A Dark and Hollow Star Review

In "A Dark and Hollow Star", four queer teens from different Fae courts, find their way to each other when they are the only ones interested in discovering the truth behind the disappearances and murders of iron born children.

General Impressions

I received "A Dark and Hollow Star" as part of my first Illumicrate box and opened it fully convinced this was gonna be a DNF. It took me only a chapter to realize I was about to be blown away. ADAHS reunites Holly Black's beautiful trickster elves, Sarah J. Maas' sex appeal and brave heroines and Cassandra Clare diversity, social commentary and awesome character arcs.

This was also the first book I've knowingly read that is written by a Canadian and set in Canada *hi Canada*

Most of my reserves when it came to this story came from my dislike for the cover, that despite beautiful, made me fear this was gonna be a barely-there plotline filled with hypersexualized women and unbearable men. Although I'm still not a fan of that illustration as the cover, those fears were all proved unfounded. That is exactly the way Nausicaa is described and the illustration is not only faithful to the way Nausicaa looks but the way she wants to be seen as well.

This was a beautifully executed book, even more, when you consider it was Ashley Shuttleworth's debut novel and I believe, a story that only they, as a queer person themselves, could have told with so much love and awareness. Every relationship and character was so carefully written, the romantic entanglements the most delightful kind of slow burns...you read this book and are filled with happiness and delight.

ADAHS also won my admiration by starting with a warning and a list of "Trigger Warnings" that will certainly be familiar to those of us that read fanfiction and that I hope becomes more common. There are a lot of difficult themes in this book and I loved that the author worried about their readers' wellbeing and consent to be made part of such a conversation.

Characters

Nausicaa

Nausicaa had the character arc that Sarah J. Maas failed to give Nesta and Cassian in "A Court of Silver Flames". She is someone extremely powerful and in a lot of pain but the author never makes her feel guilty for being herself and most importantly, gives her the chance to tell the reader about her banishment and life in her own words, not through the eyes of people that hate her. How she chooses to deal with her new life, both the healthy and not parts are her concern alone.

As the story progresses she shows herself to be fearless and strong, as comfortable with a cutting remark as with her blades and open to change and a lesbian dream and every way.

Arlo

Arlo is the product of a mixed marriage and this book starts with half of her heritage trying to banish her. Through Arlo, we learn of the fae incredibly racist policies and all the ways in which people that are not High fae are discriminated against both in person and through laws that forbid them from studying, travelling and choosing how to live freely.

Arlo is aware of those injustices but she is young and feels very much powerless, for most of the book. After reading dozens of perfectly beautiful self-sacrificing heroines, Arlo's unwillingness to self-sacrifice her few chances for happiness and a normal, peaceful life felt extremely refreshing and honest. It's high time we get a heroine that takes care of herself first, not because a man asked her to or because she is a villain but because women shouldn't be expected to give up their lives and power all the freaking time.

P.S. artists better draw this girl in all her fat glory because that's what she deserves!!

Vehan

Vehan gained my love before I even realized it and I feel like that is exactly the way his character comes across to everyone in his book.

As the crown prince to one of the courts who is surrounded by sycophants and outright villains, Vehan's kindness and worry for those around him is all the more extraordinary.

His and Arlo's experience overlap a bit in that they are both extremely privileged and somewhat protected but still possessing a very strong sense of right and wrong and personal justice. I spent the entire book waiting for them to meet and wasn't disappointed.

Aurelian

Aurelian reminded me a bit of Alec Lightwood in how is often outshined by and in love with Vehan. His caustic humour and jealousy were another high point in the book and I need him to get everything he wants because he deserves it.

Setting and world-building

My favourite thing about Fantasy, in general, is that addresses real-world problems, and with the author being queer themselves, the problems addressed were often viewed through a slightly different lens. This book is queer in all the right ways.

One of the big themes in this story is mental health and the different ways people deal with it. Other than a few language choices that didn't seem to fit with the rest, I really enjoyed the way such a difficult subject was spoken about. Adding all the conversations about racism, discrimination, class inequality,...this is the beginning of a wonderful saga.

With this being a Fantasy, we were also SERVED looks: there was not only a wonderfully visually appealing world, the characters also looked different both when it came to skin tones both found in human and not but also body diversity. I can only look forward to what Ashley will be doing once she has a bit more experience under their belt.

Conclusions

"A Dark And Hollow Star" is an extremely original take on the YA Fantasy and Fae universe, in which queer stories and identities are the centres instead of a detail in the straight protagonist lives. It was also the most delicious slow burn I have read in a long, long time. Make them kiss!!!! I need that.

Rating: 4/5