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A Sliver of Stardust #1
A Sliver of Stardust
From Marissa Burt, author of Storybound, comes a richly imagined middle grade fantasy full of magic, intrigue, and imaginative twists. A Sliver of Stardust is the perfect next adventure for fans of A Wrinkle in Time and The Emerald Atlas.
Wren Matthews thought she'd outgrown nursery rhymes a long time ago. But that was before she knew that songs of twinkling little stars and four-and-twenty blackbirds were the key to an ancient, hidden magic.
Wren's discovery catapults her into a world of buried secrets, strange dreams, and a mountain fortress under an aurora-filled sky. But just as she starts to master her unique abilities, her new world begins to crumble around her . . . and only she can save it.
Wren Matthews thought she'd outgrown nursery rhymes a long time ago. But that was before she knew that songs of twinkling little stars and four-and-twenty blackbirds were the key to an ancient, hidden magic.
Wren's discovery catapults her into a world of buried secrets, strange dreams, and a mountain fortress under an aurora-filled sky. But just as she starts to master her unique abilities, her new world begins to crumble around her . . . and only she can save it.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 20, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
March 22, 2017
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Sadly, this book didn’t impress me, though I don’t think it’s bad.
What I enjoyed most was the way Burt wove familiar nursery rhymes into the story, using them to hint at things to come in each chapter and making them essential in the way Fiddler’s weave their spells. Fiddlers, those with the ability to use magic, use stardust and rhymes to perform all their spells. Some of the rhymes are twists on ones I remember from my childhood and others are crafted to suit specific needs like healing or creating light. Actually, all the rhymes used could be derived from others that I’m just no familiar with. Either way, I liked this part.
I also enjoyed Wren’s insecurities and emotional response to using magic. She takes everything in stride as she finds out about her new life and skills, but once immersed in the world of the Fiddlers she struggles to learn simple spells that Simon appears to master. Paired with strange dreams and little moments of shock about how her life has changed, this made Wren feel more solid than the other characters. One thing I can’t stand in any book is when someone from a non-magical world finds out they’re actually magical, or that magic exists, just says “oh, ok” and instantly adapts to their new surroundings. Simon fell into this category and I thought Wren was headed that way at first, so I’m glad she had a little more depth than that.
Otherwise, the story didn’t grab me and I didn’t feel immersed in the world of the Fiddlers. Many of the adult characters were paper thin (wokka wokka) and when Wren wasn’t having prophetic dreams most of her time was spent doing chores for Fiddlers or in Fiddler magic classes. Even though I don’t constantly read “magic school” type books, I am tired of that plotline.
Rhymes aside, the plot and characters weren’t strong enough to hold my interest and despite the action-packed ending, I won’t be reading the next book in the series.
Sadly, this book didn’t impress me, though I don’t think it’s bad.
What I enjoyed most was the way Burt wove familiar nursery rhymes into the story, using them to hint at things to come in each chapter and making them essential in the way Fiddler’s weave their spells. Fiddlers, those with the ability to use magic, use stardust and rhymes to perform all their spells. Some of the rhymes are twists on ones I remember from my childhood and others are crafted to suit specific needs like healing or creating light. Actually, all the rhymes used could be derived from others that I’m just no familiar with. Either way, I liked this part.
I also enjoyed Wren’s insecurities and emotional response to using magic. She takes everything in stride as she finds out about her new life and skills, but once immersed in the world of the Fiddlers she struggles to learn simple spells that Simon appears to master. Paired with strange dreams and little moments of shock about how her life has changed, this made Wren feel more solid than the other characters. One thing I can’t stand in any book is when someone from a non-magical world finds out they’re actually magical, or that magic exists, just says “oh, ok” and instantly adapts to their new surroundings. Simon fell into this category and I thought Wren was headed that way at first, so I’m glad she had a little more depth than that.
Otherwise, the story didn’t grab me and I didn’t feel immersed in the world of the Fiddlers. Many of the adult characters were paper thin (wokka wokka) and when Wren wasn’t having prophetic dreams most of her time was spent doing chores for Fiddlers or in Fiddler magic classes. Even though I don’t constantly read “magic school” type books, I am tired of that plotline.
Rhymes aside, the plot and characters weren’t strong enough to hold my interest and despite the action-packed ending, I won’t be reading the next book in the series.
November 13, 2015
I really wanted to love this book. But it was impossible for me to do so. I had so many issues with it. And that just breaks my heart. Because I do adore this author, though I has been years since I read her first book, Storybound. I enjoyed that one. But this one was not for me at all. Sigh. But it do look so gorgeous.
I'm not sure how I will talk about this book. My mind feels empty. But I will try to talk a bit about the plot and characters. I'm giving this one two stars. I didn't like it much at all. But I also didn't hate it, so two stars it is. Because I did think it could have been amazing, as I liked a few small things a little. But most was bad.
My first issue with this book was the writing. I didn't like it at all. Felt like it wasn't done well. And so I ended up feeling nothing for the main girl, Wren. Whom is eleven years old. And super smart, and doesn't go to school. I just. I didn't think she felt very real. And the way she thought wasn't very good either, all the words that were used, yeah. I didn't think it was written well. It could have been lots better. But that might just be my opinion. I had issues with it. Shrugs. But I did like Wren. A little bit. She seemed sweet. Yet I did not get to know her much at all. Don't know what she likes to do or anything. Most of the book is just thinking about things that are happening, have happened. Not much talking with other people. Which bothered me a little.
I'm not sure why I didn't enjoy this book. I usually love middle grade books. And this one looks so pretty. But yeah. I didn't fall for the writing. I didn't connect with the main character. I didn't believe in her friendships at all, because it is never written a scene with them having fun and doing things together, like it is written that they have done, but we did not get to read it. And that bothered me. I didn't believe in the friendships between Wren and Simon and Jack at all. Those could have been awesome.
And then there was the plot. I thought the whole falcon thing could have been interesting. But it isn't focused on much at all, and it wasn't written well. Sniffs. Then there is the magic. The whole point of the book. Oh, except they don't call it magic. It is stardust. And you play it and you sing rhymes to use it. It was, well, silly. I didn't believe in it at all. And that just breaks my heart. I wish it had been done better. But it wasn't. The whole magic thing was boring and not written well at all. Sadly, did not like it.
Something in the beginning bothered me. When Wren learned about stardust, how this Mary woman told her, and then told her parents she was going to spend a whole month with her training falcons. How her parents just let her go that same day, when they didn't know this woman at all. And Wren didn't know her either. And how Wren was just dying to go with her, how she didn't mind leaving her parents for weeks, and just. Ugh. I didn't find it believable at all. Just silly and a bit annoying. Hard to read this book.
I just thought that so much of this book was silly. I do think others might enjoy it, but it was far from other great middle grade books I have read. Which is, yeah, depressing. I wanted to love this one. But it was impossible. The writing was bad. The characters were boring and without any kind of story. The plot wasn't well done. That whole house thing they spent weeks in was so boring to read about. I didn't like it at all. Felt like so many books mixed together, and not in a good way. It could have been good, though.
One thing that I did like was the falcons, as I said. They were a bit exciting. But still not perfect. I did like how Wren had these dreams. But it was obvious in the first one that she was seeing real people while she was sleeping. I mean, they called her a dreamer. Ugh. She never got it. She never told anyone, even after weeks, even after a man told her he now owned her. What the. Yeah. I guess I didn't like Wren much at all. But point is. I could have liked those dream things a lot. If Wren hadn't been so silly.
Wait. I had to edit this in after I published my review. I forgot to mention a few things. I knew the twist that would happen with one of the characters very early on, so that was a bit disappointing too. And I also never liked that character. But I feel like that person will be forgiven in the sequel, ugh, because of sad past. Seriously. So annoying. I also didn't talk about all the rhymes in this book. I. Well. I didn't like them at all. They were all so silly. And so silly to use those to magic, lol. It might just be me, though :)
And that is all I'm going to say about this book. I don't have anything else that I wish to say about it. I wish it has been better. But it wasn't. And I had such a hard time reading this book. I wanted to just stop so many times. But it was a print ARC for review, and I could not do so. So I pushed through. Sort of glad I read it, but could have done without it. Ending was a bit good, curious about next book, but I won't read it. Sadly. Huge thank you to HarperCollins International for this precious print ARC copy. <3
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This review was first posted on my blog, Carina's Books, here: http://carinabooks.blogspot.no/2015/1...
I'm not sure how I will talk about this book. My mind feels empty. But I will try to talk a bit about the plot and characters. I'm giving this one two stars. I didn't like it much at all. But I also didn't hate it, so two stars it is. Because I did think it could have been amazing, as I liked a few small things a little. But most was bad.
My first issue with this book was the writing. I didn't like it at all. Felt like it wasn't done well. And so I ended up feeling nothing for the main girl, Wren. Whom is eleven years old. And super smart, and doesn't go to school. I just. I didn't think she felt very real. And the way she thought wasn't very good either, all the words that were used, yeah. I didn't think it was written well. It could have been lots better. But that might just be my opinion. I had issues with it. Shrugs. But I did like Wren. A little bit. She seemed sweet. Yet I did not get to know her much at all. Don't know what she likes to do or anything. Most of the book is just thinking about things that are happening, have happened. Not much talking with other people. Which bothered me a little.
I'm not sure why I didn't enjoy this book. I usually love middle grade books. And this one looks so pretty. But yeah. I didn't fall for the writing. I didn't connect with the main character. I didn't believe in her friendships at all, because it is never written a scene with them having fun and doing things together, like it is written that they have done, but we did not get to read it. And that bothered me. I didn't believe in the friendships between Wren and Simon and Jack at all. Those could have been awesome.
And then there was the plot. I thought the whole falcon thing could have been interesting. But it isn't focused on much at all, and it wasn't written well. Sniffs. Then there is the magic. The whole point of the book. Oh, except they don't call it magic. It is stardust. And you play it and you sing rhymes to use it. It was, well, silly. I didn't believe in it at all. And that just breaks my heart. I wish it had been done better. But it wasn't. The whole magic thing was boring and not written well at all. Sadly, did not like it.
Something in the beginning bothered me. When Wren learned about stardust, how this Mary woman told her, and then told her parents she was going to spend a whole month with her training falcons. How her parents just let her go that same day, when they didn't know this woman at all. And Wren didn't know her either. And how Wren was just dying to go with her, how she didn't mind leaving her parents for weeks, and just. Ugh. I didn't find it believable at all. Just silly and a bit annoying. Hard to read this book.
I just thought that so much of this book was silly. I do think others might enjoy it, but it was far from other great middle grade books I have read. Which is, yeah, depressing. I wanted to love this one. But it was impossible. The writing was bad. The characters were boring and without any kind of story. The plot wasn't well done. That whole house thing they spent weeks in was so boring to read about. I didn't like it at all. Felt like so many books mixed together, and not in a good way. It could have been good, though.
One thing that I did like was the falcons, as I said. They were a bit exciting. But still not perfect. I did like how Wren had these dreams. But it was obvious in the first one that she was seeing real people while she was sleeping. I mean, they called her a dreamer. Ugh. She never got it. She never told anyone, even after weeks, even after a man told her he now owned her. What the. Yeah. I guess I didn't like Wren much at all. But point is. I could have liked those dream things a lot. If Wren hadn't been so silly.
Wait. I had to edit this in after I published my review. I forgot to mention a few things. I knew the twist that would happen with one of the characters very early on, so that was a bit disappointing too. And I also never liked that character. But I feel like that person will be forgiven in the sequel, ugh, because of sad past. Seriously. So annoying. I also didn't talk about all the rhymes in this book. I. Well. I didn't like them at all. They were all so silly. And so silly to use those to magic, lol. It might just be me, though :)
And that is all I'm going to say about this book. I don't have anything else that I wish to say about it. I wish it has been better. But it wasn't. And I had such a hard time reading this book. I wanted to just stop so many times. But it was a print ARC for review, and I could not do so. So I pushed through. Sort of glad I read it, but could have done without it. Ending was a bit good, curious about next book, but I won't read it. Sadly. Huge thank you to HarperCollins International for this precious print ARC copy. <3
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This review was first posted on my blog, Carina's Books, here: http://carinabooks.blogspot.no/2015/1...
Want to read
October 1, 2015Okay,I HAVE to read this it sounds AWESOME!! I loved Marissa's Storybound no doubt I'll love this one too. Or maybe more,I like the sound of the plot more.And I didn't think that was possible.
January 10, 2016
The Science Olympiad Challenge this year doesn't go as expected for Wren or Simon. For one thing, they tie. For another thing, in the middle of the exam part of the challenge, there's a falcon flying around and a lady with sparkly dust who no one else seems to see. It turns out that lady is someone called a Fiddler, and the fact that Wren and Simon could see her makes them extremely unusual. It means they have the potential to use stardust for magic. The lady soon contacts their families, and under the guise of a falcon program, recruits them as apprentices. Wren and Simon join one more apprentice, Jack, in learning how to use stardust. As they learn about stardust, they also learn more about the Fiddler world, a world that has been divided ages ago by a man named Bogger. And Jack seems to have found an old artifact of Bogger's containing a message from him. Bogger divided the Fiddlers in civil war, so his name isn't exactly popular. And the Council doesn't like the idea that someone may be trying to bring up the old divisions. They are trying to stop the rise of evil, but for some reason they seem to think Wren is top on the list of suspects. Can she figure out what is really going on before it is too late?
I really liked Burt's Storybound books so I was eager to get my hands on this one. I had a hard time getting into this though. It isn't that the premise isn't interesting. I liked how she used nursery rhymes as part of the stardust magic, and characters from them appear in the Fiddler world. I think it was that I never got hooked by any of the characters. And I felt like the world building and plot development were hurt by this being just one volume. This could have definitely have been stretched to a numerous book series, and I think more depth would have helped me care more about what was going on. It wasn't bad, but I felt like it could have been better.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. There's a showdown with bad guys at the end that results in some birds getting injured, and a big fall for two characters, but only the animals are permanently hurt. There's a dream with some sheep losing tails that's a bit bloody, but that is the goriest thing in the book.
I really liked Burt's Storybound books so I was eager to get my hands on this one. I had a hard time getting into this though. It isn't that the premise isn't interesting. I liked how she used nursery rhymes as part of the stardust magic, and characters from them appear in the Fiddler world. I think it was that I never got hooked by any of the characters. And I felt like the world building and plot development were hurt by this being just one volume. This could have definitely have been stretched to a numerous book series, and I think more depth would have helped me care more about what was going on. It wasn't bad, but I felt like it could have been better.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. There's a showdown with bad guys at the end that results in some birds getting injured, and a big fall for two characters, but only the animals are permanently hurt. There's a dream with some sheep losing tails that's a bit bloody, but that is the goriest thing in the book.
September 20, 2016
For a middle grade novel I think this was okay. I would expect a lot more from a book written for adults.
I felt like it moved a little too quickly and some of the situation just weren't realistic. For instance, home-schooled or not, how many parents just let their kids live with strangers for a month after their child meets them once? The Fiddler vs Magicians societies themselves were pretty cool, but you gain information about them in an unearned fashion quite a bit. I guess I just would have liked it to move a little slower overall- the pacing was almost TOO quick.
Unfortunately, I thought the main character's perspective (Wren) was kind of annoying. I know the author was going for strong, independent woman, but she came across as frustrated and angry for very little reason. Simon and Jill were probably the best characters for me. Jack was kind of meh as a minor .
I liked the IDEA of stardust as magic more than the implementation of it. After a while, I felt like screaming, "When you are talking to yourself you can call it magic! Nobody can hear you think!" Linking magic to stars was really cool, mostly because it is true- the entire universe is constructed of the same basic elements. So, that was a little hit and miss, too.
If you like simple fantasy stories though, and you have younger readers in the family, you might consider giving this one a go, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for adults.
I felt like it moved a little too quickly and some of the situation just weren't realistic. For instance, home-schooled or not, how many parents just let their kids live with strangers for a month after their child meets them once? The Fiddler vs Magicians societies themselves were pretty cool, but you gain information about them in an unearned fashion quite a bit. I guess I just would have liked it to move a little slower overall- the pacing was almost TOO quick.
Unfortunately, I thought the main character's perspective (Wren) was kind of annoying. I know the author was going for strong, independent woman, but she came across as frustrated and angry for very little reason. Simon and Jill were probably the best characters for me. Jack was kind of meh as a minor .
I liked the IDEA of stardust as magic more than the implementation of it. After a while, I felt like screaming, "When you are talking to yourself you can call it magic! Nobody can hear you think!" Linking magic to stars was really cool, mostly because it is true- the entire universe is constructed of the same basic elements. So, that was a little hit and miss, too.
If you like simple fantasy stories though, and you have younger readers in the family, you might consider giving this one a go, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for adults.
January 6, 2022
Ahhhh I loved this, and I'm so excited to read book 2! Marissa Burt can really put the same excitement of Shannon Messenger and curiosity of C.S. Lewis into one beautiful middle-grade book.
March 10, 2023
What a super fun middle grade fantasy adventure!
***SPOILER FREE REVIEW***
Wren is an overachieving, perfectionist type youth who is striving to compete with her nemesis, Simon, for top student, when all of a sudden, she's trust into a world of magic! She and Simon find themselves apprentices to a group of magic wielding "Fiddlers" and get way more than they bargain for...especially when they find out an evil Fiddler, banned from Earth long before, is attempting to find a way to return...and that time might be closer than everyone thinks!
This was such a fast paced, adventurous and yet, slightly dark and ominous, story! It was full of wonderful characters, a few incredible magical battles, and lots of mystery!
One of the more unique features that I truly enjoyed is that the magical system revolves around the use of nursery rhymes and stardust. And each chapter begins with a nursery rhyme as well (I was very fond of that)!
I do want to mention a Trigger Warning for violence and animal cruelty.
This book has the following tropes and other elements:
- Chosen One
- Betrayal, Secrets
- Magical School
- Secret Society
- Found Family
- Mystery
- Animal Companions (falcons)
If you enjoy a fast paced, adventurous middle grade fantasy with a darker tone, this is definitely a fun first novel in a series!
***SPOILER FREE REVIEW***
Wren is an overachieving, perfectionist type youth who is striving to compete with her nemesis, Simon, for top student, when all of a sudden, she's trust into a world of magic! She and Simon find themselves apprentices to a group of magic wielding "Fiddlers" and get way more than they bargain for...especially when they find out an evil Fiddler, banned from Earth long before, is attempting to find a way to return...and that time might be closer than everyone thinks!
This was such a fast paced, adventurous and yet, slightly dark and ominous, story! It was full of wonderful characters, a few incredible magical battles, and lots of mystery!
One of the more unique features that I truly enjoyed is that the magical system revolves around the use of nursery rhymes and stardust. And each chapter begins with a nursery rhyme as well (I was very fond of that)!
I do want to mention a Trigger Warning for violence and animal cruelty.
This book has the following tropes and other elements:
- Chosen One
- Betrayal, Secrets
- Magical School
- Secret Society
- Found Family
- Mystery
- Animal Companions (falcons)
If you enjoy a fast paced, adventurous middle grade fantasy with a darker tone, this is definitely a fun first novel in a series!
April 18, 2019
A fantastic fantasy with witty, intelligent characters.
Secret societies, conflict, magic and falcons. So many wonderful ideas come together beautifully in this novel, I can't wait to read the sequel.
Secret societies, conflict, magic and falcons. So many wonderful ideas come together beautifully in this novel, I can't wait to read the sequel.
Read
November 27, 2022DnF 11.26.22
This is a great middle grade and I think if I had read it in elementary school, it would have been a favorite of mine! I'm a big mood reader and this book did not hold my interest.
This is a great middle grade and I think if I had read it in elementary school, it would have been a favorite of mine! I'm a big mood reader and this book did not hold my interest.
March 17, 2016
A Sliver of Stardust (#1) by Marissa Burt.
For one; I can't begin to tell you how much I LOVED that it was about homeschoolers, and unschoolers for a matter of fact! Being an unschooler myself through elementary and middle school, I loved and approved of how she portrayed them as little geniuses. Most people like to do the opposite.
I have read other books by Marissa Burt, and I have to say that this one was her best so far. It was funny, cute, and just a real pleasure to read. The world had all it's own fun little quirks, and I couldn't put it down. I love what she combined into it.
It was certainly interesting reading this book. In many ways I guess it was expecting it to be like her others, and in some ways it was, but in so many others it wasn't. It was a completely original story. The plot was epic, so many twists and turns and yet it all fit perfectly together. And I loved all the characters, especially Wren and Simon; they were both so original (the other characters too). As for the setting; I wish I could step into it. I wish I could be a Fiddler.
As for stuff I didn't care for; there isn't much. It was a little fast starting in the beginning, and I would have liked a little more on the ending, but that's it, and the ending was still great.
I loved this book. In one word, it was completely Epic. And I can barely wait for the next one (it's actually killing me a little). I really hope you read it, and enjoy it as much as I did. This is definitely a book for a homeschooler, and even more so for an unschooling homschooler.
On a scale from 1 to 10: I give it a 9.5.
Enjoy!
For one; I can't begin to tell you how much I LOVED that it was about homeschoolers, and unschoolers for a matter of fact! Being an unschooler myself through elementary and middle school, I loved and approved of how she portrayed them as little geniuses. Most people like to do the opposite.
I have read other books by Marissa Burt, and I have to say that this one was her best so far. It was funny, cute, and just a real pleasure to read. The world had all it's own fun little quirks, and I couldn't put it down. I love what she combined into it.
It was certainly interesting reading this book. In many ways I guess it was expecting it to be like her others, and in some ways it was, but in so many others it wasn't. It was a completely original story. The plot was epic, so many twists and turns and yet it all fit perfectly together. And I loved all the characters, especially Wren and Simon; they were both so original (the other characters too). As for the setting; I wish I could step into it. I wish I could be a Fiddler.
As for stuff I didn't care for; there isn't much. It was a little fast starting in the beginning, and I would have liked a little more on the ending, but that's it, and the ending was still great.
I loved this book. In one word, it was completely Epic. And I can barely wait for the next one (it's actually killing me a little). I really hope you read it, and enjoy it as much as I did. This is definitely a book for a homeschooler, and even more so for an unschooling homschooler.
On a scale from 1 to 10: I give it a 9.5.
Enjoy!
October 13, 2015
This middle grade book has everything a wonderful story should have: a secret society hidden in plain sight, magic that can be taught to willing young apprentices, confrontations with evil and mysteries galore. It is the first in a promised series with an 11 year old girl as the protagonist and her erstwhile male academic rival as her sidekick. My only lament is that it felt as though the author put too many side characters and activities into the story and skimped on main character development and relationships. And the story is filled with action, no question about it. But we don't know much more about the main characters at the end of the book then when we began; and that is a shame. The author is incredibly talented and creative. I received my copy from the publisher through edelweiss.
Read
May 5, 2015This is such an imaginative, adventure-filled story! Wren is a likable main character, and I love the way Marissa Burt draws inspiration from Mother Goose tales. Stardust, weather changing magic, enormous falcons that people can ride like flying horses, and a mysterious villain who can get in contact with people through their dreams? What's not to like? Middle grade fantasy readers will really enjoy this.
May 19, 2016
This was an interesting story. I like how the author used nursery rhymes for magic spells. I've read a retelling of Mother Goose before, and I enjoyed this one. I liked Simon and Jill the best, and I hope there will be more of Jill's story in the next book.
January 9, 2025
Summary: Wren Matthews discovers that magic is real, and that not only can she perform magic (and that not everyone can) but that her magical gifts are quite unusual.
I am a fan of good young adult or middle grade fantasy, but I do not pick up new authors randomly very often. I found Marissa Burt on twitter and after following her for several months and being aware of her work on a book about Christian parenting, I notice her comment about her earlier books. I put them on my kindle watch list and then picked up A Sliver of Stardust when it was on sale for audible. And then the kindle edition about a month later when it was also on sale.
I decided that I needed a bit of light fiction at the end of Christmas break and started to read A Sliver of Stardust. Within less than 24 hours, I had finished the book, alternating between reading on kindle and listening to the audiobook. I immediately purchased the second book in the series and a few days later starting reading it as well.
One of the complaints about middle grade and young adult fantasy is that it follows some traditional themes. The main protagonist is often a bit isolated. They often have a history of "clumsiness" or things happening which they can't quite explain. They are "chosen" and welcomed into a world of magic that those around them (often their parents) cannot see or participate in for one reason or another. There is often a mentor or teacher who instructs the in the magical arts. And there is often an evil person who wants power, or wants to use the power they have, for wrong purposes.
These themes (or tropes) are common because there is a developmental reality about the junior high/high school years where children want to be part of something bigger. They often are not involved in overt imaginative play any longer, but books can still play a role in imagining themselves in different situations that serves a similar purpose to the imaginative play of younger children. The transition from child to adult also involves doing things on their own apart from adult supervision to gain confidence in their own skills and decision making and independence. The tropes are common because they are important and part of what kids look for as their are reading.
Part of what I have appreciated with KB Hoyle's writing and the development of the publishing house that she helped to found is that they are conscious of that narrow line between playing with traditional themes and writing becoming too rote or boring. Tropes are tropes for a reason, but as a reader I do want to be surprised.
Wren Matthews is a gifted young adult. She loves science and being smart and sometimes the competition with others she enjoys. At a science competition she is distracted by a woman in strange clothes and what appears to be her falcon. But no one else seems to be able to see the woman. When Wren gets a note from the woman, she eventually discovers that magic is real, and that she (and the annoying Simon) have been invited to learn about magic.
That starts a novel that does involve many traditional middle grade fantasy themes, while still giving a new twist on many of them. The magic involves rhymes, what the rest of the world sees simply as nursery rhymes, but which in the right context and with magical stardust, allow some people to perform magic. There is good and evil and things are not necessarily what they seem.
I do not particularly try to figure out what is going on as I read. But it was pretty clear to me where the traitor was that plays an important role toward the end of the book. Because I am about 1/3 of the way into the second book as I am writing this, I know more than what is just in this first book, but without any spoilers, friendship, character, honesty and perseverance, are all part of what is required to move forward. There is struggle and separation. People are misunderstood. But that is part of life.
I really did enjoy this book. I tend toward pretty heavy fiction or non-fiction and when I get stuck or burned out, middle grade and young adult fantasy is almost always what gets me out of my rut. Marissa Burt has four books and I am sure I will read all four this year.
I originally posted this on my blog at https://bookwi.se/a-sliver-of-stardust/
I am a fan of good young adult or middle grade fantasy, but I do not pick up new authors randomly very often. I found Marissa Burt on twitter and after following her for several months and being aware of her work on a book about Christian parenting, I notice her comment about her earlier books. I put them on my kindle watch list and then picked up A Sliver of Stardust when it was on sale for audible. And then the kindle edition about a month later when it was also on sale.
I decided that I needed a bit of light fiction at the end of Christmas break and started to read A Sliver of Stardust. Within less than 24 hours, I had finished the book, alternating between reading on kindle and listening to the audiobook. I immediately purchased the second book in the series and a few days later starting reading it as well.
One of the complaints about middle grade and young adult fantasy is that it follows some traditional themes. The main protagonist is often a bit isolated. They often have a history of "clumsiness" or things happening which they can't quite explain. They are "chosen" and welcomed into a world of magic that those around them (often their parents) cannot see or participate in for one reason or another. There is often a mentor or teacher who instructs the in the magical arts. And there is often an evil person who wants power, or wants to use the power they have, for wrong purposes.
These themes (or tropes) are common because there is a developmental reality about the junior high/high school years where children want to be part of something bigger. They often are not involved in overt imaginative play any longer, but books can still play a role in imagining themselves in different situations that serves a similar purpose to the imaginative play of younger children. The transition from child to adult also involves doing things on their own apart from adult supervision to gain confidence in their own skills and decision making and independence. The tropes are common because they are important and part of what kids look for as their are reading.
Part of what I have appreciated with KB Hoyle's writing and the development of the publishing house that she helped to found is that they are conscious of that narrow line between playing with traditional themes and writing becoming too rote or boring. Tropes are tropes for a reason, but as a reader I do want to be surprised.
Wren Matthews is a gifted young adult. She loves science and being smart and sometimes the competition with others she enjoys. At a science competition she is distracted by a woman in strange clothes and what appears to be her falcon. But no one else seems to be able to see the woman. When Wren gets a note from the woman, she eventually discovers that magic is real, and that she (and the annoying Simon) have been invited to learn about magic.
That starts a novel that does involve many traditional middle grade fantasy themes, while still giving a new twist on many of them. The magic involves rhymes, what the rest of the world sees simply as nursery rhymes, but which in the right context and with magical stardust, allow some people to perform magic. There is good and evil and things are not necessarily what they seem.
I do not particularly try to figure out what is going on as I read. But it was pretty clear to me where the traitor was that plays an important role toward the end of the book. Because I am about 1/3 of the way into the second book as I am writing this, I know more than what is just in this first book, but without any spoilers, friendship, character, honesty and perseverance, are all part of what is required to move forward. There is struggle and separation. People are misunderstood. But that is part of life.
I really did enjoy this book. I tend toward pretty heavy fiction or non-fiction and when I get stuck or burned out, middle grade and young adult fantasy is almost always what gets me out of my rut. Marissa Burt has four books and I am sure I will read all four this year.
I originally posted this on my blog at https://bookwi.se/a-sliver-of-stardust/
December 21, 2023
4.5 stars ⭐
A Silver of Stardust by Marissa Burt was a magical read, and I can only imagine the amount of time and effort the must've gone into writing this.
Wren has won the Science Olympiad four times, until Simon came along. If it wasn't for Simon, Wren would've won the Olympiad a fifth year. To her surprise, she finds herself tied with Simon. It puzzles her even more when she learns that Simon had seen the woman too- the woman with the bright dust who vanished into thin air.
This is where their story begins- one filled with magic and adventure.
I'm surprised this isn't part of a series, considering that it ended with a kind-of cliffhanger. This is a Harry Potter-esque book anyone is sure to enjoy.
I personally hated Simon at the beginning, but towards the middle of the book, I hated both Jack /and/ Simon. However, by the end, Simon softened and I guess I should've hated Jack for what he did, but Wren wasn't mad at him so neither am I.
If you haven't read this book, you definitely have to- it's one of the BEST!!
418
A Silver of Stardust by Marissa Burt was a magical read, and I can only imagine the amount of time and effort the must've gone into writing this.
Wren has won the Science Olympiad four times, until Simon came along. If it wasn't for Simon, Wren would've won the Olympiad a fifth year. To her surprise, she finds herself tied with Simon. It puzzles her even more when she learns that Simon had seen the woman too- the woman with the bright dust who vanished into thin air.
This is where their story begins- one filled with magic and adventure.
I'm surprised this isn't part of a series, considering that it ended with a kind-of cliffhanger. This is a Harry Potter-esque book anyone is sure to enjoy.
I personally hated Simon at the beginning, but towards the middle of the book, I hated both Jack /and/ Simon. However, by the end, Simon softened and I guess I should've hated Jack for what he did, but Wren wasn't mad at him so neither am I.
If you haven't read this book, you definitely have to- it's one of the BEST!!
418
January 14, 2018
Wren and her (not friend) Simon have just been discovered in the wild by a Fiddler! Now they must navigate the Crooked House, learn magic, and unravel the mystery of Boggin and the Civil War that erupted between Magicians and Alchemists many years ago. Wren just so happens to be suspect number one when a remnant of Boggin's research appears leading the Fiddler's to realize that Boggin is really alive after all!
This book is really angling for a sequel (which it got). The magic system is intriguing, but not explained as much. I sort of rolled my eyes when "stardust" became the medium. By the end of the book it seems as if stardust can do anything, though I appreciate that Wren thinks outside the box quite a bit. I like Wren as a character, but everyone else fell flat. Not a terrible read. I know some kids at my library who would very much enjoy these.
However, it wasn't for me. 3/5 stars
This book is really angling for a sequel (which it got). The magic system is intriguing, but not explained as much. I sort of rolled my eyes when "stardust" became the medium. By the end of the book it seems as if stardust can do anything, though I appreciate that Wren thinks outside the box quite a bit. I like Wren as a character, but everyone else fell flat. Not a terrible read. I know some kids at my library who would very much enjoy these.
However, it wasn't for me. 3/5 stars
July 10, 2018
This is an enjoyable read. I believe it is geared toward the 9 to 12 year old group. The main characters are 13, and there is no objectionable content in the novel (in my opinion at least).
The main character is Wren, and she is a very smart, homeschooled ("unschooled") girl who discovers that she can do magic with stardust. The stardust magic is unlocked through nursery rhymes. Unfortunately someone is not what he or she seems, and there is trouble brewing between the Alchemists and Magicians.
I guessed who the bad guy was much sooner than the main character did, but that did not hinder my enjoyment of this tale.
The main character is Wren, and she is a very smart, homeschooled ("unschooled") girl who discovers that she can do magic with stardust. The stardust magic is unlocked through nursery rhymes. Unfortunately someone is not what he or she seems, and there is trouble brewing between the Alchemists and Magicians.
I guessed who the bad guy was much sooner than the main character did, but that did not hinder my enjoyment of this tale.
April 3, 2025
After some heavy and frustrating adult books, I needed something simpler. Something that was easy to read with no complicated plot. That's not what I got. While the writing is simple and easy to grasp, there are twists, turns, betrayals, and emotional damage I wasn't expecting. I adore Wren ❤️ she's so smart yet so insecure. She's competitive yet still so unsure of her place. She's young with an older soul. Jack and Simon are also amazing. And I hate what happened with Jack. I love the loyalty and love and faith that was shown by Wren. This book left off on a cliffhanger yet I'm satisfied with the ending as well. Not what I expected from the book, but it was what I needed.
November 2, 2018
Sliver of Stardust is a wonderful book. It's full of suspense and magic and the unthinkable, almost seeming like it was made for me. Marissa Burt used unusual and fun details to give every chapter flare. Best of all, the main character is a confident girl who strives to do good. I recommend reading this book because it fits into many categories. It has magic and mystery, as well as suspense that makes you never want to put the book down. Overall, this is an amazing book and I would read it again in a heartbeat.
January 27, 2020
it was a bit confusing at times, and the whole "last battle" type thing was cool but rather uneventful.
the book's like if you squished land of stories with peter and the starcatchers and threw in some space travel and magicians. not bad, overall. one thing I have to say, is, they have really bad parents. what parent lets their kid just go away to a falconry school, with no prior notice, with a lady they've never met? okay, yeah she was using the stardust, but after it wore off? i thought that was a little strange.
the book's like if you squished land of stories with peter and the starcatchers and threw in some space travel and magicians. not bad, overall. one thing I have to say, is, they have really bad parents. what parent lets their kid just go away to a falconry school, with no prior notice, with a lady they've never met? okay, yeah she was using the stardust, but after it wore off? i thought that was a little strange.
April 23, 2020
Maybe a 3 star. It took me a month to read. My love for the story started to decline. I picked this up because I happen to find the second book of this series for sale to which I didn’t realize it was a series. I wanted so much of a magical adventure. I loved the aspect of hidden magic including nursery rhymes! I felt this adventure fell a little flat. I wanted more fun & well adventure. I remember the story but forget exact details on why it didn’t capture me. As of right now not super excited to pick up the second book but will continue when ready.
November 12, 2020
This was a decent book, ideally suited for junior high readers and/or listeners (although I enjoyed it, myself, reading it aloud to my children). Reminiscent of the Keepers of the Lost Cities series by Shannon Messenger, and perhaps also the various Margaret Peterson Haddix books. Not profound literature, to be sure, but interesting, fresh, and fairly well crafted. It's engaging enough, and the story compelling enoug, that it doesn't geting boring or tedious. We're halfway through the sequel now, and we're enjoying that, also. For fans of fantasy fiction for junior high and middle schoolers.
December 3, 2018
My favourite part was when Wren managed to stop Jack from opening the gate and letting Boggen come and destroy Earth. My least favourite part was when it ended uup that Jack was the one working for Boggen. I kept thinking that it was either Elsa or Jill. I liked that Wren eventually amnaged to ride her falcon like the others, but why didn't any of them name their falcons? That would have made things easier.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 9, 2017
A not too bad story, so long as you don't engage your brain as there are some flaws in the story that you could drive a truck through. I got really annoyed at the main character who was terrified of birds but didn't tell her mentors so her training was not tailored to her needs. This, and other things like that, took away my enjoyment of what was a very different story.
did-not-finish
November 22, 201822/11/18: Can't motivate myself to finish this one and it's due back at the library. Time's up, dear good-looking cover.
Reason: My update from 29/10/18: "Four chapters in and the main character has said maybe 2–4 sentences and displayed no sign of a goal, a personality, or the ability to think for herself and take action. Not looking promising."
Reason: My update from 29/10/18: "Four chapters in and the main character has said maybe 2–4 sentences and displayed no sign of a goal, a personality, or the ability to think for herself and take action. Not looking promising."
December 23, 2024
The idea looked deceptively promising at first, but the promise was not kept. Characters and locations were set up, but then essentially thrown away. It was tedious, but we kept persevering, hoping it would eventually redeem itself. Alas. Definitely not worth trying the sequel, despite the lack of an actual ending in this one.
Recommendation: reread Storybound instead of reading this one.
Recommendation: reread Storybound instead of reading this one.
June 3, 2021
I absolutely loved this book! At first I suspected I wasn’t gonna like it, but then the more I read, the more invested I got! It was super intense, incredibly breathtaking writing, and the plot twists and villain scenes broke my heart the exact way good writing should!!!!
April 5, 2024
This book sounded amazing in theory. Magic made from stardust. Magical flying birds. Secrets. Danger. Exciting magical abilities. Wren and her enemy forced together to save the world.
Between the pretty cover and the exciting plot, I was hooked.
Unfortunately, the actual story didn't live up to my expectations.
Wren and Simon were thrust into a new world of Fiddlers and magic, and old conflicts. I found it too abrupt to be believable.
Already the next day they were acting as if they’d been there forever. As if they understood all the intricacies of the world and had been navigating these issues their entire lives. Which didn’t feel remotely possible.
And, the entire book felt underdeveloped because of this. This also meant that I never fully got a chance to understand this exciting world and how it worked.
Wren and Simon could’ve used more time to gain all their knowledge. They also could’ve used some longer to explore the world of the Fiddlers before deciding to save it.
The entire time they were racing from one urgent mission to the next. They never fully understood what it was they were doing. Or what they were trying to save. Or whether they were the best people to save the world.
Which brings me to another issue. The secrets. The book was full of pointless secrets.
First, Wren wasn’t allowed to share the world of the Fiddlers with her parents. Instead, she deceived them, and went to apprentice with Mary, a woman she’d just met who claimed to do magic. Which, honestly, was an extremely dangerous decision.
Next, she lost trust in all adults in this new world. Including, for some reason, Mary, the same person who introduced her to this world.
So, when she discovered new magical abilities that she couldn’t control and she realized that they might be endangering the entire Fiddlers’ world, she kept them a secret. Because she didn’t know who to trust.
Then she discovered information about the potential destruction of the world. And, instead of deciding to trust an adult and ask for help, she and her friends set out to save the world by themselves. The same world that they’d just discovered yesterday. A world which they knew nothing about, full of secrets and complications.
Wren also spent a good portion of the book having very strong, very sudden, emotional reactions. This was all supposedly part of her talent. But it felt out of character and too abrupt to actually make sense to me. It was the same with Wren’s relationship with her falcon.
And, remember how Wren and Simon were supposedly enemies? This lasted for the course of the first chapter. After they are told of the Fiddlers, they spent the rest of the book acting like the best of friends. No conflicts. No settling of old accounts. As if they’d been friends forever. Which was all fine and nice, but why couldn’t they have just started as friends?
I’d recommend this book if you’re looking for a clean middle-grade fantasy and don’t need lots of depth to the story.
Similar reads:
The Mark of the Dragonfly
Story Thieves
Ordinary Magic
The Frog Princess
Content:
Violence: scary moments of peril
Religion:
Twice it was mentioned that stardust was millions of years old.
Romance: none
Between the pretty cover and the exciting plot, I was hooked.
Unfortunately, the actual story didn't live up to my expectations.
Wren and Simon were thrust into a new world of Fiddlers and magic, and old conflicts. I found it too abrupt to be believable.
Already the next day they were acting as if they’d been there forever. As if they understood all the intricacies of the world and had been navigating these issues their entire lives. Which didn’t feel remotely possible.
And, the entire book felt underdeveloped because of this. This also meant that I never fully got a chance to understand this exciting world and how it worked.
Wren and Simon could’ve used more time to gain all their knowledge. They also could’ve used some longer to explore the world of the Fiddlers before deciding to save it.
The entire time they were racing from one urgent mission to the next. They never fully understood what it was they were doing. Or what they were trying to save. Or whether they were the best people to save the world.
Which brings me to another issue. The secrets. The book was full of pointless secrets.
First, Wren wasn’t allowed to share the world of the Fiddlers with her parents. Instead, she deceived them, and went to apprentice with Mary, a woman she’d just met who claimed to do magic. Which, honestly, was an extremely dangerous decision.
Next, she lost trust in all adults in this new world. Including, for some reason, Mary, the same person who introduced her to this world.
So, when she discovered new magical abilities that she couldn’t control and she realized that they might be endangering the entire Fiddlers’ world, she kept them a secret. Because she didn’t know who to trust.
Then she discovered information about the potential destruction of the world. And, instead of deciding to trust an adult and ask for help, she and her friends set out to save the world by themselves. The same world that they’d just discovered yesterday. A world which they knew nothing about, full of secrets and complications.
Wren also spent a good portion of the book having very strong, very sudden, emotional reactions. This was all supposedly part of her talent. But it felt out of character and too abrupt to actually make sense to me. It was the same with Wren’s relationship with her falcon.
And, remember how Wren and Simon were supposedly enemies? This lasted for the course of the first chapter. After they are told of the Fiddlers, they spent the rest of the book acting like the best of friends. No conflicts. No settling of old accounts. As if they’d been friends forever. Which was all fine and nice, but why couldn’t they have just started as friends?
I’d recommend this book if you’re looking for a clean middle-grade fantasy and don’t need lots of depth to the story.
Similar reads:
The Mark of the Dragonfly
Story Thieves
Ordinary Magic
The Frog Princess
Content:
Violence: scary moments of peril
Religion:
Twice it was mentioned that stardust was millions of years old.
Romance: none
April 20, 2025
I absolutely loved this book. It was so good and I love really enjoyed how old nursery rhymes tie into the story. The story also shows how homeschoolers can be a part of something that is cool and not weird.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2017
lots of action, lots of magic, lots of fun!
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