The story follows Amora, princess of the island kingdom of Visidia. She's spent her entire life training to be High Animancer- the master of souls. When Amora is forced to flee, she strikes deal with the mysterious pirate Bastian- he’ll help her prove she's fit to rule, and she’ll help him reclaim his stole magic. But as they sail the kingdom, they encounter both adventure and danger. They must face monsters, mermaids, a stowaway, and those who would seek to destroy the kingdom. A destructive magic is on the rise and the fate of Visidia hangs in the balance. 

2.5 stars
I really wanted to love this book, it had mermaids and pirates which are two things I love in fantasy. However, I ended up super disappointed. The premise is really good, and there are some fun moments, it’s really let down by the plot though. The whole thing felt very stale, it felt like a story I'd read hundreds of times before, with nothing new. There were times where I ended up skimming over big chunks of text, because I just wasn’t gripped by the story. I felt like there was lots of “telling” rather than “showing”, when it came to the world-building and plot. The action sequences were really disappointing, they felt rushed and lacked any real sense of danger. 
What most frustrated me was there were elements that were SO COOL, but they were then discarded in favour of more boring plot points. For example, at one point our characters end up in an underground speakeasy type club, filled with an awesome gang of women. But the leader of the gang just tells our character where to go next and that’s it. I want a whole book about these women instead of our slightly dull main character! And there’s a mermaid in the story, who is easily the coolest character, but she doesn’t really get any character development and therefore feels wasted. 

I found the characters on the whole pretty good, but I will admit that I never really connected to any of them. However, I couldn’t get on board with the romance in the story, it was far too “insta-love” for me, and I never really felt like there was any meaningful connection between the two characters. I feel like this may be personal preference, because I'm picky about romance and really bored of feeling like it’s been shoehorned into a story where it didn’t need to be. There are already so many other elements in this book, that I feel it would have been fine not having any romance at all, and I feel like it perpetuates a stereotype that young women can't be strong and powerful rulers unless there’s a man at their side (but I am aware that I'm probably just being salty).

Although this wasn’t the book for me, I think lots of people will enjoy it. As I mentioned, there’s a mermaid who is pretty awesome, there’s an interesting, if confusing, magic system, and some fun moments. I think this will really appeal to younger readers, and I think if I’d read it as a pre-teen I would have really enjoyed it. However, now that I'm older I'm just pickier about what I enjoy in YA fantasy. 

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

On the run from her kingdom, a disgraced princess travels the sea searching for redemption but instead uncovers the secrets of her ancestry. A world full of magic, curses, pirates and mermaids- what more could a fantasy lover need?

All The Stars And Teeth is a perfect combination of world building, action and emotion, from the first page the adventure doesn't stop for a moment. 
The islands of Visidia are much like factions, each with their own type of magic, under the Aridian rule no island can practise more than one of the seven kinds lest they invoke the beast that once destroyed them.
When Princess Amora fails the royal testing she flees execution with the aid of her arranged fiance, a mysterious pirate and his magical ship, only to find their world is not as content as the King led her to believe.

Unlike some fantasy novels I found Grace's world building to be unique yet easy to understand, the various islands are beautifully described and the creatures and costumes wonderfully imagined.

Told entirely from Princess Amora's POV, I found her to be irritatingly arrogant but Grace offsets this well by giving her naivety and an unwavering moral compass. Although I didn't like her character per se, she commands respect and made a brilliant MC, I enjoyed navigating the world and discovering the many betrayals of her kingdom. 
Bastian the pirate is very much the cliche you would expect but I loved it all the same and the trope didn't detract from the story at all.

The battles, discoveries and lore in All The Stars And Teeth made a fascinating read and I highly recommend this to all lovers of YA fantasy, especially those with a penchant for pirates at sea.

“You’re insufferable. Once we’ve found Kaven, know that I plan to throw you overboard and make this ship mine.” 

If you like slow-burn, enemies-to-lover relationships then this is the book for you. I absolutely LOVED the fact that Amora was pretty much putting a dagger to the throats of anyone who even looked at her wrong. 

Now, this book is what other YA novels hope to be. And I am entirely of the opinion that no book can compare to a book with a PIRATE in it! I really can’t tell you where my pirate obsession appeared from but now that it’s here, it is here to stay. 

Princesses, Pirates, A Loyal Betrothed and Magic— honestly what more can you want? Amora must fight to save her kingdom and protect it against Kaven, a power-thirsty man, who has twisted magic and is using it to form a rebellion against the throne. 

Honestly, a delightful and surprising read— I wasn’t expecting such a WONDERFUL book. And, my goodness guys, doesn’t this quote below remind you of a certain someone from Throne of Glass? 

“I am Amora Montara, Princess of Visidia and heir to the High Animancer’s throne. There is no ship I cannot sail. This is nothing I cannot master.”

Thank you so much NetGallery and Titan Books for this early readers copy! A truly delightful reading experience! 

Read. Be happy. Stay safe.

The story follows the adventures of Princess Amora, from the Island Kingdom of Visidia, on her quest to protect her kingdom.  This kingdom is interestingly divided into different islands, each with their own unique magic system. The author describes in detail the geographical locations, the clothing and the fashion of each of the different islands, with verve and imagination. The story is engaging and entertaining and contains some wonderful plot twists and turn.  It encompasses all the usual YA tropes, and more, all presented in a unique and imaginative way.  There is some wonderful rich and detailed world-building, with a dark and gruesome magic system, which is not for the fainthearted! 

The first half of the book is a little slow and there is a lot of information to take in, in terms of the history of the world, characters and magic system and it takes time to build all this up.  The second half certainly makes up for the slow build up and turns into a compelling and fast-paced epic adventure.  

All the characters are well developed and likeable, and there is a strong female lead and a handsome love interest.  Vataea, the mermaid, is an exceptional character and she heroically saves the day on several occasions.  It was good to see all the main characters gradually form a close bond and become a strong united crew.  I would have liked to have seen more time focusing on the build up to the romance, it all seemed a bit quick, and some extra time focusing on Bastian and Amora bonding and getting to know one another, their interactions, touches, and drilling down into their thoughts and feelings, would have made this the perfect read for me.   

All in all, a wonderful debut fantasy novel with a good strong cast of characters, beautiful and detailed world-building and a wonderful seafaring adventure.  Apart from the slow start the rest of the book is fast-paced and  engrossing.  A must read this summer and I am very much looking forward to the next instalment.   

Thank you to NetGalley and Titan for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Fantasy books are tricky things, especially when they're set in a completely new world. Having big fantastical elements like monsters and magic in a setting people know is hard enough, but creating a whole world for people to have to learn and believe in can be really difficult. Whenever a writer des it well there are usually two outcomes, a world that feels old and lived in but kind of becomes a bit of the background, or a world so unique that you find yourself wanting to learn about it as much as you do the characters. The kingdom of Visidia is definitely in the latter category, and it kept me fascinated throughout. 

The more I learnt about this bizarre world that Adalyn Grace had created the more it drew me in. I kept thinking I'd gotten a handle on how this place worked, and what to expect, and then she'd throw something new at me. Whether it was teleporting taverns, mermaids, giant sea monsters, or magic that could split a persons soul, each new thing felt so completely different, yet never broke the world she'd made. It would have been easy to go too over the top, to throw something too fantastical into the mix, but that never happened. There was a sense of escalation, but it never jumped the shark so to speak.

With a world so layered and interesting it would have been easy to create characters that failed to live up to this environment, but the lead characters of All The Stars And Teeth were great. The crew that formed around Amora all brought something new to the table in terms of both powers and personalities. Towards the start of the adventure I really didn't like Ferrick, the young man that Amora is set to marry. He seemed clingy, a bit stuffy, and frankly annoying; but come the end of the book he'd stepped up in some big ways, and had had some of the biggest moments of bravery in the narrative. He'd proven himself not just to the other heroes, but to me too, and because of that I really hope that he comes back in the second book.

Bastian in contrast starts of as the cool guy, the dashing pirate who knows all the dodgy people and has connections with people that will help Amora on her quest, but as the story progresses we learn more about him and find out that really a lot of this is a bit of a front, and that he's probably one of the most damaged characters in the book. What comes across as bravado at the start ended up being seen as a front by the end, he hides behind this persona to stop further pain, and it's only through his adventures with the others that he can begin to open up and become vulnerable again. Vataea is definitely one of the more interesting characters, thanks to her not even being human. Though we get to spend some time with her and get to know her and her powers a bit she's still the most unknown element in the crew by the end. Out of the heroes she's the one who I'm the most unsure bout returning in the next book, but really hope she does so that I can try to get to know her batter.

Amora is, obviously, the most important character, and as the main point of view the reader spends all their time with her. She's set up to be this powerful character, a young woman who's been raised to become the next ruler, and a master of her brand of magic. She begins the book thinking that she knows everything and is the best version of herself that she can be. Over the course of the story we see her realise that she's wrong on a number of occasions, and she has to do a lot of growing up. Thankfully, she never comes across as childish or petulant. She's always trying to do better and be better, and it makes her a very likeable protagonist.

All The Stars And Teeth is an interesting novel, that manages to weave a story that's more complex than it first appears, and keeps you interested throughout. The plot unfolds organically, and the characters grow and develop throughout, meaning that events never feel dull or stale. The story ends in a way that's satisfying, yet manages to leave so many elements open to be explored in further books. Whether you're reading this as a stand alone, or you're getting invested in the series, it's sure to leave you satisfied.

After hearing mixed reviews, I wasn’t sure what to expect from ALL THE STARS AND TEETH, but I found it to be a strong, enjoyable debut! A little tropey in places, sure, but there’s just as much creativity and uniqueness to be found within its pages.

The book follows Princess Amora—next in line to be High Animancer of the magical island kingdom Visidia—as she must secure her claim to the throne by proving her control of her family’s soul magic. But when her demonstration goes wrong, and she learns of dissent growing among her islands, she embarks on a journey to prove herself and set right the wrongs in her kingdom.

I loved Amora as a morally grey protagonist who undergoes some serious development over the course of the book. Her ambition is fierce, her magic is darkly delicious, and her flaws are what make her an ultimately likeable character. And her relationship with the crew of the Keel Haul only helped to humanise her further. From the initial distrust to the witty banter to the eventual found family dynamic, it was one of my favourite aspects of the book, even if I’d have liked to have seen more of some of the crew (especially Vataea!)

But what I loved the most about ALL THE STARS AND TEETH was the worldbuilding; a kingdom of seven islands, each with its own personality, representative gemstone, and unique branch of magic. Though simple, it feels like a fresh take on the fantasy magic systems I grew up with in books and video games. By no means does the book try to reinvent the wheel, but rather, it puts a new spin on a well-loved genre through its weaving of setting and magic system. Plus, pirates and mermaids are always a bonus.

ALL THE STARS AND TEETH missed out on a five-star rating from me because I felt like there was something in either the plot or the writing style (or both) that was just a little generic, and it ultimately stopped me from becoming too attached to the characters and storylines. Also, I did feel very underwhelmed at times by the villain, Kaven, who is little more than a looming presence for the first two thirds of the book. After his villainous ways are built up for so long, when we finally do meet him, it all feels very anticlimactic. The villains I enjoy the most are ones who feel specific to the protagonist, whereas in this case, Kaven felt more like the love interest’s villain than Amora’s.

However, the book ends with a surprising sense of resolution, yet there are still plenty of areas ripe for further exploration that have left me longing to get my hands on the sequel. All in all, ALL THE STARS AND TEETH was an enjoyable, engrossing read, perfect for any fans of YA fantasy who are looking for a rich fictional world and an adventure that spills from the pages.

‘All the Stars and Teeth’ is a fun young adult fantasy that should appeal to all fans of the genre. Rather than striving for unique elements, it combines typical tricks and tropes to great effect, weaving a compelling – if predictable – story.

The book is told from a single point of view. Amora Montara, princess of the island kingdom of Visidia, is preparing for the biggest day of her life – the day when she proves her mastery of soul magic, to take over her father’s role as High Animancer. The High Animancer protects the kingdom from the Beast, a mysterious force which gains power if anyone in Visidia attempts to learn more than one magic. However, Amora’s demonstration doesn’t go to plan, and her life may be on the line – until she’s rescued by the mysterious Bastian, a pirate from the exiled kingdom of Zudoh. Together, Amora, Bastian – and Amora’s fiancé Ferrick, who sneaks after them – set off on a quest to save Zudoh – and potentially the whole kingdom.

Amora reads exactly like a teenage princess should – spoiled, entitled, sheltered, and desperate to be free and make her own choices. At times, this makes her an unlikeable protagonist, but I applaud Adalyn Grace’s decision to make Amora realistic. Her interactions with Ferrick and Vataea are excellent – Vataea especially helps make Amora more human. On the other hand, the romance was predictable and toed the line of insta-love, and I never felt the chemistry – I feel like a little more build-up would have helped.

Bastian is a great character. For a pirate, he’s a very nice, caring guy – even if he does spend a lot of time stealing and threatening people with swords. I’m slightly disappointed there weren’t more pirates – the story around Keel Haul is great, and a magic ship is always going to be a good thing, but a pirate crew is an opportunity to add humour and banter, and a book sold with pirates on the tagline really needs more than one pirate. As only Amora gets a point of view, much of Bastian’s story remains a mystery – but he’s still a well-enough rounded character.

My favourite part of this world is the magic system. The idea of each character having a magic – most based on their island of origin, but not all – is intriguing, and I wish we got to see more of it. I also adore soul magic – Grace didn’t play down how horrific it could be, and it’s fascinating seeing the other characters’ reactions to Amora using it. Amora oscillates between delight at her power and horror at the costs, which can be jarring – but for a teenager who’s been doing this since she was a child, her reactions seem realistic.

Overall, this is a solid young adult fantasy. Recommended for fans of interesting magic systems, strong female heroines, and pirates (with the caveat that there’s not a great deal of piracy).

ALL THE STARS AND TEETH is one of YA's most hyped fantasy releases of 2020, marketed as a fierce pirate book with a twist. Thankfully, it did not disappoint.

Is it fierce? Yes. The magic system in this book is brutal. It was a buddy read, and the very first messages we sent each other were delighting in how uncompromising the magic was. From the first instance of Amora using her magic, to the details of the new curse magic, this is not a magic system that pulls any punches. The soul magic's first outing is basically torture, and the book never dances around that fact. As the book progresses and Amora learns more about her magic's history and the world beyond her sheltered upbringing, that unflinching brutality only becomes more and more obvious - nicely mirroring her awakening.

It was just such a delight to read a YA book with a heroine with dark magic who didn't have a dark/traumatic past, and wasn't motivated by revenge. She's embraced the darker magic for her home.

There is also fan-favourite Vataea - the vicious mermaid - was so much fun. Unashamedly vicious, I loved the scenes she was in - from her gory first true introduction in the sea to her sharp grin and banter with the rest of the (small) crew.

This aside, the adventures aboard the Keel Haul is a fast paced one. We both picked up the book, and then didn't really put it down. I'd been expecting to read this across a few days, but that didn't happen as I just wanted to keep reading. I had several theories throughout . There's also a very fun twist as the story enters the final act.

I'm excited to see the next instalment next year!

All the Stars and Teeth is a YA Fantasy novel following Princess Amora, destined to become the High Animancer – the master of souls. When things go awry Amora finds herself sailing across the high seas to save her kingdom.

Visidia has been split by magic for years, with each island specialising in one specific magic - Adalyn Grace does such a wonderful job introducing us to not only the different magics held but the different lives and atmospheres of each island. I really hope that this is something that she develops in the sequel as the people and the landscapes were so beautifully developed. This lush and descriptive writing style also spills over in to her visions of the sea - the sea monsters are fresh out of nightmares and the mermaids are the apogee of dreams (at first…)

Not only is this book beautifully written and bursting with adventure but it also has a certain grit, in some places it is certainly not for the faint hearted. The magic Amora wields is powerful, dangerous and requires certain sacrifices to be made. There is definitely a warning for blood, bones and teeth here. In quite a lot of YA Fantasy that I’ve previously read, magic is powerful and draining but I have never seen it portrayed in such a raw form before – it is wonderfully refreshing to see it as not only a gift but a darkness.

This book is brimming with adventure, magic and friendship; it will sweep you away to the corners of the world and the depths of the oceans. I absolutely loved it.

This is a story set in a Kingdom which comprises of different islands and the people of each island can practice only one type of magic because of an ancient curse which has rendered the art of practicing multiple magic by individuals extremely dangerous. The main character is the princess, who has the ability to perform something called soul magic, which is the most dangerous of all the existing magic, and to secure her position as the heir to the throne, she has to put up a performance in front of an audience and prove that her magic is safe to use. However, things go horribly wrong at her performance and she is forced to flee her home. The story moves from there on as the princess, Amora along with her two companions, Bastian and Ferrick embarks on a journey which is filled with action, adventure and numerous dangers. 

The writing and the world-building are easy to follow, and the magic system is advanced in a way that isn't too confusing. The plot, however, lacked charisma to the point of being bland at times. There is a fair amount of action, adventure, conflict and even romance in the story, but for some reason I just didn't feel connected to the story. A lot of things were predictable, and I truly think that the action sequences were rushed and badly written. As in there were lot of telling going on in the story instead of showing. The relationship development between characters felt flat and I didn't like the romance, it was too easy and there was hardly any back and forth. But that's just a personal preference.

As for the characters, I really liked Ferrick and Vataea, I thought they did well with what they were given and would definitely love to see them grow and develop more in the next book. Bastian and Amora felt just okay to me. They definitely showed a lot of agency and were dedicated to their cause of uniting the kingdom, but I truly think that their character growth suffered because the plot wasn't interesting enough.

Overall, this was a pretty standard YA fantasy. And despite all of my negative feelings, I knew what I was getting into when I decided to pick this book up so I can't really complain.

I was immediately attracted to this book based on the cover, and the description only made me more interested. But neither of those do the content of the book justice. Full of magic, adventure, and unforgettable characters, this novel navigates a world in trouble from the perspective of a girl who has been shut out from her own future kingdom for too long. Determined to make up for not only her mistakes, but those of her father, she conquers her fear and mistrust of others to push forward, doing what the kingdom needs her to do. 

It's a hugely enticing read, with chapters that are the perfect length, knowing just how to lay out the story. It is evident how well thought through the whole storyline has been, and the amount of work the author has put in to developing this tale. The use of language is superb and draws you in closely, something that comes form pure skill verses experience. 

I will be highly recommending this book both personally and on my blog.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book to review. 
I wasn’t sure about this book when I went into it. The overall story in this book was okay, it is similar to other YA books which I’ve read recently which made me mark the book down slightly but that’s because I seem to have read a lot of YA Fantasy recently. This is a book with magic, pirates, treachery and more. Although I thought the book was lacking intensity as I never felt pulled into the story. 
The characters in this book are good and well written. I enjoyed the crew interaction. I couldn’t fully connect with the main character and I don’t like how she treated her fiancé at the beginning. I almost didn't finish this book because I didn’t enjoy the beginning but it did pick up for me.
I wasn’t really a fan of the romance but I am super picky about romance in general. There is a twist at the end which is probably setting up the next book so watch out for that. I’m not sure I’ll read the next book in the series. 
Overall this is a okay YA Fantasy that has things I love like pirates but I didn’t get drawn into the book which left me feeling a little disappointed.

All The Stars & Teeth is a fantastic, clever fantasy novel that I wasn’t expecting to love as much as I did. I went into this with no expectations, I’d heard it talked about a lot and when it came up on Netgalley I wanted to give it a shot and I’m so glad I did!

The way the author writes is absolutely stunning. Everything is so lyrical and vivid, as I was reading, I could see everything that was happening and loved it. Also, I’m not a massive fan of first person novels but I really loved being in Amora’s head and thought it worked so well here. Adalyn Grace is just fantastic and I can’t wait to read more of her work in the future, this was just an absolutely stunning debut. 

Another thing I loved was the magic system. I thought it was truly unique and different to other magic systems in YA fantasy novels. I was truly fascinated by it and was surprised at all of the twists and turns when it came to the history of it and really want to know even more about how all of it works.

The story just truly had me hooked from the first few pages, I wanted to know what was happening with Amora and the people around her. It was slightly tropey in some places but I like tropes if they weren’t good, they wouldn’t be popular and everything in this story worked so fantastically well again, I think the author is incredible at what she does and it really shines through in this novel. And, I was slightly worried that it was all going to wrap up in the end even though there’s a sequel coming but the final plot twist had me shook!!!

Bastion was a character I loved straight away, I love pirates and he was so sweet and yet mysterious and I can’t wait to find out more about him. Amora is a true queen, such a strong female character and I would die for her. Ferrick is a character I wasn’t sure I would like at the start and wasn’t truly warmed to him until the middle of the book but he’s truly so caring and wonderful and if anything happens to him I’ll DIE. Vataea by far my favourite, shes strong, shes a badass and she truly deserves everything good in the world. I honestly do ship her and Ferrick but also ship her with Amora so😂

Overall, this novel is just fantastic, it’s like a mix between Mad Max and Pirates of the Caribbean and I was here for it from start to end. I’m so excited for the sequel already, come on 2021!!!

After many burning disappointments in the department of new YA releases, I’ve finally found a great fantasy story that I couldn’t put down! This story is the type of book that makes you snarl at whoever interrupts your reading time.

The land of Visidia is composed of many islands. Every island population has their own magic, different from each other. They can control only one type of magic and it’s forbidden to have more than one. Visidia’s ruling family of Montara is the only family who can control soul magic. Amora Montara prepares herself to demonstrate to her people she can control her soul magic and become the rightful heir to the throne of Visidia. However, the ritual doesn’t go as planned and Amora ends up having no other choice but to abandon her home and runs away. She finds out that things are not so perfect outside her reign. She has to also find a way to come back and prove that she deserves the title of queen.

So her adventure begins, and the reader is in for a real treat. I would say this novel probably contains all the usual YA tropes. Nevertheless, the plot is suspenseful and gripping. The magic system and the world building are perfectly melded together. I was in awe with both the geographic description and the marvellous clothes and fashion details for each island and their population. I liked the main character — she is smart and resourceful. I loved the “period scene” because the writer makes Amora seem more down to earth. Even the other side characters are well developed, with their own stories and personalities. And prepare yourself to fall for Bastien!

You would totally have this title in your Summer TBR, with a great magic system, romance, mermaids, sea adventures, and badass characters. I saw this story described as a “pirate story”, but I think that’s not the right label for it, and it sets wrong expectations for other readers. Amora’s monologues were a bit repetitive and the ending was slightly chaotic and rushed, but I have great expectations for book two, which I can’t wait to read.

Thank you, Netgalley and Titan Books for providing me with an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.   

All The Stars And Teeth is the first book in the series All The Stars And Teeth. This book is the debut fantasy novel from the author Adalyn Grace. The story is about a young Princess to the Island Kingdom Of Visidia. The Kingdom is divided into different islands with each island having its magical power. Amora has been practicing Soul magic her whole life in preparation for her ceremony to become the protector of their Kingdom and to be the next to the throne. On the day to perform and prove her control of magic she fails and disappoints her people. Awaiting a trial can be dangerous to her Kingdom and she flees with plans to restore the Kingdom and get rid of the issues that have arisen. On her journey to freedom and protecting her Kingdom, she learns dark secrets kept hidden, fight magical and legendary creatures, and comes face to face with dark powers. The story was engaging and fun. I loved how the story was executed adding the necessary amount of action and conflict to keep the story entertaining. The vivid imagery and descriptions of the world made it easy to imagine and get lost in the world. I loved the history of the world and the stories that were nestled in the main storyline. One of the best parts of this book is the world-building and how effectively the author weaves information into the story without boring us. The world was fascinating and the magic system set in place was defined from the get-go. The characters and the side characters were all fantastic. I felt they were fleshed out and had so much room to become more. I loved how the author handled the relationships and brought forward some interesting choices by the characters that made it feel more natural. The protagonist was level headed and had a mature way of seeing everything. The pacing was good and the book was very engaging. I highly recommend checking this book out. A great YA fantasy debut with a strong protagonist, wonderful cast, and vivid imagery of the world. I think if you love the ocean, adventures, sea creatures and interesting magic, definitely pick this book up. I gave the book 4.5 stars leaning towards 5 stars. If you loved The Raven And The Dove, you will love this one as well and vice versa.

- 4.5 stars -

I was approved to review a digital review copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This review will be cross-posted nearer to the book's publication on Goodreads and my book blog, Bookmarked, at the following link: https://angiesbookmarks.wordpress.com/2020/07/14/all-the-stars-and-teeth-arc-book-review 

THE BOOK REVIEW

Thank you SO MUCH, Netgalley and Titan Books, for gracing me with an ARC of this wonderful debut. All the Stars and Teeth was already on my radar (I mentioned it the first time in this post). What drew me in was the promise of a new epic fantasy featuring ships, seafaring and mermaids. If you've followed me for a while or have read my bio, you will know that I am obsessed with anything related to ships and the sea. So when I saw this title appear on NetGalley, I immediately requested it. It was probably one of the best decisions I made this year!

Trigger Warnings: some body horror, abusive relationship, self-harm

WHAT I LIKED

Visidia is a treasure trove of inventive world-building and an exploration of the power of oral storytelling (and lies) in shaping a nation's culture. The magic system is well-balanced, with no single magic feeling overpowered compared to the others. The whole cursed soul magic business was a bit nebulous, but I think that's accounted for, as the characters are just as confused about it. And while it is true that the book contains some YA tropes and clichés, I think these are presented in a fresh light that makes them fit well within the overarching story.

I loved how the world was based on precious stones! I'm partial about that because my own fantasy world is based on similar logic. I'm not sure if there is a reason why jewels are used, but if there is, I would have liked to know a little bit more about it. Anyway, this is just a nitpick, really.

The action and the pace of this novel are absurd. And those TWISTS! I'm hooked. The story kept going at a sustained pace, constantly introducing new elements to keep the action going and interest levels high. The seafaring element also worked well without being unnecessary or cheesy - although I feel that the travel times are slightly under-estimated (only two weeks from the beginning to the end, including four or five different boat journeys?).

Kudos go to the absolutely wonderful and gorgeous Vataea, whom I can't wait to read more about, and to that cover design! I love when covers feature small details from the book that make sense only after reading. 

WHAT I LIKED A LITTLE LESS

Although the world of Visidia, with all its different islands and magic styles, is fascinating to explore, I feel like the story could have used a bit more "tightening up" at the beginning. There are pockets of exposition and world-building which, in my humble opinion, made it a little overwhelming. I feel that details about the other islands naturally arise through world exploration and didn't necessarily need such a hefty introduction right at the beginning of the novel. (Re)Discovering the world with Amora would have felt much more organic, in a way. This is also true for the (I think) extensive clothes descriptions that crowd the beginning of the book but ebb off by midpoint. However, it didn't deter me from reading on, I should specify.

The other bit that kept me from giving it a full five shining stars (and some teeth) was the romance element. While I WAS indeed rooting for them (trying to keep it spoiler-free), I felt like they didn't have much time to really get to know each other properly. They both hold secrets, burdens and a shared vision, but I would have liked to see them have some more meaningful interaction and bonding beyond secret-sharing. That said, I'm very excited to see where this relationship will go in the sequel (especially after THAT twist) and if another ship (get it?) I've been hoping for will actually set sail.

 
I'm really excited to see this fantasy debut hit the UK shelves! Excellent work; I can't wait for the second instalment in the series!

All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace is the first in a fantasy duology featuring Amora Montara. Amora is the princess of an island kingdom and one of two potential heirs to the throne. In order to claim the throne she must become High Animancer, a magician with mastery over soul magic, a discipline that is reserved for royalty since the foundation of the kingdom. The use of magic is rigidly controlled so when Amora fails in the demonstration that was designed to show her mastery, by allowing the magic to overwhelm her, she believes her only option is to flee. Desperate for an ally to help her escape, she strikes a deal with Bastian, a pirate who is determined to recover his stolen magical powers. As the pair travel between the kindom's islands they learn that a dark new magic is on the rise, and they will have to work together if they are to protect the kingdom from doom. 
While a seasoned fantasy reader may find the story a little predictable, the characters are so vivid and so much fun that they keep your attention engaged. As the pair sail the high seas they encounter monsters and mermaids and take the reader on an action packed adventure that makes up for the slightly slower start to the book. The author is not afraid to go dark, the practice of soul magic requires some pretty gruesome rituals and has some gory consequences.  As a fantasy debut this was very impressive and I look forward to reading the next book.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book. Yes it is fairly predictable, but it's also full of adventure and a really fun read. A great writing style that meant although predictable, I still couldn't put it down

This book was amazing. A sea adventure with a roguish captain: sign me up! I absolutely loved the world-building and writing style in this book, and they were big pluses for me. The reason why I am giving it four stars, is because it was a little dull at times, and my thoughts strayed during those scenes, which was a shame.

Really enjoyed this YA fantasy debut, for the first few chapters I wasn't sure how I felt about Amora but as soon as she lost herself at her soul magic ceremony, I was intrigued to see what was coming. Amora faces a very real conflict about her own magic, she's uncomfortable with it but forces herself to use it for the greater good. She's determined that she's the right person to save and care for her country, and that determination drives everything that she does.

I really liked that Amora was badass AF even without using her magic, taking on mythical sea creatures and generally fighting like a super cool pirate all over the place. I appreciated that her magic wasn't allowed to define her as a character, rather it was there to build her inner conflict and her relationship with her family and country.

I also really enjoyed her supporting cast of characters, including a truly excellent mermaid, a pirate with hidden depths and her adorable fiancé who I personally am very much here for.

There's a sense of adventure and love of the sea that runs through this book that makes you want to stand on the prow of a ship with the sea breeze in your hair and the taste of salt on your tongue. I can't wait to see what comes next for Amora and her crew.