A Dark and Hollow Star

By: Ashley Shuttleworth

Narrated by: Vikas Adam, Neo Cihi, Natalie Naudus, Imani Jade Powers

Length: 19 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

“Beautifully written and deliciously complex…I couldn’t get enough.” (Nicki Pau Preto, author of the Crown of Feathers series)

The Cruel Prince meets City of Bones in this thrilling urban fantasy set in the magical underworld of Toronto that follows a queer cast of characters racing to stop a serial killer whose crimes could expose the hidden world of faeries to humans.

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The “ironborn” half-fae outcast of her royal fae family.
A tempestuous Fury, exiled to Earth from the Immortal Realm and hellbent on revenge.
A dutiful fae prince, determined to earn his place on the throne.
The prince’s brooding guardian, burdened with a terrible secret.

For centuries, the Eight Courts of Folk have lived among us, concealed by magic and bound by law to do no harm to humans. This arrangement has long kept peace in the Courts - until a series of gruesome and ritualistic murders rocks the city of Toronto and threatens to expose faeries to the human world.

Four queer teens, each who hold a key piece of the truth behind these murders, must form a tenuous alliance in their effort to track down the mysterious killer behind these crimes. If they fail, they risk the destruction of the faerie and human worlds alike. If that’s not bad enough, there’s a war brewing between the Mortal and Immortal Realms, and one of these teens is destined to tip the scales. The only question is: which way?

Wish them luck. They’re going to need it.

©2021 Ashley Shuttleworth. All rights reserved. (P)2021 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Amazing

I loved every part of this book! The author needs to come out with a sequel!!!

Worthy of a Listen

I am so hoping for a series surrounding these characters. They are well developed, so I’m invested.

Great narrators

I enjoyed this audiobook. The story involved the Spring and Summer courts of the fae and also the High Rulers. Four royal teenagers and an exiled Fury fight for the protection of both human and iron blood teens, who are going missing or found mutilated and missing their hearts. The story was engrossing, which was greatly helped by the narrator’s. In intense situations, the narrator would hasten the words with a tone of voice that reflected the situation. Excellent narration by all the narrator’s.

YA Cresent City

Reminded me a lot of a YA version of Cresent City. Similar characters and plot points. I had a little trouble at first gaining interest and keeping up with all the different characters. I did come to enjoy it though and am interested in the second book. One big thing for me was the mix of myths, fae, and magic the author included. She did a pretty good job intertwining them, but it did occasionally feel a little over the top and confusing. Seemed like it could have been better if she didn't introduce SO MUCH all in the first book. Also, including the real villan in the epilog was an... interesting choice; doesn't leave much room for mystery in the second book.

I liked most of the narrators, except the one for Vayn. He seemed kind of nasal and almost nerdy, which is not the vibe I feel like the character has.

Love story, charaters.... not alternating readers

love the development of personalities, the way the story hooks you.

however... the inconsistency of what voice belongs to which character is a bit of an annoyance. I suggest only one reader voice specific characters or.... reduce the number of readers. It would make the jumping around from one ongoing occurrence between characters to another one seperately.

GIVE ME MOOOOORE!!!

I bought the second book after chapter 3. Some one make this into a tv series PLEASE!!! It's perfect in more ways then I have words to say. Gah, sorry need to start the second book. Cant write anymore. buy this, it's amazing.

Very much a first installment

Interesting, endearing characters and a good start of a story. Many of the plot elements don't get resolutions, though. I wish I'd waited a few years to read the whole series at once.

Really Good!

I decided to listen to this story on a whim and I really enjoyed it!

Great Book

Ashley Shuttleworth is my niece and she has always had a wonderful sense of humor and a love of all things magic. Some of the book takes place in the small town that my parents live in and she weaves it into her story. My younger sister called to tell me that she was listening to the book on a drive to my parents and as she was approaching the town, Ashley's book was describing the surroundings...very surreal! I am so proud of her and all the things that she loves comes through in this book. I have both the book and audible version and I have gifted copies to friends. Buy this book, you won't be disappointed.

Amazing book! Amazing narrators!

I absolutely loved this book, and hearing it narrated by four very talented people was great! Can’t recommend it enough!