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A Diamond Bright and Broken
Sixteen-year-old Cadence was born with the ability to cry tears of diamonds–a secret talent her parents have abused to climb the royal ranks thanks to the infinite source of wealth. At their command, she cries diamonds to pay for the pricey treatments for her sister’s neuromuscular disorder. Regardless of the pain, she’ll do anything for her sister, who weakens by the day.
When the prince heckles Cadence at the King's Summer Solstice Ball about her sister’s disability while dancing in the ballroom, she's left on the verge of tears, threatening to expose her power. She is saved by a mysteriously charming girl who sweeps in to take the next dance—and the single diamond Cadence cried. The stranger reveals the Magi Queen sent her to tell Cadence that she's a mage, and that her power is a curse.
Yearning to discover the secrets behind her powers, Cadence sets off for the City of Magi. To claim the life she wants, Cadence must embrace her power—before she loses the bright spots in her otherwise sad existence. After all, even diamonds can shatter.
When the prince heckles Cadence at the King's Summer Solstice Ball about her sister’s disability while dancing in the ballroom, she's left on the verge of tears, threatening to expose her power. She is saved by a mysteriously charming girl who sweeps in to take the next dance—and the single diamond Cadence cried. The stranger reveals the Magi Queen sent her to tell Cadence that she's a mage, and that her power is a curse.
Yearning to discover the secrets behind her powers, Cadence sets off for the City of Magi. To claim the life she wants, Cadence must embrace her power—before she loses the bright spots in her otherwise sad existence. After all, even diamonds can shatter.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 5, 2024
10 people are currently reading
352 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
September 14, 2024
I've been following Holly Davis on social media for many years after discovering her author tube channel where she was talking about her journey to be a published author and give out tips. I'm so happy that her debut, A Diamond Bright and Broken exists, and I really enjoyed this epic fantasy with vibes from Disney's Tangled, but with it's own flavor, with fleshed out characters and an intriguing world.
Candace Alero has the ability to cry diamond tears almost on command. Which has led to her parents exploiting her for their own purposes, even though all Candace wants is her sister, Allegra, to be in good health (which requires lots of money) and to be free to live their own lives. However, a royal ball changes everything for her.
Candace was a great protagonist, determined yet kind, but somewhat sheltered due to her upbringing. I love that she learns and grows through her interactions as she discovers what's out there in the world and trying to gain her freedom and understand more about her ability. I also like how Candace's bisexuality was expressed in the story itself. Allegra was also well done, as her personality and arc wasn't defined by her disability, but still was something she had to navigate. Both siblings were awesome with their sisterly bond and I enjoyed each time they interacted! Raven, being dark and mysterious when she enters, was intriguing and really attached to her by the end of the story.
The rest of the cast were multi dimensional with many facets to their characters, and play their roles well, even if they were only there for a couple of the chapters. BTW, Candace and Allegra have the worst parents in the world, but they were fleshed out a bit, so they didn't quite come off as one note.
I enjoyed the world, which felt like a medieval transitioning to early industrial era in terms of technology level. We also travel through many places throughout the story, from the countryside to the grandest of cities. I especially love how much character a lot of these places have overall.
Holly's prose was clean and really easy to read. There was plenty of tension throughout and those end of chapter cliffhangers really hooked me into continuing on. Even if you're familiar with Tangled, there's some unique twists that kept me invested and really enjoyed how it ended up. The fast pacing was just perfect!
I'm looking forward to more from her, especially the second half of this series! Highly recommended if you're up for a somewhat familiar story with some twists.
*I received an ARC from Inimitable Books. All opinions are my own.*
Candace Alero has the ability to cry diamond tears almost on command. Which has led to her parents exploiting her for their own purposes, even though all Candace wants is her sister, Allegra, to be in good health (which requires lots of money) and to be free to live their own lives. However, a royal ball changes everything for her.
Candace was a great protagonist, determined yet kind, but somewhat sheltered due to her upbringing. I love that she learns and grows through her interactions as she discovers what's out there in the world and trying to gain her freedom and understand more about her ability. I also like how Candace's bisexuality was expressed in the story itself. Allegra was also well done, as her personality and arc wasn't defined by her disability, but still was something she had to navigate. Both siblings were awesome with their sisterly bond and I enjoyed each time they interacted! Raven, being dark and mysterious when she enters, was intriguing and really attached to her by the end of the story.
The rest of the cast were multi dimensional with many facets to their characters, and play their roles well, even if they were only there for a couple of the chapters. BTW, Candace and Allegra have the worst parents in the world, but they were fleshed out a bit, so they didn't quite come off as one note.
I enjoyed the world, which felt like a medieval transitioning to early industrial era in terms of technology level. We also travel through many places throughout the story, from the countryside to the grandest of cities. I especially love how much character a lot of these places have overall.
Holly's prose was clean and really easy to read. There was plenty of tension throughout and those end of chapter cliffhangers really hooked me into continuing on. Even if you're familiar with Tangled, there's some unique twists that kept me invested and really enjoyed how it ended up. The fast pacing was just perfect!
I'm looking forward to more from her, especially the second half of this series! Highly recommended if you're up for a somewhat familiar story with some twists.
*I received an ARC from Inimitable Books. All opinions are my own.*
April 20, 2025
This was not quite for me. It felt like it might really resonate with a younger audience. the story itself had a lot of twists. It reminded me of playing a video game mostly.
The romance was very quick, and the two mains did not get a lot of screen time or much time to develop their relationship. Also, the way they spoke was a bit odd. Both spoke very similarly using "Girl" way too many times.
There was a part that didn't quite sit right with me. When the main character comes out as bi to the love interest, she responds, "It's okay if you're attracted to the two genders." It was such a weird thing to draw attention to, in my opinion.
You might want to give this a try if you like lighter YAs with lots of twists and turns, or if youre looking for some sapphic books that are appropriate for the younger readers in your life.
The romance was very quick, and the two mains did not get a lot of screen time or much time to develop their relationship. Also, the way they spoke was a bit odd. Both spoke very similarly using "Girl" way too many times.
There was a part that didn't quite sit right with me. When the main character comes out as bi to the love interest, she responds, "It's okay if you're attracted to the two genders." It was such a weird thing to draw attention to, in my opinion.
You might want to give this a try if you like lighter YAs with lots of twists and turns, or if youre looking for some sapphic books that are appropriate for the younger readers in your life.
November 5, 2024
Pros-
The way the book moves from the first chapter to the end.
How close Cadence and Allegra are.
Cons-
It seems that Cadence trusts Raven A little too quickly. Not enough experiences together for the level of trust that Cadence puts into her.
The way Holly weaves in many modern day challenges is amazing. The story revolves around a girl named Cadence and her older sister Allegra.
They’re in the human realm with very controlling greedy parents. Cadence has a special gift and doesn’t know where or how she got it. She can cry real diamonds instead of tears. This makes her a target for many people in this or any other realm. She meets a special girl, Raven, who promises to take her to another realm to meet the queen of the Magi, who will tell her all she needs to know about her gift. Cadence agrees and meets many friends as well as has many trials along the way. I couldn’t stop reading. It is a clean YA fantasy fiction book that is a page turner.
I received this ARC and I am honestly reviewing it. Thank you Holly.
The way the book moves from the first chapter to the end.
How close Cadence and Allegra are.
Cons-
It seems that Cadence trusts Raven A little too quickly. Not enough experiences together for the level of trust that Cadence puts into her.
The way Holly weaves in many modern day challenges is amazing. The story revolves around a girl named Cadence and her older sister Allegra.
They’re in the human realm with very controlling greedy parents. Cadence has a special gift and doesn’t know where or how she got it. She can cry real diamonds instead of tears. This makes her a target for many people in this or any other realm. She meets a special girl, Raven, who promises to take her to another realm to meet the queen of the Magi, who will tell her all she needs to know about her gift. Cadence agrees and meets many friends as well as has many trials along the way. I couldn’t stop reading. It is a clean YA fantasy fiction book that is a page turner.
I received this ARC and I am honestly reviewing it. Thank you Holly.
November 8, 2024
Way to go, Holly! Fantasy genre is right up my alley. I don’t do as much YA anymore so this was nostalgic with what a younger me would be reading and refreshing. Wish we had more content like this when we were younger but, hey, happy to get it now! It was a uniquely enjoyable experience reading this and trying to tie things to what I know about you. Sisterly bond and the PT background really shine through. Thanks for the adventure, keep up the good work!
January 2, 2025
Great writing; fun story, looking forward to the sequel
November 15, 2024
I was provided an ARC of this title for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Cadence literally cries diamond tears, and it’s earned her nothing but a life hidden away from the rest of the world, and crying on command whenever her parents ask to fund much more than only her sisters medication for her neuromuscular disease. So when a beautiful and mysterious stranger swoops in at precisely the right moment and offers her a path to the truth about her “curse”, she leaps at the opportunity for answers and adventure beyond her window.
This story offered a fun, fast paced and unique journey, filled with stellar representation, heaps of family secrets, an epic quest of self discovery and so much more! The ending left me with some questions, and while Cadence’s journey has changed her drastically, I have a feeling thatthe fight has only just begun.
Thank you so much to the author & R&R Book Tours for my digital review copy!
Read if you love:
Disability rep
LGBTQIA rep
Magic
Curse
Mysterious FMC
YA
Masquerade Ball
Adventure
Family secrets
Journey of self discovery
Only one horse
Slow burn
Clever FMC
magical abilities
Misplaced trust & betrayal
Twisty ending
Thank you so much to both the author & R&R Book Tours for my digital review copy!
Cadence literally cries diamond tears, and it’s earned her nothing but a life hidden away from the rest of the world, and crying on command whenever her parents ask to fund much more than only her sisters medication for her neuromuscular disease. So when a beautiful and mysterious stranger swoops in at precisely the right moment and offers her a path to the truth about her “curse”, she leaps at the opportunity for answers and adventure beyond her window.
This story offered a fun, fast paced and unique journey, filled with stellar representation, heaps of family secrets, an epic quest of self discovery and so much more! The ending left me with some questions, and while Cadence’s journey has changed her drastically, I have a feeling thatthe fight has only just begun.
Thank you so much to the author & R&R Book Tours for my digital review copy!
Read if you love:
Disability rep
LGBTQIA rep
Magic
Curse
Mysterious FMC
YA
Masquerade Ball
Adventure
Family secrets
Journey of self discovery
Only one horse
Slow burn
Clever FMC
magical abilities
Misplaced trust & betrayal
Twisty ending
Thank you so much to both the author & R&R Book Tours for my digital review copy!
December 4, 2024
I really enjoyed the characters and world building of this book. What you read in the blurb or in the back of the book is definitely what you're going to get, plus more.
I enjoyed getting to know the characters and getting a good handle of the areas we would be visiting. There were definite twists and turns, and more than once I had to re-read a passage to make sure I knew what I just read to be true.
Well worth the read!
I enjoyed getting to know the characters and getting a good handle of the areas we would be visiting. There were definite twists and turns, and more than once I had to re-read a passage to make sure I knew what I just read to be true.
Well worth the read!
March 19, 2025
A wonderful debut with magic and heart. This story is so unique and heartfelt and I absolutely loved how cadence's magic was utilized throughout the story!
Her magic is like nothing I've ever read before and I absolutely adored the Rapunzel aspect woven throughout the book!
Can't wait to see what book 2 brings!!
Her magic is like nothing I've ever read before and I absolutely adored the Rapunzel aspect woven throughout the book!
Can't wait to see what book 2 brings!!
June 11, 2025
1,5⭐️
This read like a bad Wattpad story. The instalove was REAL, the helpless mc was helpless, and it just felt really clumsily written with too many spelling and grammar mistakes to count.
This read like a bad Wattpad story. The instalove was REAL, the helpless mc was helpless, and it just felt really clumsily written with too many spelling and grammar mistakes to count.
April 20, 2024
Book I beta read in 2020
Merged review:
My debut novel that I can't wait to share with the world! <3 If you're interested in a YA epic fantasy with mages, ride or die sister relationships, disability rep, and sapphic romance in this Tangled retelling with a female Flynn Rider, it's available for preorder so check it out! :)
Merged review:
My debut novel that I can't wait to share with the world! <3 If you're interested in a YA epic fantasy with mages, ride or die sister relationships, disability rep, and sapphic romance in this Tangled retelling with a female Flynn Rider, it's available for preorder so check it out! :)
Read
May 10, 2024Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an ARC for review, still to come.
November 5, 2024
Disclaimers:
1. I received an ARC from the publisher.
2. Because it was an ARC, I won’t deduct points for grammatical, punctuation, or spelling issues, though there was a decent amount I noticed and hope the final copy is a little more polished.
3. I may not be the target audience for this as I don’t read a lot of YA so take that into consideration!
This was a very fun and ambitious premise that combines a Rapunzel retelling, sapphic romance, and the theme of taking back your power. It was a decent debut and I think the author has a lot of good concepts, though not always the best execution.
What I liked:
- the robust diversity and representation! We have a biracial, queer main character, a sapphic romance with a lesbian love interest, disability rep and one that I have never read before in a novel, and other minor characters who added to the pool!
- the sisterly bond! It was very sweet and endearing and I think the strongest aspect of the book. The main characters worries and motivations made sense because the sisters were so close and caring.
- having, essentially, two main villains: someone personal to the main character and someone who can pose a new threat for the MC who has been sheltered her entire life.
What I struggled with (possible spoilers so read with caution):
- Inconsistencies. There were some things I noticed that didn’t match up throughout the book, such as one character having “abnormally purple hair” but the love interest has pink hair and this isn’t described as unique or extraordinary. Sometimes character reactions/actions didn’t make sense either, like when the Magi glare/look at in disdain at the MC for seemingly no reason.
- No religious explanations. There were phrases like “oh my gods” but up until the end there was no actual mention of gods or worship otherwise. How does religion play into this world? What are “devils” in this world? And we learn in the end that the Gods gave humans these powers but we don’t know how or why or even why those specific powers.
- World building. What type of world is it? I never felt grounded in a time period - with the Rapunzel vibes I was expecting more medieval times but then the language and some amenities (home gym, oxygen tanks) were more modern; they traveled by horse but had oxygen tanks? It was just confusing to me and I didn’t know the limit. There’s also a reference to a “Gio Amario painting” and we have no idea who that is or why he is famous in that world and there’s no other mentions of art. I wish the world building was a little more fleshed out.
- Magic system. This might have been the weakest part for me because I really like to know how Magic works. I want all the details. And maybe that’s on me. But we never get to find out how many types of mages are there. Why are *those* powers available? Why are certain magi rare? What makes them rare? How do they “infect” others and give them power? Where does this power come from? Aura uses an “incantation” - is that another type of magic? Why is she using spells and no one else? I had so many questions about the magic and I wondered why the MC didn’t ask anything when she has had these powers her whole life and been trapped because of them.
- Sometimes the dialogue sounded unnatural/cartoony and there were a lot of convenient plot points and people explaining their every action (like the psychic mage stopping to describe his power rather than inferring it).
- Being in Cadence’s head, we know she thinks her parents are evil and use her, but we never really see this on page. Her parents don’t act particularly villainess but yet cadence constantly tells us they are, I wish we saw that more on page to show us that they suck. And then the line about blaming cadence feels completely out of left field. I wanted to SEE why her parents felt that way. Their motivations seemed a little underwhelming. Overall, her parents felt like more caricature mustache twirling villains than fleshed out and complicated ones (loving your daughter but also using her is a really complex story but didn’t land here).
While I pointed out some of my issues, I think the author has a lot of promise and look forward to seeing what she does in the future!
1. I received an ARC from the publisher.
2. Because it was an ARC, I won’t deduct points for grammatical, punctuation, or spelling issues, though there was a decent amount I noticed and hope the final copy is a little more polished.
3. I may not be the target audience for this as I don’t read a lot of YA so take that into consideration!
This was a very fun and ambitious premise that combines a Rapunzel retelling, sapphic romance, and the theme of taking back your power. It was a decent debut and I think the author has a lot of good concepts, though not always the best execution.
What I liked:
- the robust diversity and representation! We have a biracial, queer main character, a sapphic romance with a lesbian love interest, disability rep and one that I have never read before in a novel, and other minor characters who added to the pool!
- the sisterly bond! It was very sweet and endearing and I think the strongest aspect of the book. The main characters worries and motivations made sense because the sisters were so close and caring.
- having, essentially, two main villains: someone personal to the main character and someone who can pose a new threat for the MC who has been sheltered her entire life.
What I struggled with (possible spoilers so read with caution):
- Inconsistencies. There were some things I noticed that didn’t match up throughout the book, such as one character having “abnormally purple hair” but the love interest has pink hair and this isn’t described as unique or extraordinary. Sometimes character reactions/actions didn’t make sense either, like when the Magi glare/look at in disdain at the MC for seemingly no reason.
- No religious explanations. There were phrases like “oh my gods” but up until the end there was no actual mention of gods or worship otherwise. How does religion play into this world? What are “devils” in this world? And we learn in the end that the Gods gave humans these powers but we don’t know how or why or even why those specific powers.
- World building. What type of world is it? I never felt grounded in a time period - with the Rapunzel vibes I was expecting more medieval times but then the language and some amenities (home gym, oxygen tanks) were more modern; they traveled by horse but had oxygen tanks? It was just confusing to me and I didn’t know the limit. There’s also a reference to a “Gio Amario painting” and we have no idea who that is or why he is famous in that world and there’s no other mentions of art. I wish the world building was a little more fleshed out.
- Magic system. This might have been the weakest part for me because I really like to know how Magic works. I want all the details. And maybe that’s on me. But we never get to find out how many types of mages are there. Why are *those* powers available? Why are certain magi rare? What makes them rare? How do they “infect” others and give them power? Where does this power come from? Aura uses an “incantation” - is that another type of magic? Why is she using spells and no one else? I had so many questions about the magic and I wondered why the MC didn’t ask anything when she has had these powers her whole life and been trapped because of them.
- Sometimes the dialogue sounded unnatural/cartoony and there were a lot of convenient plot points and people explaining their every action (like the psychic mage stopping to describe his power rather than inferring it).
- Being in Cadence’s head, we know she thinks her parents are evil and use her, but we never really see this on page. Her parents don’t act particularly villainess but yet cadence constantly tells us they are, I wish we saw that more on page to show us that they suck. And then the line about blaming cadence feels completely out of left field. I wanted to SEE why her parents felt that way. Their motivations seemed a little underwhelming. Overall, her parents felt like more caricature mustache twirling villains than fleshed out and complicated ones (loving your daughter but also using her is a really complex story but didn’t land here).
While I pointed out some of my issues, I think the author has a lot of promise and look forward to seeing what she does in the future!
December 9, 2024
Wrote this on my phone, sorry for any grammatical errors
This book is about a girl named Cadence who can cry tears of diamonds. Her parents keep her locked away and tell her that she cannot tell anyone about her power. Her parents make her cry diamond tears to help her sister, who has an incurable disease. However, they also use her diamonds for their own selfish greed to pay for the riches required for them to move up in the world. When she meets a stunning and mysterious mage who promises to take her to a magical city, she goes to learn more about herself and her powers.
This book was not bad. It used really simple language, which I can say I was relieved by as I have been having trouble with Fantasy in that regard. I really like that the book was not focused on the politics and instead focused on the adventure that the characters went on. The dialogue was not my favorite. There were some extremely cheesy lines. I believe the words “conquer evil” were actually used in a sentence which made me laugh a little. Additionally, the evil characters in this book were written to have many scary qualities, but when the time came for them to be evil, they just… weren’t. Aside from them going from pretending to be sickly sweet too being callous and cruel and saying mean things, their presence wasn’t written to actually be scary. The book mentions things they did in the past and I just couldn’t imagine the people I was reading about to be capable of anything like that. I think this is mainly because the parents and other villains in this book were just poorly written. Another thing that also annoyed me was throughout the course of this book. The main character had almost no plan but seemed to get out of everything unscathed. Yes there were challenges, but the book seemed to move past them very quickly. I really liked the love story. and almost wish they had gotten together sooner in the story. By the time they finally do. Sh*t hit the fan in terms of the plot.
This book is well set up to have a sequel. I don’t think I would read it though. This is mainly because I am happy with the first book and the sequel if there is one seems like it would be more centered around politics and struggles between the kingdoms. this was originally going to be a three star, but I am bias and I bumped it up to a four star because in the acknowledgments it was mentioned that the story is loosely inspired by Rapunzel, and that the love interest was a female Flynn rider. That is my favorite fairytale so this book gets four stars. Would recommend if you want a simple and fun fantasy book.
This book is about a girl named Cadence who can cry tears of diamonds. Her parents keep her locked away and tell her that she cannot tell anyone about her power. Her parents make her cry diamond tears to help her sister, who has an incurable disease. However, they also use her diamonds for their own selfish greed to pay for the riches required for them to move up in the world. When she meets a stunning and mysterious mage who promises to take her to a magical city, she goes to learn more about herself and her powers.
This book was not bad. It used really simple language, which I can say I was relieved by as I have been having trouble with Fantasy in that regard. I really like that the book was not focused on the politics and instead focused on the adventure that the characters went on. The dialogue was not my favorite. There were some extremely cheesy lines. I believe the words “conquer evil” were actually used in a sentence which made me laugh a little. Additionally, the evil characters in this book were written to have many scary qualities, but when the time came for them to be evil, they just… weren’t. Aside from them going from pretending to be sickly sweet too being callous and cruel and saying mean things, their presence wasn’t written to actually be scary. The book mentions things they did in the past and I just couldn’t imagine the people I was reading about to be capable of anything like that. I think this is mainly because the parents and other villains in this book were just poorly written. Another thing that also annoyed me was throughout the course of this book. The main character had almost no plan but seemed to get out of everything unscathed. Yes there were challenges, but the book seemed to move past them very quickly. I really liked the love story. and almost wish they had gotten together sooner in the story. By the time they finally do. Sh*t hit the fan in terms of the plot.
This book is well set up to have a sequel. I don’t think I would read it though. This is mainly because I am happy with the first book and the sequel if there is one seems like it would be more centered around politics and struggles between the kingdoms. this was originally going to be a three star, but I am bias and I bumped it up to a four star because in the acknowledgments it was mentioned that the story is loosely inspired by Rapunzel, and that the love interest was a female Flynn rider. That is my favorite fairytale so this book gets four stars. Would recommend if you want a simple and fun fantasy book.
August 27, 2024
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review* (spoiler-free)
A Diamond Bright and Beautiful is a touching and thoughtful story. Think: The magic of Rapunzel meets Elsa and Anna's sisterhood. First and foremost, I want to congratulate the author on her debut book and fantastic job well done. World building is no easy genre to debut with and everything felt so tangible. So congrats!
The story has plenty of action that is well visualized, especially during the fight scenes. I felt like each chapter kept me on the edge of my seat. Each chapter added something new to the world but at the same time, it didn't feel overwhelming. I felt like I was meeting someone new or meeting a new city and it was still very easy to follow.
A major plus is how she illustrated the true difficulties and struggles of living with a neuromuscular disease and what it feels like to care for someone who does. This book more than highlights the disorder and brings to light inclusivity I have never read before. Down to the medical terminology, procedures and treatments, it was very thorough and well researched. As a healthcare worker, I really appreciated how every detail was accurate and real.
I'm a big fan of how magic was used in this story. Without giving away too much, mage powers were very original. Given the recent rise of the multiverse, the possibilities are endless but the author does a good job of keeping magic refreshing and new.
Overall, this book is an easy read. World building can be overwhelming but the focus here was more so connecting with the characters and I personally had a great time immersing myself. I'm looking forward to the sequel to flesh out a few more arcs. I'm curious how the main character develops and what other powers are out there!
A Diamond Bright and Beautiful is a touching and thoughtful story. Think: The magic of Rapunzel meets Elsa and Anna's sisterhood. First and foremost, I want to congratulate the author on her debut book and fantastic job well done. World building is no easy genre to debut with and everything felt so tangible. So congrats!
The story has plenty of action that is well visualized, especially during the fight scenes. I felt like each chapter kept me on the edge of my seat. Each chapter added something new to the world but at the same time, it didn't feel overwhelming. I felt like I was meeting someone new or meeting a new city and it was still very easy to follow.
A major plus is how she illustrated the true difficulties and struggles of living with a neuromuscular disease and what it feels like to care for someone who does. This book more than highlights the disorder and brings to light inclusivity I have never read before. Down to the medical terminology, procedures and treatments, it was very thorough and well researched. As a healthcare worker, I really appreciated how every detail was accurate and real.
I'm a big fan of how magic was used in this story. Without giving away too much, mage powers were very original. Given the recent rise of the multiverse, the possibilities are endless but the author does a good job of keeping magic refreshing and new.
Overall, this book is an easy read. World building can be overwhelming but the focus here was more so connecting with the characters and I personally had a great time immersing myself. I'm looking forward to the sequel to flesh out a few more arcs. I'm curious how the main character develops and what other powers are out there!
January 13, 2025
4.5 stars...
A Diamond Bright and Broken is a fast-paced story with a unique and thought-provoking premise. I found myself instantly drawn to the endearing and relatable characters, and to the well-imagined and intriguing setting. There was so much amazing representation in this book... the main characters were POC, BIPOC, and LGBTQ, and there was an important character with a disability that is actually explained and realistically portrayed. I really enjoyed how Holly's other profession informed her portrayal of this character. The diversity and realistic portrayals made the characters and world feel so real and relatable. I also really loved that the relationship between the sisters was prioritized over the romance, yet both are clearly important to the protagonist.
With the straightforward style and the gentle tone, I think this book might resonate most with a lower YA audience. I wish the editing had felt more polished to me, but that didn't stop me from enjoying the story and appreciating the creativity and heart that went into writing it. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series and everything else this author writes. Holly Davis has a knack for crafting whimsical, fascinating worlds, and lovable characters you can't help but miss when the story is finished. This is an author with great potential, who's going to go far!
A Diamond Bright and Broken is a fast-paced story with a unique and thought-provoking premise. I found myself instantly drawn to the endearing and relatable characters, and to the well-imagined and intriguing setting. There was so much amazing representation in this book... the main characters were POC, BIPOC, and LGBTQ, and there was an important character with a disability that is actually explained and realistically portrayed. I really enjoyed how Holly's other profession informed her portrayal of this character. The diversity and realistic portrayals made the characters and world feel so real and relatable. I also really loved that the relationship between the sisters was prioritized over the romance, yet both are clearly important to the protagonist.
With the straightforward style and the gentle tone, I think this book might resonate most with a lower YA audience. I wish the editing had felt more polished to me, but that didn't stop me from enjoying the story and appreciating the creativity and heart that went into writing it. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series and everything else this author writes. Holly Davis has a knack for crafting whimsical, fascinating worlds, and lovable characters you can't help but miss when the story is finished. This is an author with great potential, who's going to go far!
July 10, 2025
A glittering debut with emotional weight and magical depth
“A Diamond Bright and Broken” is the kind of book that sneaks up on your heart and then refuses to let go.
Cadence is a character I won’t forget anytime soon. Her power,crying diamonds,sounds beautiful on the surface, but the story shows how pain can be commodified, how love and loyalty can be twisted, and how far someone will go to protect the ones they love. The metaphor behind her ability is powerful, and Holly Davis writes it with surprising emotional maturity.
The worldbuilding is both elegant and easy to fall into, and the inclusion of a sapphic romantic thread felt natural and sweet, offering Cadence a sense of softness amidst all the pressure she’s under. The ballroom scene with the mysterious girl? Absolutely electric.
This book is not just about magic,it’s about control, sacrifice, identity, and healing. And even though it’s a debut, it already shines with the kind of polish and passion that promises a strong author voice to watch.
Highly recommended for fans of YA fantasy that dares to dig deeper and isn’t afraid to show that even diamonds can crack under pressure.
“A Diamond Bright and Broken” is the kind of book that sneaks up on your heart and then refuses to let go.
Cadence is a character I won’t forget anytime soon. Her power,crying diamonds,sounds beautiful on the surface, but the story shows how pain can be commodified, how love and loyalty can be twisted, and how far someone will go to protect the ones they love. The metaphor behind her ability is powerful, and Holly Davis writes it with surprising emotional maturity.
The worldbuilding is both elegant and easy to fall into, and the inclusion of a sapphic romantic thread felt natural and sweet, offering Cadence a sense of softness amidst all the pressure she’s under. The ballroom scene with the mysterious girl? Absolutely electric.
This book is not just about magic,it’s about control, sacrifice, identity, and healing. And even though it’s a debut, it already shines with the kind of polish and passion that promises a strong author voice to watch.
Highly recommended for fans of YA fantasy that dares to dig deeper and isn’t afraid to show that even diamonds can crack under pressure.
October 21, 2025
Okay, first things first… tears of diamonds? Yes, please 😭💎
Cadence has a gift that is literally blindingly beautiful and painful as heck.
Her parents have been exploiting her abilities to climb the royal ladder, and she cries diamonds to pay for her sister’s treatments. Heartbreaking? Absolutely. But also… magical and unique in the best way possible.
Then, at the Summer Solstice Ball, a prince says something horrid, a mysterious girl saves the day, and suddenly Cadence’s life flips upside down.
Enter: magic, mages, and the City of Magi. Her journey to embrace her power and figure out how to live a life beyond endless pain. This is everything I love in YA fantasy: magical, emotional, and deeply human 💖
Cadence is brave, heartbroken, and determined, and her story had me invested in every tear, every diamond, and every choice. It’s a beautiful, bittersweet tale about power, family, and finding your own bright spots even when the world feels broken.
If you love:
- Magical, unique powers
- Heart wrenching family stakes
- YA fantasy with emotional depth
- Sisterly love & self-discovery
…then pick this one up immediately.
Cadence has a gift that is literally blindingly beautiful and painful as heck.
Her parents have been exploiting her abilities to climb the royal ladder, and she cries diamonds to pay for her sister’s treatments. Heartbreaking? Absolutely. But also… magical and unique in the best way possible.
Then, at the Summer Solstice Ball, a prince says something horrid, a mysterious girl saves the day, and suddenly Cadence’s life flips upside down.
Enter: magic, mages, and the City of Magi. Her journey to embrace her power and figure out how to live a life beyond endless pain. This is everything I love in YA fantasy: magical, emotional, and deeply human 💖
Cadence is brave, heartbroken, and determined, and her story had me invested in every tear, every diamond, and every choice. It’s a beautiful, bittersweet tale about power, family, and finding your own bright spots even when the world feels broken.
If you love:
- Magical, unique powers
- Heart wrenching family stakes
- YA fantasy with emotional depth
- Sisterly love & self-discovery
…then pick this one up immediately.
September 27, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️½ – 💎
“A Diamond Bright & Broken” by Holly Davis
A Diamond Bright and Broken is a light, twist-filled YA fantasy that blends magic, royalty and a fresh take on a classic fairytale. With solid bi and disability representation, it offers important themes and a strong emotional core, especially through the central sibling relationship.
The concept is unique and compelling and there’s no shortage of secrets, surprises, and adventurous turns. The main character is easy to root for and the story has a lot of heart, with a focus on personal growth, family struggles and learning to embrace one’s power.
That said, the writing style and tone felt better suited to a younger teen audience. While the plot had potential for deeper emotional resonance, the light approach made it feel like it didn’t fully land for me. Some of the darker themes could’ve used more weight.
Still, this is an enjoyable read for fans of lighter YA fantasy with meaningful representation, a fast pace and a fairytale twist. A solid pick for younger teens or readers just entering the genre.
“A Diamond Bright & Broken” by Holly Davis
A Diamond Bright and Broken is a light, twist-filled YA fantasy that blends magic, royalty and a fresh take on a classic fairytale. With solid bi and disability representation, it offers important themes and a strong emotional core, especially through the central sibling relationship.
The concept is unique and compelling and there’s no shortage of secrets, surprises, and adventurous turns. The main character is easy to root for and the story has a lot of heart, with a focus on personal growth, family struggles and learning to embrace one’s power.
That said, the writing style and tone felt better suited to a younger teen audience. While the plot had potential for deeper emotional resonance, the light approach made it feel like it didn’t fully land for me. Some of the darker themes could’ve used more weight.
Still, this is an enjoyable read for fans of lighter YA fantasy with meaningful representation, a fast pace and a fairytale twist. A solid pick for younger teens or readers just entering the genre.
December 2, 2024
2.5 rounded up. I really liked the premise for this story and I'm always down for wlw romance. The writing is a bit rough though and it feels like a younger YA than it seemed to be advertised as. I was also a bit confused about what sort of time period this was taking place in. I ultimately decided on late 1800s?
Despite that, there was still enough there to keep me reading through to the end. I especially liked the way that the parents were portrayed here. To us readers they are obviously terrible, but they do just enough that a teenager in their care that has never set foot outside might not see how terrible they actually are - especially the one who's not shouldering the brunt of the abuse. It's oddly refreshing(???) to see especially after a different story I read with a daughter who cried diamonds.
Despite that, there was still enough there to keep me reading through to the end. I especially liked the way that the parents were portrayed here. To us readers they are obviously terrible, but they do just enough that a teenager in their care that has never set foot outside might not see how terrible they actually are - especially the one who's not shouldering the brunt of the abuse. It's oddly refreshing(???) to see especially after a different story I read with a daughter who cried diamonds.
April 4, 2025
It’s been a while since I’ve delved into Young Adult fiction and admittedly, I didn’t know this was YA when I started. All that to say, I really enjoyed this story despite some of the language feeling a little juvenile for me at times.
Firstly, I just adored the premise. The description of Cadence’s curse and the way I it contributes to her guilded cage of a life is fascinating and incredibly compelling. I ached with sympathy for her and her predicament. Also, the relationship with her sister? Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. I was fully transported and invested.
Holly has written a really compelling story, but for me the cherries on top were the inclusions. I loved the disability rep. I loved the LGBTQI love interests, and I just thought the whole world was a safe, fun and interesting place to be.
Overall, highly enjoyed this story and will read more from this author!
Firstly, I just adored the premise. The description of Cadence’s curse and the way I it contributes to her guilded cage of a life is fascinating and incredibly compelling. I ached with sympathy for her and her predicament. Also, the relationship with her sister? Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. I was fully transported and invested.
Holly has written a really compelling story, but for me the cherries on top were the inclusions. I loved the disability rep. I loved the LGBTQI love interests, and I just thought the whole world was a safe, fun and interesting place to be.
Overall, highly enjoyed this story and will read more from this author!
December 1, 2025
This has the whimsy that I love about fairytale retellings, featuring a ball and a journey through the lands to learn the truth about the FMC. Also, the love interest has pink hair?! That's my kind of girl! 🤭
I loved all the characters, from the FMC who will do anything to support her sister but also will stand up for herself against their parents, to her sister who does her best to not let her neuromuscular disability take over her life while supporting her sister in getting the life she deserves, and of course to the love interest who has had to grow up a thief but has kept her kindness.
I predicted one of the plot twists, but there were others that had me shocked and I couldn't put my book down in the later half as I needed to know what happens.
Thank you to The Nerd Fam and Inimitable Books for gifting me a copy of this book.
I loved all the characters, from the FMC who will do anything to support her sister but also will stand up for herself against their parents, to her sister who does her best to not let her neuromuscular disability take over her life while supporting her sister in getting the life she deserves, and of course to the love interest who has had to grow up a thief but has kept her kindness.
I predicted one of the plot twists, but there were others that had me shocked and I couldn't put my book down in the later half as I needed to know what happens.
Thank you to The Nerd Fam and Inimitable Books for gifting me a copy of this book.
December 1, 2024
I had to DNF it fairly early on (18%). I just really didn't have a good connection with the writing style. The writing felt overly simplistic and didn’t have the polish I usually expect from published books. The dialogue was cheesy, and the parents were written more like villains than realistic characters, which made me feel less immersed in the story. The dialogue between the main character and her sister felt almost Wattpad-like—modern and casual in a way that didn’t feel authentic to typical sibling interactions.
I like the idea of the book a lot but I just couldn't get into it. I've also never read any other books from this author so it could just be that I don't enjoy this style of writing that many others would.
I like the idea of the book a lot but I just couldn't get into it. I've also never read any other books from this author so it could just be that I don't enjoy this style of writing that many others would.
December 21, 2024
2.75*
The beginning of this started out really strong. I felt the love she has for Al and the difficult position she is in
I felt empathy for everything her parents were putting her through and wanted them to get their comeuppance.
This read like a book 1, however I feel the writing style is a little too juvenile or maybe it's that she was soo sheltered that sge has the inner monologue of a 13 year old with a crush - whochever it was I wasnt vibing with it? But I won't be continuing on.
It is 1st person single POV and it would have been nice to get Ravens POV to better understand how she felt.
The mage fight towards the end felt rushed and lacking depth.
The beginning of this started out really strong. I felt the love she has for Al and the difficult position she is in
I felt empathy for everything her parents were putting her through and wanted them to get their comeuppance.
This read like a book 1, however I feel the writing style is a little too juvenile or maybe it's that she was soo sheltered that sge has the inner monologue of a 13 year old with a crush - whochever it was I wasnt vibing with it? But I won't be continuing on.
It is 1st person single POV and it would have been nice to get Ravens POV to better understand how she felt.
The mage fight towards the end felt rushed and lacking depth.
July 31, 2024
**I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review** (spoiler-free)
This is an adventurous, emotional, exciting story with real, moldable characters. I love love LOVED the dynamic between Raven and Cadence, and the sister relationship between Allegra and Cadence. Holly weaves the perfect picture with her descriptions, and her prose is strong. There is enough mystery and excitement to keep the story's pace throughout the whole book, and enough twists/turns to avoid cliches. Holly is a strong writer and it shows in this beauty of a debut! Now I can't wait to read the sequel!
This is an adventurous, emotional, exciting story with real, moldable characters. I love love LOVED the dynamic between Raven and Cadence, and the sister relationship between Allegra and Cadence. Holly weaves the perfect picture with her descriptions, and her prose is strong. There is enough mystery and excitement to keep the story's pace throughout the whole book, and enough twists/turns to avoid cliches. Holly is a strong writer and it shows in this beauty of a debut! Now I can't wait to read the sequel!
September 10, 2024
What if Ana and Elsa from Frozen went into a Victorian fantasy novel with a female Flynn Rider with curly pink hair?
One of my favorite things about this book is the magic system, particularly the MC's ability. It's not an asset to her in the beginning, but it becomes more useful as the story unfolds and she gains the freedom to use it on her own terms.
I also love a good side character, and the MC's sister, Allegra, is exactly that! Her sense of humor is really fun and uplifting. I'm looking forward to seeing more of her and the rest of the cast in the sequel!
One of my favorite things about this book is the magic system, particularly the MC's ability. It's not an asset to her in the beginning, but it becomes more useful as the story unfolds and she gains the freedom to use it on her own terms.
I also love a good side character, and the MC's sister, Allegra, is exactly that! Her sense of humor is really fun and uplifting. I'm looking forward to seeing more of her and the rest of the cast in the sequel!
December 17, 2024
Rainbow Book Crate Edition
Intriguing world building, characters to despise, a girl whose health is fading, and her younger sister who can cry diamonds instead of tears. Diamonds that pay for her sisters health treatments, but also her parents enough is never enough attitudes.
After 16 years of never being allowed to leave the house, Cadence and her sister are going to be allowed to leave the house. Sadly her parents have ulterior motives in taking them to the kings ball.
A tale of self discovery and emerging from an environment of gas-lighting.
Looking forward to a sequel!
Intriguing world building, characters to despise, a girl whose health is fading, and her younger sister who can cry diamonds instead of tears. Diamonds that pay for her sisters health treatments, but also her parents enough is never enough attitudes.
After 16 years of never being allowed to leave the house, Cadence and her sister are going to be allowed to leave the house. Sadly her parents have ulterior motives in taking them to the kings ball.
A tale of self discovery and emerging from an environment of gas-lighting.
Looking forward to a sequel!
September 28, 2025
Thank you to The Nerd Fam and Inimitable books for the gifted arc! I liked a lot about this book and the characters in it. I wish there’d been a little more depth behind some of them, but the pace was quick and fun!
This will be a brilliant story for a younger audience. I love seeing LGBTQ+ representation in fiction and the premise of this book is so interesting. 💎
This will be a brilliant story for a younger audience. I love seeing LGBTQ+ representation in fiction and the premise of this book is so interesting. 💎
October 15, 2025
I picked up this book because the author is a friend of a friend of a friend or something like that. It was pretty good, though I didn’t know before I started reading that it was meant for the young adult crowd. It feels a bit like an older version of the Wizard of Oz books; I’m sure it would make a good series. I definitely would’ve loved this book when I was 16.
January 4, 2025
3.75 ⭐️ first book of the year and it was a gift from mom on my bday. I loved it- quick, fun, and engaging. at some points the story didn’t make sense cause the events were like useless but other than that it was a nice book… I loved the lgbtq representation 💜
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November 18, 2025Unfortunately i couldnt connect properly with this book because i feel like it was aimed at a younger audience than myself. I think the story had a good premise and i know my younger self would have absolutely loved it!
Thank you to The Nerd Fam and the publisher for my beautiful copy
Thank you to The Nerd Fam and the publisher for my beautiful copy
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