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A review by umairah
A Shifting of Stars by Kathy Kimbray
5.0
~4.5 stars~
I had no idea what to expect going into A Shifting of Stars but I didn't expect to love it as much as I did! Honestly, it's the best book I've read in quite a while.
Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
The protagonist was called Meadow. She was a poor, young woman still battling with grief after her mother died of a harrowing sickness. A sickness she believed could have been cured had the emperor imported the right medicine instead of squandering coin. One day, she is arrested for treason after speaking out about her experience and urging people to boycott the emperor's prized gladiator tournament and this event is the catalyst for the entire novel. It's sad really, that Meadow had to go through so much just because she spoke out about an injustice. Sadly, so many people today in our world pay even heavier prices for the same reason.
A Shifting of Stars has been compared to Red Queen and An Ember in the Ashes but it's less about a rebel uprising to take down a tyrant or evil figure and more about the effects of the tyranny on a girl and the people around her, and what she tries to do about it.
Meadow was brave, headstrong and quick-witted in dangerous situations. However, she was also a bit too trusting- to her detriment. Also, she was incredibly inquisitive and I don't think I've ever seen a character who asks so many questions about everything. I liked Meadow because I felt like I could connect with her and she was very down-to-earth which was good because the whole book was from her perspective. In general, I liked the characters and they were interesting and realistic- I really cared about them and their fates.
There are two reasons I've deducted half a star. Firstly, although the world building was effective, I wished we learnt more about the magic and its origins. Secondly, some of the plot details were slightly unrealistic at times. Nevertheless, these were only minor issues and didn't affect my overall experience very much.
It's not your average YA fantasy but in the best way. It's original and very different to anything I've read before. There is a only a dash of romance but it isn't insta love and it doesn't dominate the storyline. Generally, it was a refreshingly good read that I would recommend to fans of the fantasy genre.
So, condensing this entire review into three words: READ THIS BOOK!!!
Thank you to the author for providing me with a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
I had no idea what to expect going into A Shifting of Stars but I didn't expect to love it as much as I did! Honestly, it's the best book I've read in quite a while.
Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
The protagonist was called Meadow. She was a poor, young woman still battling with grief after her mother died of a harrowing sickness. A sickness she believed could have been cured had the emperor imported the right medicine instead of squandering coin. One day, she is arrested for treason after speaking out about her experience and urging people to boycott the emperor's prized gladiator tournament and this event is the catalyst for the entire novel. It's sad really, that Meadow had to go through so much just because she spoke out about an injustice. Sadly, so many people today in our world pay even heavier prices for the same reason.
A Shifting of Stars has been compared to Red Queen and An Ember in the Ashes but it's less about a rebel uprising to take down a tyrant or evil figure and more about the effects of the tyranny on a girl and the people around her, and what she tries to do about it.
Meadow was brave, headstrong and quick-witted in dangerous situations. However, she was also a bit too trusting- to her detriment. Also, she was incredibly inquisitive and I don't think I've ever seen a character who asks so many questions about everything. I liked Meadow because I felt like I could connect with her and she was very down-to-earth which was good because the whole book was from her perspective. In general, I liked the characters and they were interesting and realistic- I really cared about them and their fates.
There are two reasons I've deducted half a star. Firstly, although the world building was effective, I wished we learnt more about the magic and its origins. Secondly, some of the plot details were slightly unrealistic at times. Nevertheless, these were only minor issues and didn't affect my overall experience very much.
It's not your average YA fantasy but in the best way. It's original and very different to anything I've read before. There is a only a dash of romance but it isn't insta love and it doesn't dominate the storyline. Generally, it was a refreshingly good read that I would recommend to fans of the fantasy genre.
So, condensing this entire review into three words: READ THIS BOOK!!!
Thank you to the author for providing me with a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.