have loved to have more of a look into how deeply the Depression affected New York during the time, but still loved the result of this story.
Vulgarity: Some.
Sexual content: Kissing.
Violence: Moderate (see content warning.)
My Rating: ★★★★
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All included quotes have been taken from an ARC and may not match the finished publication.
Content Warning: Abduction, Physical & Emotional Abuse, Bystander Effect, PTSD, Profanity
The Statue of Liberty stands proudly in the distance. I shudder at the sight. She may be a sign of freedom to millions of people, but not me. I’m a prisoner here, trapped an ocean away from home with nothing more than a small sliver of hope and an increasingly flawed escape plan. The only time I want to see this statue again is when I’m sailing away from it.
Thumbelina was my favorite Disney movie when I was little. I didn’t understand all of it back then, in all honesty. It’s quite a dark tale--a girl wanted by everyone for her voice. But that tiny girl’s intoxicating voice held me captive back then. I think what made Thumbelina slightly confusing in my young mind was that she didn’t react to what was going on around her. To me, her near-indifference didn’t make me feel like anything was truly wrong. The only thing she cared about was finding her fairy prince. Lina Holt, the representative of Thumbelina in When Stars Are Bright is so well depicted, and absolutely brings this character to life. Lina undergoes several traumatic experiences and has PTSD to prove it.
When Stars Are Bright begins in Holland. Lina, a seventeen-year-old, has grown up humbly with her mother working the tulip fields. She’s always loved to sing, but had been warned against it by her mother as it draws unwanted attention. Even if it’s against the laws of propriety, Lena has fallen in love with Christian Van Buren, the incredibly wealthy heir to a petroleum fortune. Against her mother’s wishes, Lena sneaks around with Christian, and expects his proposal soon. While his intentions are the same, his family doesn’t approve of Lena, either. The situation grows dire when Lena occompanies Christian to a family event, and is labeled as a gold-digger. Distraught, Lena heads home. On her way, she’s abducted by a slimey man that had been following her around, commenting on her voice.
Forced onto a ship sailing for the United States, Lina is desperate to get back home. No one knows what happened to her, and she doesn’t know what this man’s intentions are. No matter how she begs people for help, they don’t believe her. This is one of the most shocking moments in this story, and shows how terrible the Bystander Effect can be.
I’m not sure what shocks me more: being kidnapped in the first place, or people’s reaction to the obvious abuse I’ve endured. There are many people standing around--unlimited witnesses to a crime. Do they not know what they’re seeing? Do they really not care?
While much of this reaction to Lina’s torment was due to the era in which this was set, it also gives a profound look into how dangerous failing to intervene in a person’s situation can be dire. Lina suffers from PTSD after the experience for a long while.
Once landing in Depression-riddled New York, Lina is thrust into singing in a Vaudeville show in order to earn enough wages for a fare back to Holland. She meets Nik, a pianist in the show who is the only one that shows her kindness. She learns along the way that her ability to sing is tributed to something she had no idea existed. Time passes, and Lina begins to believe that she’ll never make it back to Holland, and that Christian has forgotten about her. Nik, however, grows to be a close and steadfast friend in his stead.
The ending is certainly a sorrowful one. It isn’t a happy one for everyone, and definitely will leave you with heartache. Twisting these character’s position from the original story was so effectively done and created such a bittersweet finale that will leave you in tears. I would have loved to have more of a look into how deeply the Depression affected New York during the time, but still loved the result of this story.
Vulgarity: Some.
Sexual content: Kissing.
Violence: Moderate (see content warning.)
My Rating: ★★★★
My Blog ¦ Bookstagram ¦ Twitter ¦ Pinterest ¦ Facebook
February 6, 2020
I didn't really know the Thumbelina fairy tale, actually I only knew the name. So it wasn't familiar for me.
I liked how the author entwined the magical part into a 20th century setting and wanted to know more about it. There were so many interesting aspects, but most of it was left for imagination. It lacked depth and meaning. Probably the strongest part was the connection between Lina and Nik and the loyalty of Christian. The end was quiet quick, abrupt and sad. For me this wasn't satisfying at all and left me with to many questions. For me the author missed a lot of opportunities to really make something magical of this story.
The epilogue was just a nice suggestion of how the fairy tale of Thumbelina came to its existence, but left me feeling sad for Nik.
I liked how the author entwined the magical part into a 20th century setting and wanted to know more about it. There were so many interesting aspects, but most of it was left for imagination. It lacked depth and meaning. Probably the strongest part was the connection between Lina and Nik and the loyalty of Christian. The end was quiet quick, abrupt and sad. For me this wasn't satisfying at all and left me with to many questions. For me the author missed a lot of opportunities to really make something magical of this story.
The epilogue was just a nice suggestion of how the fairy tale of Thumbelina came to its existence, but left me feeling sad for Nik.
February 19, 2020
I have heard many good things about Amber R. Duell, which has left me curious about the author’s work. As curious as I am about the author’s Dark Dreamer trilogy, I decided it was best to introduce myself to her work through a standalone.
When Stars Are Bright grabbed my attention because I’m a lover of a good retelling, especially when it’s a retelling of a story that is often overlooked. Thumbelina is a story that is rarely retold, one that offers so many possibilities, and Amber R. Duell has left me wanting more retellings of this tale.
I’ll be honest and say this one didn’t quite have the intense level of action that I usually like in my reads, but it was not enough to stop me from powering through the book. Once I started, I had to finished. I devoured in it a single sitting, desperate to see how all the details came together, and I was not disappointed.
An easy to read story with more to it than first appears, When Stars Are Bright is well worth the read for anyone looking for a unique retelling.
When Stars Are Bright grabbed my attention because I’m a lover of a good retelling, especially when it’s a retelling of a story that is often overlooked. Thumbelina is a story that is rarely retold, one that offers so many possibilities, and Amber R. Duell has left me wanting more retellings of this tale.
I’ll be honest and say this one didn’t quite have the intense level of action that I usually like in my reads, but it was not enough to stop me from powering through the book. Once I started, I had to finished. I devoured in it a single sitting, desperate to see how all the details came together, and I was not disappointed.
An easy to read story with more to it than first appears, When Stars Are Bright is well worth the read for anyone looking for a unique retelling.
January 4, 2020
Thank you Amber for giving me the opportunity to review this amazing book! I enjoyed this book and I loved Lina, Christian and Nik!!
Omg!! I read this in one day!! Can you believe it? Can't put it down and I wanted to know how it end. Goshhh I kinda hate love the ending. I want it to end like this but at the same time I want another ending. I feel happy but sad at the same time.
Can I cry ? Kno. I feel bad for Nik. I want the best for him too. Goshh this is hard.
🌟🌟🌟🌟.5
Omg!! I read this in one day!! Can you believe it? Can't put it down and I wanted to know how it end. Goshhh I kinda hate love the ending. I want it to end like this but at the same time I want another ending. I feel happy but sad at the same time.
Can I cry ? Kno. I feel bad for Nik. I want the best for him too. Goshh this is hard.
🌟🌟🌟🌟.5
February 17, 2020
3.5⭐️
The truth is like oil floating on water. It doesn’t work in the world I know and I’m not sure how to make it fit yet.
I adore a good retelling - I don’t need to be provided with any context to the story - you tell me it’s a retelling and I’ll be all over it!
I fell in love with this book within the first couple of chapters. Ambers writing is so easy to follow and incredibly descriptive. You will not have a hard time picturing the beauty that is before you with this story.
Once the magic began to take part in the story I was captivated. I enjoy reading about all forms of magic but the way it is illustrated within this book is so beautiful it’ll make you wish it was real.
The characters are easy enough to like, the villains are obvious and the story flows easily. However for me, the story seemed to develop too quickly. I struggled to grasp the concept of time - a couple of chapters to me that came across as only a few days in the world, was actually a few weeks! Because of this, I couldn’t relate to the depth of the love developing between Lina and Nic - sure I could see a friendship, a flirtation, definitely an appreciation, but not all consuming love.
The epilogue broke my heart but I appreciated that it linked it back to the Thumbelina story line. I really just needed more pages!
The truth is like oil floating on water. It doesn’t work in the world I know and I’m not sure how to make it fit yet.
I adore a good retelling - I don’t need to be provided with any context to the story - you tell me it’s a retelling and I’ll be all over it!
I fell in love with this book within the first couple of chapters. Ambers writing is so easy to follow and incredibly descriptive. You will not have a hard time picturing the beauty that is before you with this story.
Once the magic began to take part in the story I was captivated. I enjoy reading about all forms of magic but the way it is illustrated within this book is so beautiful it’ll make you wish it was real.
The characters are easy enough to like, the villains are obvious and the story flows easily. However for me, the story seemed to develop too quickly. I struggled to grasp the concept of time - a couple of chapters to me that came across as only a few days in the world, was actually a few weeks! Because of this, I couldn’t relate to the depth of the love developing between Lina and Nic - sure I could see a friendship, a flirtation, definitely an appreciation, but not all consuming love.
The epilogue broke my heart but I appreciated that it linked it back to the Thumbelina story line. I really just needed more pages!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2020
OMG!!! I loved this book! And I have already told the author she had me pacing the room with the tension and danger in this story. Seriously! I was screaming at the page. This is not your retailing. NOT AT ALL! I'm still upset about (Spoiler) but since her book dropped today, I decided to leave a review. I really can't recommend this book enough. But, I will warn you, you are about to go on one helluva emotional, tense, dangerous journey!! Just the kind of journey a good book should send you on!
March 23, 2020
Where to begin? I feel like I need to categorize this review. I’ll start with the characters, because I actually thought that they were pretty well developed, as was the setting. I’m glad I read the synopsis of Thumbelina before reading the book, as it was neat to see the comparisons.
The plot engaged me for the first 70% or so, after which point I skimmed, because I was still invested enough to read the ending, which let me down, I must say. However, the whole sort of love triangle and Lina’s behaviour towards Christian, knowing what she did about his mom, really made me lose respect for her.
But the biggest point of contention for me that really brought my rating and interest level down was the grammar errors. Seriously. Can people please stop publishing before they’ve proofread, and please, please, please hire an editor? Your computer’s spell checker is not enough if you are writing as a professional. This book featured a complete lack of understanding of possessive apostrophes, subject-verb disagreements, incorrectly pluralized nouns, missing pronoun antecedents, comma splices, clashing verb tenses, I could go on. Here are a few examples I just couldn’t let go:
He promised we would travel the world after we’re married...
...storefronts with peeling painted and boarded windows.
That stuff should not make it into a final published draft.
Finally, I read this as an ePub and for every chapter break there was a black and white image of a bird behind the text that made the words near impossible to read. Overall, not a terrible book, but a book that was not ready for publication.
The plot engaged me for the first 70% or so, after which point I skimmed, because I was still invested enough to read the ending, which let me down, I must say. However, the whole sort of love triangle and Lina’s behaviour towards Christian, knowing what she did about his mom, really made me lose respect for her.
But the biggest point of contention for me that really brought my rating and interest level down was the grammar errors. Seriously. Can people please stop publishing before they’ve proofread, and please, please, please hire an editor? Your computer’s spell checker is not enough if you are writing as a professional. This book featured a complete lack of understanding of possessive apostrophes, subject-verb disagreements, incorrectly pluralized nouns, missing pronoun antecedents, comma splices, clashing verb tenses, I could go on. Here are a few examples I just couldn’t let go:
He promised we would travel the world after we’re married...
...storefronts with peeling painted and boarded windows.
That stuff should not make it into a final published draft.
Finally, I read this as an ePub and for every chapter break there was a black and white image of a bird behind the text that made the words near impossible to read. Overall, not a terrible book, but a book that was not ready for publication.
May 30, 2020
3.5 stars
There was something about this story that has stayed in my mind ever since I first read the synopsis before its release and I'm so glad I finally picked it up. When Stars Burn Bright reads like a fairytale. The writing is very easy to read and the plot is relatively fast-paced, enough so that it doesn't feel like an almost 350 page book. In this world, there are Symrics, people with diluted fae blood that give them magical powers and our main character Lina has the gift of a beautiful and addictive voice. This leads to her getting kidnapped by another Symric who whisks her away to New York City in hopes of securing a position for himself in a vaudeville troupe.
Everything about this story felt like watching a black and white movie. It almost feels reminiscent of something familiar but I'm not able to accurately put my finger on what exactly. On one hand, the writing feels very simplistic and again, easy to read, but on the other, there are a lot of complex layers amongst the characters themselves. The vaudeville business is a dying one and you see the human desperation play a key role in the motivations of the characters. Lina and Nik become bound together by their desire to break free, putting aside the fame and glory that comes with their Symric abilities and show business, in order to be reunited with their family. There's definitely an interesting juxtaposition between the complexity of human greed and the simplicity of genuine relationships.
There was something about this story that has stayed in my mind ever since I first read the synopsis before its release and I'm so glad I finally picked it up. When Stars Burn Bright reads like a fairytale. The writing is very easy to read and the plot is relatively fast-paced, enough so that it doesn't feel like an almost 350 page book. In this world, there are Symrics, people with diluted fae blood that give them magical powers and our main character Lina has the gift of a beautiful and addictive voice. This leads to her getting kidnapped by another Symric who whisks her away to New York City in hopes of securing a position for himself in a vaudeville troupe.
Everything about this story felt like watching a black and white movie. It almost feels reminiscent of something familiar but I'm not able to accurately put my finger on what exactly. On one hand, the writing feels very simplistic and again, easy to read, but on the other, there are a lot of complex layers amongst the characters themselves. The vaudeville business is a dying one and you see the human desperation play a key role in the motivations of the characters. Lina and Nik become bound together by their desire to break free, putting aside the fame and glory that comes with their Symric abilities and show business, in order to be reunited with their family. There's definitely an interesting juxtaposition between the complexity of human greed and the simplicity of genuine relationships.
February 18, 2020
As soon as I heard that this was Thumbelina re-telling I knew I was going to love it. As A little girl I would constantly watch the film and have honestly been begging and praying for someone to do a re-telling. Amber R. Duell clearly heard my pleas and has provided us with this absolute beauty.
I was completely captivated by this re-telling and the period it was set in. These characters are well written and Lina was by far my favourite. She was such a strong protagonist. She was put in such a tough position, completely out of her comfort zone but she still powered on in hopes to get back home. I found myself rooting for her throughout the whole book!
The end of this book had me teary eyed and the epilogue was actually perfect. I devoured this book so quickly that I was honestly so sad it was over. I really do recommend giving this book a read if you love re-tellings and love Thumbelina!
I want to say a big thank you to R&R Book Tours for allowing me to read this book and take part in this tour!
I was completely captivated by this re-telling and the period it was set in. These characters are well written and Lina was by far my favourite. She was such a strong protagonist. She was put in such a tough position, completely out of her comfort zone but she still powered on in hopes to get back home. I found myself rooting for her throughout the whole book!
The end of this book had me teary eyed and the epilogue was actually perfect. I devoured this book so quickly that I was honestly so sad it was over. I really do recommend giving this book a read if you love re-tellings and love Thumbelina!
I want to say a big thank you to R&R Book Tours for allowing me to read this book and take part in this tour!
November 3, 2019
I will shout it from the rooftops that I'm a fan of Duell! And it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that I'll read whatever she puts out. That being said–this was such a unique story, in that it's a historical story and it's a retelling of Thumbelina! Stop right there, Sissy, right?! But it was such a cool take on the story I grew up with, as well as the movie. So here's what else I thought about it.
When Stars Are Bright hooked me from the beginning, and when I wasn't reading it, I was dreaming about it. It haunted me, begged me to finish it! Largely because the characters and their stories are so interesting, and while the elements are all there for the time period [the 30's/depression era] I constantly wanted to learn more about Lina, Christian, about Nik, and the supporting characters.
The overall plot was great, if not tragic. All I've got to say is...grab some tissues! ;)
Definitely mark this down if you're looking for something interesting and new.
When Stars Are Bright hooked me from the beginning, and when I wasn't reading it, I was dreaming about it. It haunted me, begged me to finish it! Largely because the characters and their stories are so interesting, and while the elements are all there for the time period [the 30's/depression era] I constantly wanted to learn more about Lina, Christian, about Nik, and the supporting characters.
The overall plot was great, if not tragic. All I've got to say is...grab some tissues! ;)
Definitely mark this down if you're looking for something interesting and new.
February 9, 2020
A must read if you love historical retellings with a unique spin!
December 7, 2019
The beginning was a little slow, but once it got going this was a page turner! I loved the story, the relationships and the ending. I wish it had ended another way, but honestly I truly love when an author does something unexpected. It was unexpected for sure. I highly recommend this for a quickish, feel good & wholesome read
Want to read
December 4, 2019OMG. A THUMBELINA RETELLING THAT COMES OUT THE BEGINNING OF 2020 AND I'M JUST NOW FINDING OUT ABOUT IT!?!?!?! I AM SOOOOO PSYCHED! I NEED THIS IN MY HANDS ASAP!!!
...I really should make sure my library picks up this book. *makes mental note*
...I really should make sure my library picks up this book. *makes mental note*
June 23, 2020
When Stars Are Bright is a reimagining of Thumbelina. Lina is 17 years old and is a farm worker, picking tulips in Leids, Holland, in 1930. She lives alone with her mother and has been sneaking out to see her boyfriend, Christian, for over a year. He is the heir to the Van Buren petroleum fortune, and both Lina's mother and Christian's family disapprove of the match. When Christian tries to introduce Lina to his family for the first time, it's a total disaster — and Lina breaks up with him. Before she can speak to him and try to repair things, she is kidnapped by a stranger. He claims she is a Symric and takes her to New York to try and make a fortune from her singing talents.
I absolutely LOVED this book! Like, everything about it was perfect. I would say that while this is described as a retelling of Thumbelina, it's a very loose retelling. I wouldn't have known it was supposed to be unless I had read the blurb first.
In many of these YA fantasy stories, the main character is kidnapped or goes through some other awful thing - and then it gets forgotten about really quickly. In this story, her kidnapping impacts her throughout the book. She is constantly on edge, looking for Walter (her kidnapper), she has nightmares, she gets panic attacks. Everyone is incredibly shocked at what happened and disgusted with Walter for doing that to her. This seemed incredibly realistic to me and I really appreciated that such a HUGE, terrifying event wasn't downplayed or normalised.
(It's not a dark book, but it does have some dark moments like that.)
Walter himself was REALLY chilling: "Act like you're doing nothing wrong, and no one questions you. For all they know, you're my daughter. Maybe my wife. I don't seem concerned with what they think so they assume I'm doing nothing wrong. It's all about perception." Throughout her kidnapping I was genuinely afraid for Lina and what Walter might do next. He has absolutely no remorse for what he's done, and again, I liked that other characters acknowledge that this is WRONG. When he brings her to Madame Augustine, she says "You stole a girl from her home, gifted or not. I'm incredibly troubled you don't see a problem with this." — and fires him and his mother from the troupe.
Strangers don't believe Lina. When she is on the boat, Walter claims he is taking Lina to New York for specialist treatment as she is ill. A few times during the journey, she escapes and tries to tell someone that she is kidnapped, but no one believes her. She also approaches a policeman and asks for help — and again, she isn't believed. This was also really frightening and I sympathised with her throughout.
I really liked Lina as a character, too. I think she is incredibly brave and fairly level-headed throughout her whole ordeal. The romance is really well-written and feels realistic — both the conflict that Lina feels and that it's not an 'instant spark'. I loved that there is a gay couple in the story (given that this is set in the 1930s, I hadn't expected that). I loved how magic is described in this book and the danger that Lina faces because of hers. The story is pretty fast-paced with no dull moments, and I loved the ending. There was really nothing about this book that I didn't like and I'd say it's one of the best books I've read so far this year! I'm so hyped about it and all fans of YA fantasy need to read this!
I absolutely LOVED this book! Like, everything about it was perfect. I would say that while this is described as a retelling of Thumbelina, it's a very loose retelling. I wouldn't have known it was supposed to be unless I had read the blurb first.
In many of these YA fantasy stories, the main character is kidnapped or goes through some other awful thing - and then it gets forgotten about really quickly. In this story, her kidnapping impacts her throughout the book. She is constantly on edge, looking for Walter (her kidnapper), she has nightmares, she gets panic attacks. Everyone is incredibly shocked at what happened and disgusted with Walter for doing that to her. This seemed incredibly realistic to me and I really appreciated that such a HUGE, terrifying event wasn't downplayed or normalised.
I barely remember what sleep is anymore. For me, it's lying down inside a torture chamber and waiting for the pain to start. Sometimes it doesn't even wait until my eyes are closed to send the nightmares. Shadows crawl out of dark corners, inching along the room, leaving me curled into a ball, weeping. If those few hours when exhaustion wins count as sleep, I'll get right on it.
(It's not a dark book, but it does have some dark moments like that.)
Walter himself was REALLY chilling: "Act like you're doing nothing wrong, and no one questions you. For all they know, you're my daughter. Maybe my wife. I don't seem concerned with what they think so they assume I'm doing nothing wrong. It's all about perception." Throughout her kidnapping I was genuinely afraid for Lina and what Walter might do next. He has absolutely no remorse for what he's done, and again, I liked that other characters acknowledge that this is WRONG. When he brings her to Madame Augustine, she says "You stole a girl from her home, gifted or not. I'm incredibly troubled you don't see a problem with this." — and fires him and his mother from the troupe.
Strangers don't believe Lina. When she is on the boat, Walter claims he is taking Lina to New York for specialist treatment as she is ill. A few times during the journey, she escapes and tries to tell someone that she is kidnapped, but no one believes her. She also approaches a policeman and asks for help — and again, she isn't believed. This was also really frightening and I sympathised with her throughout.
I really liked Lina as a character, too. I think she is incredibly brave and fairly level-headed throughout her whole ordeal. The romance is really well-written and feels realistic — both the conflict that Lina feels and that it's not an 'instant spark'. I loved that there is a gay couple in the story (given that this is set in the 1930s, I hadn't expected that). I loved how magic is described in this book and the danger that Lina faces because of hers. The story is pretty fast-paced with no dull moments, and I loved the ending. There was really nothing about this book that I didn't like and I'd say it's one of the best books I've read so far this year! I'm so hyped about it and all fans of YA fantasy need to read this!
February 19, 2020
I'm a big fan of fairy tale retelling stories. The ones that I have read are usually rather unique and have their own twist. However, Thumbelina is not one that I'm familiar with so in this case, I can really only base it on the historical setting and its young adult story elements.
While the story itself is rather predictable in its foundation, there are quite a few decent elements used here. For one, the fantastical elements used such as injecting the magical bits in its characters and the different abilities that these characters have especially the show crew that the main character Lina meets as she learns about her own abilities in this world that is unknown to her. Have the moment for its characters reveal their own abilities and then using this and the situation that they are pushed into gives the character a good level of development, which is always a good element to have in a young adult story. The 1930s historical setting is also one that almost always fascinating to use as it gives it a lot of charm as well as its societal conflicts to revolve around.
While Amber R. Duell has written quite a few books as well as some book series, this is the first book of hers that I've read and its definitely a fun book to read. Its a good world to dive into. The characters here focus mostly on Lina and Nik and it navigates a lot as their friendship grows and she starts to slowly trust him more despite her unfortunate situation that causes her to end up in the show in the first place, hoping to find a way home. Of course, things are what they seem on the surface, especially the people that she meets. Its in these little moments of character building that the story shines at its best.
The endgame of the whole thing does do a good job at giving it a decent set-up. The ending itself is rather bittersweet, probably more bitter than sweet, but that all depends on how you connect with Lina's story in the first place. At the same time, there is a good deal of cleverness at the end that makes sure to add in the element of the fairy tale retelling that was a pleasant surprise.
Score: 3.5/5
While the story itself is rather predictable in its foundation, there are quite a few decent elements used here. For one, the fantastical elements used such as injecting the magical bits in its characters and the different abilities that these characters have especially the show crew that the main character Lina meets as she learns about her own abilities in this world that is unknown to her. Have the moment for its characters reveal their own abilities and then using this and the situation that they are pushed into gives the character a good level of development, which is always a good element to have in a young adult story. The 1930s historical setting is also one that almost always fascinating to use as it gives it a lot of charm as well as its societal conflicts to revolve around.
While Amber R. Duell has written quite a few books as well as some book series, this is the first book of hers that I've read and its definitely a fun book to read. Its a good world to dive into. The characters here focus mostly on Lina and Nik and it navigates a lot as their friendship grows and she starts to slowly trust him more despite her unfortunate situation that causes her to end up in the show in the first place, hoping to find a way home. Of course, things are what they seem on the surface, especially the people that she meets. Its in these little moments of character building that the story shines at its best.
The endgame of the whole thing does do a good job at giving it a decent set-up. The ending itself is rather bittersweet, probably more bitter than sweet, but that all depends on how you connect with Lina's story in the first place. At the same time, there is a good deal of cleverness at the end that makes sure to add in the element of the fairy tale retelling that was a pleasant surprise.
Score: 3.5/5
May 13, 2021
Admittedly I don't know much regarding the thumbelina fairy tale so perhaps there were things I may have missed throughout this one. In short the beginning and end of this book were fantastic. The epilogue especially was honestly beautifully written and so so sad. I did find for the meat of the book, nothing really happened. Lina is kidnapped and agrees to sing for the act in exchange for money to get back home again. Obviously things don't pan out that way and a big dramatic escape ensues. That's it really, I felt the magical aspects were skimmed and super vague. I would have loved other characters gifts to be explored and explained more in depth.
Unfortunately they just weren't, I knew Lanas music was addicting and Nic could enhance feelings. You know other characters HAVE abilities/gifts but they are never explained or explored which was the biggest disappointed. The relationship between Lana and Nic however felt genuinely and was great to watch unfold, the romance in this book I have no complaints in how it was portrayed and was probably the reason it gets a strong 3 stars.
That and the ending, and nod to the original fairy tale werr the strongest parts for me, but it didn't come without its issues. It definitely could have done with a little more depth and needed more going on during the main parts of the book.. other characters outside of Lana, Nic and maybe Christian were almost completely insignificant and had little no no redeeming characteristics or quirks. Still a fun little retelling nonetheless
Unfortunately they just weren't, I knew Lanas music was addicting and Nic could enhance feelings. You know other characters HAVE abilities/gifts but they are never explained or explored which was the biggest disappointed. The relationship between Lana and Nic however felt genuinely and was great to watch unfold, the romance in this book I have no complaints in how it was portrayed and was probably the reason it gets a strong 3 stars.
That and the ending, and nod to the original fairy tale werr the strongest parts for me, but it didn't come without its issues. It definitely could have done with a little more depth and needed more going on during the main parts of the book.. other characters outside of Lana, Nic and maybe Christian were almost completely insignificant and had little no no redeeming characteristics or quirks. Still a fun little retelling nonetheless
April 29, 2020
3.5 rounded down. I loved parts of this, but then others fell short. Let’s start with the loves: the magical world, the Thumbalina retelling (which is a rare find), the romance, and the overall story were fantastic. The horrific way Lina was kidnapped made me feel like I was there, I was hooked on Lina and Christian from the first page, and I was desperate to dive into the fairy world. Unfortunately, the magical promise of the book fell flat. Other than saying that people had abilities...there wasn’t much else to it. I wanted there to be a secret world or more fae creatures, or at least more descriptions about the different abilities, but all we got was that Lina’s singing was addicting and Nik could enhance feelings. In a book based on a fairy tale that semi-centered around magic, this felt very lacking. I went back and forth on Lina as a strong character but yelling at her for just giving up on those she loved as soon as she thought they gave up on her, when she had unreliable sources and no real reason to believe it. I also felt that the ending was rushed and very abrupt, though I did love the epilogue and the nod to the original story. All in all there were parts that were strong and parts that weren’t, but if you’re looking for a fun, quick read, I would definitely recommend it!
March 22, 2020
Okay, I normally don’t comment on the cover in a review but this cover is gorgeous and is definitely the main reason I was interested in reading this book. Finding out that it is a Thumbalina retelling made it all the more amazing!
You know what this book has that other retellings don’t often? A realism that helps keep it believable. I absolutely loved the historical setting – 1930s in NY. I think the research into the time period made the realism shine, which made for a more wholesome story.
This is a sorrowful novel, and definitely does leave that heartache feeling with you when you read the last page but I liked that. Not every story needs a happy ending. Not every story needs to satisfy…I think that’s what made this story super unique. I liked it.
Highly recommended!
Rating:
5/5☆
*I recieved a free copy of this book from R&R Book Tours in exchange for an honest review on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*
You know what this book has that other retellings don’t often? A realism that helps keep it believable. I absolutely loved the historical setting – 1930s in NY. I think the research into the time period made the realism shine, which made for a more wholesome story.
This is a sorrowful novel, and definitely does leave that heartache feeling with you when you read the last page but I liked that. Not every story needs a happy ending. Not every story needs to satisfy…I think that’s what made this story super unique. I liked it.
Highly recommended!
Rating:
5/5☆
*I recieved a free copy of this book from R&R Book Tours in exchange for an honest review on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*
February 25, 2021
This story was truly wonderful! I immediately fell in love with Lina—and Amber did a beautiful job bringing her to life. I can’t tell you how many times I felt like I was right there beside Lina, feeling her fear, her pain, her fleeting moments of happiness. Perfection.
And Nik. I love Nik. I have never loved a fictional character as much as I love Nik.
I honestly can’t remember a time I enjoyed a book this much. Truly.
And Nik. I love Nik. I have never loved a fictional character as much as I love Nik.
I honestly can’t remember a time I enjoyed a book this much. Truly.
November 20, 2021
This was a nice retelling of the Thumbelina story. The setting (1930s Vaudeville) is the star of the book.
Editor should have nixed the use of the phrase “hot mess” which would have been anachronistic at any point in the 20th century I think.
In other news, I noticed that only eight of the 82 books I’ve read so far this year are by men. I guess I have not been bingeing Rex Stout and Lee Child like I sometimes do.
Editor should have nixed the use of the phrase “hot mess” which would have been anachronistic at any point in the 20th century I think.
In other news, I noticed that only eight of the 82 books I’ve read so far this year are by men. I guess I have not been bingeing Rex Stout and Lee Child like I sometimes do.
March 24, 2020
I am a huge fan of retellings and this one doesn't disappoint. A lot of retellings have the same "twist" or storyline, but this one is not only unique, it also is a retelling based on Thumbelina which hasn't been covered by a lot of other authors. If you enjoy retellings, do yourself a favor and read this one because it is well worth it.
March 2, 2021
I love this
Aside from the overly descriptive description sometimes, this was a nice story. The ending felt a smidge bit rushed though, but I loved reading from Nik's perspective. I would have enjoyed a little more of that at the end.
It was great though. Thank you for this retelling.
Aside from the overly descriptive description sometimes, this was a nice story. The ending felt a smidge bit rushed though, but I loved reading from Nik's perspective. I would have enjoyed a little more of that at the end.
It was great though. Thank you for this retelling.
August 22, 2020
**4.5 stars** I love myself a good retelling! I enjoyed how it took place in the 30’s as well, so it was historical with magic. It didn’t blow me away and I wasn’t obsessed with the story, but I still really enjoyed it and it was a fairly quick read!
May 23, 2022
A fantastical retelling of my favorite fairytale? You know I had to read this one!
Fun read, plenty of surprises to keep it interesting...my only complaint is that I wanted more more more from the epilogue.
Fun read, plenty of surprises to keep it interesting...my only complaint is that I wanted more more more from the epilogue.
April 15, 2025
Nooo. I almost cried at the ending. What do u mean we're not getting a Nina ending😭😭. The way Nic treats her makes me wanna steal him for myself. If he doesn't love me like Nic loves Nina, I dnt want him. The amount of frustration I felt at the end is remarkable, other then that the book would have been perfect. Amber u robbed us😭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2020
As a fan of retellings, I was excited to jump into When Stars Are Bright as soon as I found out that it was a Thumbelina retelling. I must admit, that’s one fairy tale I don’t see a lot of retellings about – this being the first Thumbelina retelling I’ve read. If each one is as amazing as this one by Duell, I’ll have to make it a point to search them out.
The characters themselves were what pulled me into the story right away. I felt for Lina, being in love with Christian but knowing their families don’t approve. I can’t imagine having to sneak around behind their families’ backs just to spend some time together. Or having to end things because you don’t want to ruin the life of the person you love. I can’t imagine it’d been easy for Christian, thinking that Lina had run away from him for good. Little did he know that Line didn’t run away – she’d been kidnapped.
Of course, the rest of the characters were also able to pull at my heartstrings. It isn’t just Lina that has a heartbreaking past in this tale. When we meet the characters of the troupe it’s quickly apparent that something’s amiss. Learning who she can trust isn’t easy for Lina, but she’s willing to do whatever it takes to get back to her loved ones.
In case it wasn’t clear, I absolutely adored this read. My mind has stayed in the world even after I’ve closed the pages of this story to move on to the next one. This story was compelling and heartbreaking at all the right moments. I might have even cried once – let’s see if you can figure out where.
For spoilers (and a Rafflecopter giveaway) click here: https://phantomofthelibrary.com/2020/...
The characters themselves were what pulled me into the story right away. I felt for Lina, being in love with Christian but knowing their families don’t approve. I can’t imagine having to sneak around behind their families’ backs just to spend some time together. Or having to end things because you don’t want to ruin the life of the person you love. I can’t imagine it’d been easy for Christian, thinking that Lina had run away from him for good. Little did he know that Line didn’t run away – she’d been kidnapped.
Of course, the rest of the characters were also able to pull at my heartstrings. It isn’t just Lina that has a heartbreaking past in this tale. When we meet the characters of the troupe it’s quickly apparent that something’s amiss. Learning who she can trust isn’t easy for Lina, but she’s willing to do whatever it takes to get back to her loved ones.
In case it wasn’t clear, I absolutely adored this read. My mind has stayed in the world even after I’ve closed the pages of this story to move on to the next one. This story was compelling and heartbreaking at all the right moments. I might have even cried once – let’s see if you can figure out where.
For spoilers (and a Rafflecopter giveaway) click here: https://phantomofthelibrary.com/2020/...
March 18, 2020
I really loved reading this wonderful book! I loved the characters and the plot! I loved this retelling of Thumbelina! I had a hard time putting this wonderful book down!
February 19, 2020
This is an interesting retelling of the classic fairytale, Thumbelina. Whilst aimed at a Young Adult audience, this complex narrative deals with abduction and abuse so might not suit everyone’s reading preferences.
Set in the 1930s between Holland and the USA, the story begins with Lina and her mother who work together in the tulip fields. Lina has made a romantic choice in becoming attached to Christian, that neither her mother or his parents are agreeable to. After a disastrous date at a family party, Lina runs from Christian, is kidnapped from her own home and then whisked abroad where she is subjected to ill treatment. Finding comfort from Nik, who believes her story of abduction, she sets about plotting how to return to Holland.
Much like Hans Christian Andersen’s original tale, the ending is happy for some characters and not for others. I liked the take on this classic, and the magic that bubbles along throughout. I personally would have liked more detail in the imagery, but I find that I look for small details in a book to really connect and engage with. That said this is a curious story and certainly worth a read.
Set in the 1930s between Holland and the USA, the story begins with Lina and her mother who work together in the tulip fields. Lina has made a romantic choice in becoming attached to Christian, that neither her mother or his parents are agreeable to. After a disastrous date at a family party, Lina runs from Christian, is kidnapped from her own home and then whisked abroad where she is subjected to ill treatment. Finding comfort from Nik, who believes her story of abduction, she sets about plotting how to return to Holland.
Much like Hans Christian Andersen’s original tale, the ending is happy for some characters and not for others. I liked the take on this classic, and the magic that bubbles along throughout. I personally would have liked more detail in the imagery, but I find that I look for small details in a book to really connect and engage with. That said this is a curious story and certainly worth a read.
February 20, 2020
When Stars Are Bright is a captivating retelling. Lina wants nothing more than to happy with her boyfriend, and live out a quiet life. But a stranger has different plans for her. Just like that she's thrust into a world where who to trust could be the difference between staying alive and returning home or staying trapped forever in the gilded cage of stardom. A must-read for anyone who loves fairy tale retellings.
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