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Until We Shatter #1
Until We Shatter
An action-packed, epic heist fantasy from the author of Mindwalker, perfect for fans of Six of Crows and A Darker Shade of Magic.
No matter where she goes, Cemmy's life is under threat. The Church would see her killed for having any magic. The Council of Shades wants her dead for not having enough.
So when her mother falls ill, Cemmy has no choice but to turn thief. And when she's offered a job that could solve all their problems, it's impossible to resist. The catch? Cemmy will have to work with Chase - beautiful, dangerous, and full of secrets - to steal a powerful relic the Church has hidden within a deadly realm of shadows.
If she succeeds, Cemmy will finally be safe. But if she's caught, she risks igniting a spark that could destroy the city - and everyone inside . . .
No matter where she goes, Cemmy's life is under threat. The Church would see her killed for having any magic. The Council of Shades wants her dead for not having enough.
So when her mother falls ill, Cemmy has no choice but to turn thief. And when she's offered a job that could solve all their problems, it's impossible to resist. The catch? Cemmy will have to work with Chase - beautiful, dangerous, and full of secrets - to steal a powerful relic the Church has hidden within a deadly realm of shadows.
If she succeeds, Cemmy will finally be safe. But if she's caught, she risks igniting a spark that could destroy the city - and everyone inside . . .
319 pages, Hardcover
First published October 17, 2024
94 people are currently reading
7126 people want to read
About the author
Kate Dylan
7 books227 followersKate is a video editor by day, science fiction and fantasy author by night. Her love for creating new worlds is fuelled by a steady diet of coffee, books, and Marvel movies, and when she's not telling stories, you can find her haunting London cafes like an over-caffeinated ghost.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 576 reviews
December 30, 2024
comparing your ya fantasy novel to six of crows is the greatest marketing tactic ever and no one can convince me otherwise
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc <3
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc <3
July 23, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early access to this book!
This was overwhelming for a 300 pages book. I think the prose was the thing that kept me engaged but even then - I had to skim.
The magic system is over complicated. I think this book would strongly benefit with a magic chart because I couldn’t keep up and I saw that a lot of readers had experienced this as well.
I couldn’t get attached to the characters - depth was lacking on that subject.
The plot twists had major plot holes and some plots were weird to the story… they didn’t quite fit in.
I loved the premise for this and was instantly attracted to this book but it unfortunately didn’t work for me.
This was overwhelming for a 300 pages book. I think the prose was the thing that kept me engaged but even then - I had to skim.
The magic system is over complicated. I think this book would strongly benefit with a magic chart because I couldn’t keep up and I saw that a lot of readers had experienced this as well.
I couldn’t get attached to the characters - depth was lacking on that subject.
The plot twists had major plot holes and some plots were weird to the story… they didn’t quite fit in.
I loved the premise for this and was instantly attracted to this book but it unfortunately didn’t work for me.
June 24, 2024
I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Hmm. I did not get along well with this book.
Let's start with a positive. The prose is exactly right. Enough bits and pieces of poetry and beautiful words to keep a language enthusiast going, but at the same time perfectly simple and pretty enough to make a good fantasy book. Kate Dylan is a very good, talented writer, and I really liked the way she structured her sentences and made the words flow. It's why I've given this book 2 stars instead of 1. I really do think that her writing is nice.
It's just unfortunate that the plot has more holes in it than the car door of Bonnie and Clyde does.
During the first third of the book, the reader is assaulted with a worldbuilding dump that, in the end, does not build a world, but is only there to describe the overcomplicated magic system. There is so much to remember of the magic system that at some point I took screenshots of my ebook reader to reference back to, but goodness gracious - it was very much for a 300 page book. And it did not make any fucking sense. My head was swimming with Hues and Shades and trying to tell apart why some of the Hues have metal names and some of them are named after minerals and then there's subtypes and some of them are more common and then this color does that and this color does this and the church hates the Shades and the council hates the church but also the Hues are lying to each other about their powers. Furthermore, some of the powers made absolutely no sense, and seemed, to be blunt, shit. Like, our main character's big power as a Hue is that she gets to touch things in this weird shadow realm that exists parallel to the "typic" world, the Grey. That seems like it fucking sucks! Especially compared to the dude who can siphon off other Shades' powers and use them by himself. Anyway, the magic system is overcomplicated and convoluted - just as this review is becoming.
The interactions between the characters ... Well, let's just say, when one of them died, I guess I was supposed to feel something, but I didn't, because we don't get to know any of the characters. The only one we kind of get to know is Novi, who has been in a situationship with our main character for the past ... year? I think? Anyway, she seems pretty cool and compelling, but uuhh ... she is not the love interest. Because the love interest is the guy who appeared on page and was described as achingly beautiful, so gorgeous you can barely keep your eyes on his face, so literally perfect and stunning and *gag*
For once, just ONCE, I want a love interest who's just ... a guy. A dude. Pretty maybe. But why does everyone have to be so immensely good-looking that it's unnatural? And of course, he's ~morally grey~ (because he "appears to" betray the party a bunch of times).
Let me say this clearly: There is not a single bit of chemistry between CHASE (because that's his name, his nickname, because his actual name is Cassiel, which apparently he doesn't like to be called, so he asks to be called CHASE, one of THE frat bro names, instead of a normal fantasy choice like ... idk, Cas? You know, the obvious choice?) and our main character. Not a single bit of spark. Oh, they argue most of the time, and the book spends a pointless amount of time on training sessions with those two, but I didn't end up getting the sense that they actually, you know, liked each other.
IDK, but Chase came off as the most boring possible love interest the main character, when Novi exists. Like, they have DOUBLE the chemistry that Chase and Cemmy have.
This book keeps getting compared to Six of Crows, and, well, no.
Six of Crows features a cast of rich and developed characters coming together to solve their own personal problems by participating in a heist that will yield to each of them, on completion, a means to actually solve their problems: money. They all have their own motivation and a common goal. The group in Until We Shatter gets told to do the heist, and none of them really want to do it, they're forced into doing it. That ends up making for a shitty heist. Also, the actual heist takes place only in the last, like, seventy pages or so, meaning that 230 pages are either magic-system-explaining or weird training sessions between Chase and Cemmy. It's boring! None of the threads end up intersecting, only one of their actions actually has a consequence, everything else ends up fine and dandy and ... exactly the same as it was before. No, really. Cemmy actually says that. "Everything is the same as it was before." Their actions had no consequences for their world. I guess the world didn't end, but there's nothing that has changed about the characters, except that they now don't like each other anymore. I don't know about you, but I hated it. And I hate how much time I spent trying to understand it.
Hmm. I did not get along well with this book.
Let's start with a positive. The prose is exactly right. Enough bits and pieces of poetry and beautiful words to keep a language enthusiast going, but at the same time perfectly simple and pretty enough to make a good fantasy book. Kate Dylan is a very good, talented writer, and I really liked the way she structured her sentences and made the words flow. It's why I've given this book 2 stars instead of 1. I really do think that her writing is nice.
It's just unfortunate that the plot has more holes in it than the car door of Bonnie and Clyde does.
During the first third of the book, the reader is assaulted with a worldbuilding dump that, in the end, does not build a world, but is only there to describe the overcomplicated magic system. There is so much to remember of the magic system that at some point I took screenshots of my ebook reader to reference back to, but goodness gracious - it was very much for a 300 page book. And it did not make any fucking sense. My head was swimming with Hues and Shades and trying to tell apart why some of the Hues have metal names and some of them are named after minerals and then there's subtypes and some of them are more common and then this color does that and this color does this and the church hates the Shades and the council hates the church but also the Hues are lying to each other about their powers. Furthermore, some of the powers made absolutely no sense, and seemed, to be blunt, shit. Like, our main character's big power as a Hue is that she gets to touch things in this weird shadow realm that exists parallel to the "typic" world, the Grey. That seems like it fucking sucks! Especially compared to the dude who can siphon off other Shades' powers and use them by himself. Anyway, the magic system is overcomplicated and convoluted - just as this review is becoming.
The interactions between the characters ... Well, let's just say, when one of them died, I guess I was supposed to feel something, but I didn't, because we don't get to know any of the characters. The only one we kind of get to know is Novi, who has been in a situationship with our main character for the past ... year? I think? Anyway, she seems pretty cool and compelling, but uuhh ... she is not the love interest. Because the love interest is the guy who appeared on page and was described as achingly beautiful, so gorgeous you can barely keep your eyes on his face, so literally perfect and stunning and *gag*
For once, just ONCE, I want a love interest who's just ... a guy. A dude. Pretty maybe. But why does everyone have to be so immensely good-looking that it's unnatural? And of course, he's ~morally grey~ (because he "appears to" betray the party a bunch of times).
Let me say this clearly: There is not a single bit of chemistry between CHASE (because that's his name, his nickname, because his actual name is Cassiel, which apparently he doesn't like to be called, so he asks to be called CHASE, one of THE frat bro names, instead of a normal fantasy choice like ... idk, Cas? You know, the obvious choice?) and our main character. Not a single bit of spark. Oh, they argue most of the time, and the book spends a pointless amount of time on training sessions with those two, but I didn't end up getting the sense that they actually, you know, liked each other.
IDK, but Chase came off as the most boring possible love interest the main character, when Novi exists. Like, they have DOUBLE the chemistry that Chase and Cemmy have.
This book keeps getting compared to Six of Crows, and, well, no.
Six of Crows features a cast of rich and developed characters coming together to solve their own personal problems by participating in a heist that will yield to each of them, on completion, a means to actually solve their problems: money. They all have their own motivation and a common goal. The group in Until We Shatter gets told to do the heist, and none of them really want to do it, they're forced into doing it. That ends up making for a shitty heist. Also, the actual heist takes place only in the last, like, seventy pages or so, meaning that 230 pages are either magic-system-explaining or weird training sessions between Chase and Cemmy. It's boring! None of the threads end up intersecting, only one of their actions actually has a consequence, everything else ends up fine and dandy and ... exactly the same as it was before. No, really. Cemmy actually says that. "Everything is the same as it was before." Their actions had no consequences for their world. I guess the world didn't end, but there's nothing that has changed about the characters, except that they now don't like each other anymore. I don't know about you, but I hated it. And I hate how much time I spent trying to understand it.
December 13, 2024
3.5 Stars!
An action-packed, epic heist fantasy, perfect for fans of Six of Crows and A Darker Shade of Magic.
Not to mention that gorgeous fanart I saw for this book! *heart eyes*
An action-packed, epic heist fantasy, perfect for fans of Six of Crows and A Darker Shade of Magic.
Not to mention that gorgeous fanart I saw for this book! *heart eyes*
October 17, 2024
20/7/24: screaming crying throwing up because this book has just sent me on a roller coaster of emotions
Until We Shatter by Kate Dylan is a standalone adult fantasy about a magical heist with an unique magical system and the acceptance that the world is never fully one thing or another, but rather a series of in-betweens.
In a world divided into the Council (magic) and the Church (anti-magic), Cemmy is a Hue, a half-shade and desperate thief, who belongs on neither side. Fearing for her mother’s ailing health, Cemmy accepts an impossible heist but soon finds herself in dangers she never would have thought. With the aid of Chase, another half-shade who is as beautiful as he is dangerous, she must succeed in her mission before it’s too late.
I absolutely loved the aspect of found family within the book and I thought Cemmy’s own struggles with her guilt and loyalty were wonderfully done. I think because it was in a first-person POV, I did have a bit of a harder time getting into the narrative and ended up struggling the first couple of chapters to understand the world and magic system as well as adjust to the narrative tone. However, once I did get past this, I breezed through the rest of the book and was engrossed in the characters and story all the way until the very end.
Full of atmospheric storytelling, and plenty of heart, Kate Dylan crafts a captivating narrative and world that will leave you…well, emotionally shattered just as it did with me.
Thank you to Netgalley and Hodderscape for providing this eArc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions in this review are my own.
Until We Shatter by Kate Dylan is a standalone adult fantasy about a magical heist with an unique magical system and the acceptance that the world is never fully one thing or another, but rather a series of in-betweens.
In a world divided into the Council (magic) and the Church (anti-magic), Cemmy is a Hue, a half-shade and desperate thief, who belongs on neither side. Fearing for her mother’s ailing health, Cemmy accepts an impossible heist but soon finds herself in dangers she never would have thought. With the aid of Chase, another half-shade who is as beautiful as he is dangerous, she must succeed in her mission before it’s too late.
I absolutely loved the aspect of found family within the book and I thought Cemmy’s own struggles with her guilt and loyalty were wonderfully done. I think because it was in a first-person POV, I did have a bit of a harder time getting into the narrative and ended up struggling the first couple of chapters to understand the world and magic system as well as adjust to the narrative tone. However, once I did get past this, I breezed through the rest of the book and was engrossed in the characters and story all the way until the very end.
Full of atmospheric storytelling, and plenty of heart, Kate Dylan crafts a captivating narrative and world that will leave you…well, emotionally shattered just as it did with me.
Thank you to Netgalley and Hodderscape for providing this eArc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions in this review are my own.
August 9, 2024
Shadow and Bone, Six of Crows meets The Black Prism.
Cemmy is a thief, trying to keep afloat in a city which is on the brink of shattering amidst a civil war between the Council of Shades and the Church, both of which hates her kind. A Hue. Half a Shade, only able to dip in and out of the shadow realm by anchoring herself to the In-Between.
Cemmy and her friends of fellow misfits, hunted by both sides, are blackmailed to steal the most securely guarded artefact.
Cemmy makes a lot of bad decisions a lot of the time. But she is always fuelled by mostly good intentions. Protecting her friends, caring for her mother’s sickness, dealing with her own fear and trauma of a previous job gone wrong.
For this reason, she can be an incredibly frustrating character to follow. Wrapped in secrets like a security blankets leads to more and more problems (and betrayals).
I don't want to talk, or go home, or act sensible. I want to burn.
The problem with a burn is that it's wont to blister. And when it inevitably does, the pain only screams worse.
It is fascinating that a lot of the issues the crew runs in to is a matter of false information by people who control the flow. How altering what people know can shape their prejudices, fear, and sense of self.
"A perfect soldier is a Shade they can predict and control," Chase says, jaw tense, voice bitter. "And when power is afraid, you can always trust it to make the most morally bankrupt choice."
The magic system was hard to grasp to begin with. A lot of colours and their aligning powers and attributes and weaknesses, yet so long as you get your head around the main crew, it is easier to follow.
However, I do think a glossary at the start might have helped.
Bonuses:
- Bi-sexual representation
- Deaf and signing representation
Thank you to Hodderscape for sending me the physical arc in exchange for a review!
Bookstagram
Cemmy is a thief, trying to keep afloat in a city which is on the brink of shattering amidst a civil war between the Council of Shades and the Church, both of which hates her kind. A Hue. Half a Shade, only able to dip in and out of the shadow realm by anchoring herself to the In-Between.
Cemmy and her friends of fellow misfits, hunted by both sides, are blackmailed to steal the most securely guarded artefact.
Cemmy makes a lot of bad decisions a lot of the time. But she is always fuelled by mostly good intentions. Protecting her friends, caring for her mother’s sickness, dealing with her own fear and trauma of a previous job gone wrong.
For this reason, she can be an incredibly frustrating character to follow. Wrapped in secrets like a security blankets leads to more and more problems (and betrayals).
I don't want to talk, or go home, or act sensible. I want to burn.
The problem with a burn is that it's wont to blister. And when it inevitably does, the pain only screams worse.
It is fascinating that a lot of the issues the crew runs in to is a matter of false information by people who control the flow. How altering what people know can shape their prejudices, fear, and sense of self.
"A perfect soldier is a Shade they can predict and control," Chase says, jaw tense, voice bitter. "And when power is afraid, you can always trust it to make the most morally bankrupt choice."
The magic system was hard to grasp to begin with. A lot of colours and their aligning powers and attributes and weaknesses, yet so long as you get your head around the main crew, it is easier to follow.
However, I do think a glossary at the start might have helped.
Bonuses:
- Bi-sexual representation
- Deaf and signing representation
Thank you to Hodderscape for sending me the physical arc in exchange for a review!
Bookstagram
September 11, 2025
the magic system is really cool and unique, but the story lacks luster for the most part and the characters are flat. i fear this is mid
October 14, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
DNF 48%
Another case of a beautiful cover luring someone in. And ho boy is this cover absolutely GORGEOUS! But unfortunately I'm not reviewing the cover 🥺
I think the negatives in this book can be summed up in one way: INFO DUMPS. The magic system in this book was really interesting, but the only way the author saw fit to explain it to us was huge info dumps, which really takes you out of the story and your connection to the characters, which I wasn't really having.
Unfortunately, I found myself not really excited to keep picking this back up so I have to move on 😩
DNF 48%
Another case of a beautiful cover luring someone in. And ho boy is this cover absolutely GORGEOUS! But unfortunately I'm not reviewing the cover 🥺
I think the negatives in this book can be summed up in one way: INFO DUMPS. The magic system in this book was really interesting, but the only way the author saw fit to explain it to us was huge info dumps, which really takes you out of the story and your connection to the characters, which I wasn't really having.
Unfortunately, I found myself not really excited to keep picking this back up so I have to move on 😩
August 9, 2024
this is such a hard review to write. Whilst I enjoyed Dylan’s writing in this book, I just did not get on with the story and the world.
I read and loved Mindwalker, so I was very much looking forward to this one and was delighted to receive an eARC in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately, this really let me down.
I genuinely don’t feel like I understood the world enough to be able to write a summary, and what little I did understand felt convoluted. The magic system of shades and hues and their powers was overly complicated, which left me feeling very confused throughout.
I thought that the friendships between our main characters were underdeveloped and therefore unbelievable. I would have liked to have seen more of our main character Cemmy with her friends Novi, Ezzo and Eve.
I also felt that the “romance” sub plot between Cemmy and Chase was underdeveloped, unnecessary and I just couldn’t get on board with it. I would have done away with this and just had more time devoted to explaining the magic system.
It’s been 24 hours since I finished this, so I’ve had time to think about it, and I’m still coming away confused, disappointed and frustrated.
I *think* I can see what Dylan was trying to do, I love her writing and I appreciate the effort. The execution however, was disappointing.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodderscape for the eARC.
I read and loved Mindwalker, so I was very much looking forward to this one and was delighted to receive an eARC in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately, this really let me down.
I genuinely don’t feel like I understood the world enough to be able to write a summary, and what little I did understand felt convoluted. The magic system of shades and hues and their powers was overly complicated, which left me feeling very confused throughout.
I thought that the friendships between our main characters were underdeveloped and therefore unbelievable. I would have liked to have seen more of our main character Cemmy with her friends Novi, Ezzo and Eve.
I also felt that the “romance” sub plot between Cemmy and Chase was underdeveloped, unnecessary and I just couldn’t get on board with it. I would have done away with this and just had more time devoted to explaining the magic system.
It’s been 24 hours since I finished this, so I’ve had time to think about it, and I’m still coming away confused, disappointed and frustrated.
I *think* I can see what Dylan was trying to do, I love her writing and I appreciate the effort. The execution however, was disappointing.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodderscape for the eARC.
June 12, 2024
“Until We Shatter” is a ya fantasy standalone written by Kate Dylan. A book full of action, deceptions, lies, secrets, alliances and betrayals, which revolves around a highly risky heist and a group of thieves who are as skilled as they are misfits. A quick, gripping and engaging novel that kept me glued to the pages and highly satisfied!
The story takes place in a world in which the population is divided between the Shades, those who possess magic, and the typics, those who do not. In terms of politics, beliefs and rules, the society has two factions: the Council of Shades, which represents the wielders of magic, and the Church, which considers magic evil and as such to be eliminated. And then there are the Hues, or half Shades, born from the union of Shades and typics and considered a threat to be destroyed or punished by both sides. The Hues possess only half the magic of the Shades and require additional efforts to gain access to the Gray, a kind of incorporeal magical dimension of the real world, where the Shades dwell. A general situation difficult, tense, which is on the verge of erupting in the city of Isitar, where events are focused. What can I say? I found it an extensive, complex and super fascinating world building, delineated with great care and attention. The book provides numerous explanations, especially in the first part, which sometimes risk slowing down the narrative, but in my opinion are necessary to better understand the context. The concept of the Gray intrigued me a lot, as did that of the In-Betweens and the correlation between types of magic and colors. I was pleasantly surprised, especially because I don't often read standalone fantasy books with such a structured and solid world building. Seriously, I can't express anything but kudos!
The story proceeds quickly, alternating between more eventful scenes and quieter ones, with a stimulating pace that kept me glued to the pages. The narration convinced and satisfied me from beginning to end, although I admit that I guessed the various plot twists in advance.
I loved Cemmy, the protagonist with her only first person pov! Cemmy is a Hues, who became a thief to help her gravely ill mother. Extremely skilled at what she does, she lost some of her grit following a particularly traumatic experience. Cemmy is a complex, troubled girl, willing to do anything to help those she cares about. Determined, courageous and sarcastic, she harbors deep sorrows, doubts and fears, which she allows herself to release only when she is alone. During the reading I found myself rooting for her, suffering for her situation, and wanting to hug her! I also enjoyed the secondary characters, the other members of Cemmy's gang, with whom she has a wonderful relationship. I loved the queer representation in this novel, the disability representation (one of the characters is deaf) and the wonderful found family that is developed. However, my heart goes out to Chase, a super complicated character who completely won me over!
Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story takes place in a world in which the population is divided between the Shades, those who possess magic, and the typics, those who do not. In terms of politics, beliefs and rules, the society has two factions: the Council of Shades, which represents the wielders of magic, and the Church, which considers magic evil and as such to be eliminated. And then there are the Hues, or half Shades, born from the union of Shades and typics and considered a threat to be destroyed or punished by both sides. The Hues possess only half the magic of the Shades and require additional efforts to gain access to the Gray, a kind of incorporeal magical dimension of the real world, where the Shades dwell. A general situation difficult, tense, which is on the verge of erupting in the city of Isitar, where events are focused. What can I say? I found it an extensive, complex and super fascinating world building, delineated with great care and attention. The book provides numerous explanations, especially in the first part, which sometimes risk slowing down the narrative, but in my opinion are necessary to better understand the context. The concept of the Gray intrigued me a lot, as did that of the In-Betweens and the correlation between types of magic and colors. I was pleasantly surprised, especially because I don't often read standalone fantasy books with such a structured and solid world building. Seriously, I can't express anything but kudos!
The story proceeds quickly, alternating between more eventful scenes and quieter ones, with a stimulating pace that kept me glued to the pages. The narration convinced and satisfied me from beginning to end, although I admit that I guessed the various plot twists in advance.
I loved Cemmy, the protagonist with her only first person pov! Cemmy is a Hues, who became a thief to help her gravely ill mother. Extremely skilled at what she does, she lost some of her grit following a particularly traumatic experience. Cemmy is a complex, troubled girl, willing to do anything to help those she cares about. Determined, courageous and sarcastic, she harbors deep sorrows, doubts and fears, which she allows herself to release only when she is alone. During the reading I found myself rooting for her, suffering for her situation, and wanting to hug her! I also enjoyed the secondary characters, the other members of Cemmy's gang, with whom she has a wonderful relationship. I loved the queer representation in this novel, the disability representation (one of the characters is deaf) and the wonderful found family that is developed. However, my heart goes out to Chase, a super complicated character who completely won me over!
Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 5, 2024
When I first saw this book featured on NetGalley's website, I was excited because it sounded so good and was right up my alley. not only that, but the cover is STUNNING! However, so many things were wrong with it that I couldn’t pass on. I found the magic system was somewhat unique but confusingly explained. The plot twists felt rushed, and the characters lacked depth. While the action scenes were well-written, the dialogue and character development fell short. Overall, the execution didn't live up to my expectations.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this book.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this book.
November 24, 2024
"I am the violence the world made of me."
Well, this is the disappointed review that this book made of it.
Until We Shatter is a YA fantasy book set in the city of Isitar where The Church is the predominant authority that seeks to eradicate Shades (people who have magic depending on their colour) and Hues (half-shades who have a lesser form of Shade magic) from the world. The protagonist, Cemmy, and her friends, are Hues who have to hide from The Church and the Council of Shades (an organisation of Shades that only want pure Shades and punish any 'diluted' ones i.e. Hues). In one of her thieving jobs, Cemmy, is tricked by another half-Shade, Chase, under the order from Savian (a pure Shade) in revealing her friends, and they are then forced to execute a heist in the centre of the Church's stronghold to destroy a siphon of magic that they plan to use to destroy all of magic.
First things first, the magic system was interesting. The Shades are split into seven different colours that have different abilities depending on the colour they are. The Hues, on the other hand, have powers that are slightly modified from their Shade's parent's colour. There is also the Gray where the magic comes from through the use of shadows. The Shades can access this quite easily, however, Hues cannot. They have to create an In-Between and they have to be able to manage it enough that they don't shatter to death. It was very interesting, but I felt as I read through the book that the magic just seemed convenient and/or inconvenient when the plot needed to move or when it needed drama between the characters. It led to confusion a lot of the times especially since this book is very heavy on this magic system.
Now, the worldbuilding. I'll be honest that I felt that it was quite weak and shallow. There wasn't much depth although that might have to do with the way the writer has written i.e. a lot of telling instead of showing. The politics in this was very obvious with how The Church is just every authoritarian extremist group in these fantasy novels. There wasn't much of a distinction that made it a bit original. Although, my perspective on this may be coloured by the fact that I recently read Blood Over Bright Haven which handled both the magic system and the worldbuilding and politics more profoundly. But, yeah, I wasn't really wowed by the setting.
The writing was alright. There were a lot of telling what is bad in the world, especially with the reason why Cemmy and her friends have found refuge in each other because they were Hues and are tracked to be killed. However, a lot of this was just telling the reader over and over again, but we don't get to actually see much of these evil things outside of the characters which is a shame, because I think it would have made the danger of their existence more apparent. The heist element was not exciting for me because it really felt like most of it was a 2-people job in the form of Cemmy and Chase.
The characters were...not very compelling to me except for Novi. Cemmy was an alright protagonist albeit frustrating. She was messy but in a very juvenile way which maybe makes sense since she's 19 if I remember correctly. I got where she was coming from but I didn't find her a captivating character. Also, she made some very dumb decisions that just boggled me.
And Chase. Well, where do I begin with him? He's a big damn red flag as a love interest. I honestly didn't like him from the beginning until the end. I didn't care about his plans and even if his reasons are sympathetic, it made me dislike him even more. I wanted to yeet him away from Cemmy and her friends from the very beginning. And I wished, I could have done that. Alas, his existence had already been written. Also, he felt like he was the driving force of the plot but not in a natural way. I think that might be why I didn't end up vibing with Cemmy as much, because the heist is forced upon her and her friends, hence their lack of agency and want in executing it just absolutely killed any enthusiasm I had for the story.
The supporting characters were not all that well-thought out. Eve and Ezzo only felt like hanger-ons that were simply there to round up the group, and convenient for when the story needed a character to move this scene along or to make it more emotional, which yes, characters are definitely essential for that; however, the way it was handled here was kind of egregiously obvious. Lyria was a good deaf representation but she should have just been with the group from the beginning, rather than recruited when they all got trapped by Savian. The bonds between the characters would have been more emotionally charged if that was the case especially since this whole book takes place in one week. Yep, one week.
The one supporting character that I really liked, well, probably the character I liked the most was Novi. She's Cemmy's ex as well as her friend. She is the one who had the most sense out of anyone in this whole book. The one scene that I felt emotionally invested in was when That was the only time I genuinely felt something from the story and the characters other than frustration with some of the story choices and with Chase. Throughout the whole book, I actually wished Cemmy just got back together with Novi because she was the superior love interest. However, I looked at Cemmy, and I think Novi dodged a bullet.
Savian is one of the main antagonists and he was, sincerely, one-dimensional. He was a one-trick pony and you know it from when you see him at the start of the book.
Overall, an unsatisfying read despite the intriguing yet shaky magic system. The only characters that you'll end up really caring about are Lyria and Novi. I also think that if you took out Chase in the equation, we would have the same story but maybe a more compelling one where the characters end up taking action against those who deem them abominations on their own terms, and not just forced to by two great big red flags.
Well, this is the disappointed review that this book made of it.
Until We Shatter is a YA fantasy book set in the city of Isitar where The Church is the predominant authority that seeks to eradicate Shades (people who have magic depending on their colour) and Hues (half-shades who have a lesser form of Shade magic) from the world. The protagonist, Cemmy, and her friends, are Hues who have to hide from The Church and the Council of Shades (an organisation of Shades that only want pure Shades and punish any 'diluted' ones i.e. Hues). In one of her thieving jobs, Cemmy, is tricked by another half-Shade, Chase, under the order from Savian (a pure Shade) in revealing her friends, and they are then forced to execute a heist in the centre of the Church's stronghold to destroy a siphon of magic that they plan to use to destroy all of magic.
First things first, the magic system was interesting. The Shades are split into seven different colours that have different abilities depending on the colour they are. The Hues, on the other hand, have powers that are slightly modified from their Shade's parent's colour. There is also the Gray where the magic comes from through the use of shadows. The Shades can access this quite easily, however, Hues cannot. They have to create an In-Between and they have to be able to manage it enough that they don't shatter to death. It was very interesting, but I felt as I read through the book that the magic just seemed convenient and/or inconvenient when the plot needed to move or when it needed drama between the characters. It led to confusion a lot of the times especially since this book is very heavy on this magic system.
Now, the worldbuilding. I'll be honest that I felt that it was quite weak and shallow. There wasn't much depth although that might have to do with the way the writer has written i.e. a lot of telling instead of showing. The politics in this was very obvious with how The Church is just every authoritarian extremist group in these fantasy novels. There wasn't much of a distinction that made it a bit original. Although, my perspective on this may be coloured by the fact that I recently read Blood Over Bright Haven which handled both the magic system and the worldbuilding and politics more profoundly. But, yeah, I wasn't really wowed by the setting.
The writing was alright. There were a lot of telling what is bad in the world, especially with the reason why Cemmy and her friends have found refuge in each other because they were Hues and are tracked to be killed. However, a lot of this was just telling the reader over and over again, but we don't get to actually see much of these evil things outside of the characters which is a shame, because I think it would have made the danger of their existence more apparent. The heist element was not exciting for me because it really felt like most of it was a 2-people job in the form of Cemmy and Chase.
The characters were...not very compelling to me except for Novi. Cemmy was an alright protagonist albeit frustrating. She was messy but in a very juvenile way which maybe makes sense since she's 19 if I remember correctly. I got where she was coming from but I didn't find her a captivating character. Also, she made some very dumb decisions that just boggled me.
And Chase. Well, where do I begin with him? He's a big damn red flag as a love interest. I honestly didn't like him from the beginning until the end. I didn't care about his plans and even if his reasons are sympathetic, it made me dislike him even more. I wanted to yeet him away from Cemmy and her friends from the very beginning. And I wished, I could have done that. Alas, his existence had already been written. Also, he felt like he was the driving force of the plot but not in a natural way. I think that might be why I didn't end up vibing with Cemmy as much, because the heist is forced upon her and her friends, hence their lack of agency and want in executing it just absolutely killed any enthusiasm I had for the story.
The supporting characters were not all that well-thought out. Eve and Ezzo only felt like hanger-ons that were simply there to round up the group, and convenient for when the story needed a character to move this scene along or to make it more emotional, which yes, characters are definitely essential for that; however, the way it was handled here was kind of egregiously obvious. Lyria was a good deaf representation but she should have just been with the group from the beginning, rather than recruited when they all got trapped by Savian. The bonds between the characters would have been more emotionally charged if that was the case especially since this whole book takes place in one week. Yep, one week.
The one supporting character that I really liked, well, probably the character I liked the most was Novi. She's Cemmy's ex as well as her friend. She is the one who had the most sense out of anyone in this whole book. The one scene that I felt emotionally invested in was when That was the only time I genuinely felt something from the story and the characters other than frustration with some of the story choices and with Chase. Throughout the whole book, I actually wished Cemmy just got back together with Novi because she was the superior love interest. However, I looked at Cemmy, and I think Novi dodged a bullet.
Savian is one of the main antagonists and he was, sincerely, one-dimensional. He was a one-trick pony and you know it from when you see him at the start of the book.
Overall, an unsatisfying read despite the intriguing yet shaky magic system. The only characters that you'll end up really caring about are Lyria and Novi. I also think that if you took out Chase in the equation, we would have the same story but maybe a more compelling one where the characters end up taking action against those who deem them abominations on their own terms, and not just forced to by two great big red flags.
October 13, 2024
‘I am the violence the world made of me’
Until we shatter is a unique YA book packed with action from the get go. I loved the unique magic system in this book and while there was a lot to absorb at the very start, I found it very enjoyable and easy to follow which is always a strength.
I found the book to be really captivating and there were points where I was actually reading it until my eyes couldn’t stay open because I was that absorbed in to it. I personally really enjoyed it because I love a good YA book, whereas I can see why this book wouldn’t if you weren’t a fan.
I loved Cemmy and I actually found it really refreshing to have a FMC with such an important purpose and reasoning to their back story as to why they are in the situation they are in. I found the ending to be quite emotional. I actually enjoyed the side characters too, whereas I normally find side characters to be a bit meh.
I would definitely recommend this book.
As always, thank you NetGallery for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Until we shatter is a unique YA book packed with action from the get go. I loved the unique magic system in this book and while there was a lot to absorb at the very start, I found it very enjoyable and easy to follow which is always a strength.
I found the book to be really captivating and there were points where I was actually reading it until my eyes couldn’t stay open because I was that absorbed in to it. I personally really enjoyed it because I love a good YA book, whereas I can see why this book wouldn’t if you weren’t a fan.
I loved Cemmy and I actually found it really refreshing to have a FMC with such an important purpose and reasoning to their back story as to why they are in the situation they are in. I found the ending to be quite emotional. I actually enjoyed the side characters too, whereas I normally find side characters to be a bit meh.
I would definitely recommend this book.
As always, thank you NetGallery for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
November 18, 2024
Until We Shatter by Kate Dylan is a captivating fantasy set in a unique world filled with colour magic, high-stakes heists, and intriguing lore.
Told from the POV of Cemmy, our fierce FMC, we follow her journey as a “hue” - the child of a Typic (mortal) and a Shade (a magic wielder).
Due to difficult circumstances, Cemmy often has to steal to get by. One day she’s approached by Sarivan, a rogue Shade who has tasked her with stealing from the Governors manse. What Cemmy doesn’t realise is that this heist will change her life - and her friends’ lives - forever.
The characters are skillfully written, and their vastly different personalities shine through beautifully, though I did wish for a bit more page time for some of the side characters to make me feel fully invested in them. With that said, the characters balanced each other out, and their personalities complemented each other really well.
There are a few poignant scenes around consent which I think is such an important topic and something that isn’t discussed enough beyond romance. This is definitely a rare and valuable theme in fantasy that deserves more attention!
60% of this book is the build up to the main heist, where the reader learns about the lore, magic systems and each of the characters power. But when I say, the last 40% was an emotional rollercoaster which has my heart in my throat, I mean it - I don’t know what Kate put in the last section of this book but I could NOT put it down!
If you’re into action-packed fantasy with themes of betrayal, found family, and a non-spicy enemies-to-lovers romance arc, Until We Shatter is a must-read!
This was my first Kate Dylan book, and I’m officially a fan. Her fast-paced style, complex characters, and worldbuilding brought the story to life - I’ll definitely be adding her other works to my TBR!
Told from the POV of Cemmy, our fierce FMC, we follow her journey as a “hue” - the child of a Typic (mortal) and a Shade (a magic wielder).
Due to difficult circumstances, Cemmy often has to steal to get by. One day she’s approached by Sarivan, a rogue Shade who has tasked her with stealing from the Governors manse. What Cemmy doesn’t realise is that this heist will change her life - and her friends’ lives - forever.
The characters are skillfully written, and their vastly different personalities shine through beautifully, though I did wish for a bit more page time for some of the side characters to make me feel fully invested in them. With that said, the characters balanced each other out, and their personalities complemented each other really well.
There are a few poignant scenes around consent which I think is such an important topic and something that isn’t discussed enough beyond romance. This is definitely a rare and valuable theme in fantasy that deserves more attention!
60% of this book is the build up to the main heist, where the reader learns about the lore, magic systems and each of the characters power. But when I say, the last 40% was an emotional rollercoaster which has my heart in my throat, I mean it - I don’t know what Kate put in the last section of this book but I could NOT put it down!
If you’re into action-packed fantasy with themes of betrayal, found family, and a non-spicy enemies-to-lovers romance arc, Until We Shatter is a must-read!
This was my first Kate Dylan book, and I’m officially a fan. Her fast-paced style, complex characters, and worldbuilding brought the story to life - I’ll definitely be adding her other works to my TBR!
July 5, 2024
I was gripped from about 10% in until the end. The beginning was an issue for me. I don't like having an onslaught of information from page one. Especially when I'm learning a completely new magic system.
The magic system was explained clearer a few more times so it was unnecessary from page one. I wish I had been eased into this world instead.
I love the concept. I love all the side characters especially Nova. I love the friendship between the group. I hope there is a book two as it feels like the ending isn't concluded.
I thought the romance between her ex was more realistic and passionate. I don't want to give names in case I spoil it. I would have like more romantic scenes between the current romantic interest to build that tension. There seemed to be an equal amount of romantic build-up for the ex and current romantic interests.
This is a book I would buy and read again. The magic system is unique and shows what fear can do to people. I love the way this book can relate to the real world. I would definitely be looking at this authors current books
I received a free copy from Netgalley for a honest review
The magic system was explained clearer a few more times so it was unnecessary from page one. I wish I had been eased into this world instead.
I love the concept. I love all the side characters especially Nova. I love the friendship between the group. I hope there is a book two as it feels like the ending isn't concluded.
I thought the romance between her ex was more realistic and passionate. I don't want to give names in case I spoil it. I would have like more romantic scenes between the current romantic interest to build that tension. There seemed to be an equal amount of romantic build-up for the ex and current romantic interests.
This is a book I would buy and read again. The magic system is unique and shows what fear can do to people. I love the way this book can relate to the real world. I would definitely be looking at this authors current books
I received a free copy from Netgalley for a honest review
June 4, 2024
What did I like about Until We Shatter? The biggest selling point for me was the very unique magic system. It stands out from every other magic system I've read. Magic is divided into seven colors, and every full-blooded magic user (shade) has one of them. The children of a magic user and a non-magic, like our main character, Cemmy, are called hues, and they have unique dilutions of that color. Another thing that I enjoyed was that I was actually surprised by several of the book's twists and appreciated that I could look back and see that they were hinted at subtly. I also enjoyed the main character, Cemmy, 's budding relationship with Chase; it felt like an obvious direction to take the story, but obvious in a way that made it easy to root for.
What didn't I love? The book's premise is a heist, and while that is true, it isn't the story's primary focus. More focus is spent on the main character working through (or not rather) her trust issues and learning about her magic. The problem with that heavy focus was that other relationships besides Cemmy and Chase felt like afterthoughts. Instead of getting found family vibes, I felt like it worked in the opposite way, wherein the beginning of the book told me, rather than showing how close she and her friends all were, "like family!!!" but as the book progressed, I was less and less convinced of that.
While I thought the magic system itself was unique and exciting, the color naming system for explaining magic, as well as some of the terminology "shattering," "shades," and "and hues," all felt very immature. The story suffers from complex political and religious tensions that are not fully realized or explained, resulting in a unique premise that unfortunately fell flat for me and made it hard to buy into the world.
Bottom line: I enjoyed parts of the book, but as a whole, it could have been longer with more world-building. The characters and relationships felt underdeveloped to me. That said, I think it will find its audience, and it kept me interested enough that I thought it was worth the read.
Who's it for? If you're looking for a Young Adult book with a really unique magic system, this may be for you. However, if you're easily frustrated with incomplete world-building or adolescent characters, I would skip it, as these characters are 19-year-olds who deal heavily with themes of jealousy and trust.
A big thank you to NetGalley and Hodderscape for the eARC; all thoughts and opinions are my own.
What didn't I love? The book's premise is a heist, and while that is true, it isn't the story's primary focus. More focus is spent on the main character working through (or not rather) her trust issues and learning about her magic. The problem with that heavy focus was that other relationships besides Cemmy and Chase felt like afterthoughts. Instead of getting found family vibes, I felt like it worked in the opposite way, wherein the beginning of the book told me, rather than showing how close she and her friends all were, "like family!!!" but as the book progressed, I was less and less convinced of that.
While I thought the magic system itself was unique and exciting, the color naming system for explaining magic, as well as some of the terminology "shattering," "shades," and "and hues," all felt very immature. The story suffers from complex political and religious tensions that are not fully realized or explained, resulting in a unique premise that unfortunately fell flat for me and made it hard to buy into the world.
Bottom line: I enjoyed parts of the book, but as a whole, it could have been longer with more world-building. The characters and relationships felt underdeveloped to me. That said, I think it will find its audience, and it kept me interested enough that I thought it was worth the read.
Who's it for? If you're looking for a Young Adult book with a really unique magic system, this may be for you. However, if you're easily frustrated with incomplete world-building or adolescent characters, I would skip it, as these characters are 19-year-olds who deal heavily with themes of jealousy and trust.
A big thank you to NetGalley and Hodderscape for the eARC; all thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 8, 2024
Super tricky to write this review because honestly I still don't understand this book... I felt like I just kept waiting for everything to be explained and it never really was. So here's the best synopsis I can offer; Cemmy is a Hue which means she's the child of a typic (a powerless human) and a Shade, a human with a power based on a colour. Each colour has a different power but don't ask me what they are because I have no idea. The world she lives in doesn't like Shades, but REALLY doesn't like Hues. She and her friends (who are also Hues) are abducted and forced to help this evil bloke Savian to rob the Dominion (don't ask me about this either) and steal the Siphon which is like a power sucker thing that will take away everyone's abilities (I think). They don't want to do it but kinda have no choice. Cemmy is trying to look after her mum so she'll do anything to help her. Additionally, there's this guy Chase who works for Savian and he's maybe not quite so bad? And he's also pretty which always helps. I feel like I've done a terrible job of explaining the plot but that's as good as I'm going to manage (sorry!)
I really wanted to love this, I adored Mindwalker and can't wait to read Mindbreaker. Those books have a really well described and established world that this book is severely lacking sadly. I just still don't understand the powers and the Grey and the In-between and all the Hues and Shades and what it all means really - they're just sort of meaningless words that keep being repeated without every being truly explained. Even after reading the whole book I have no idea what power Cemmy had as a Bronze. There's also magic too but that's never expanded upon so...
It's a strange one because the world isn't explained nearly enough, and the only detail we get is about 40% in which is too long to wait in my opinion, but it's not necessarily badly written. It could have been so much better if it had been simplified a little and maybe edited a bit more. Alternatively it could have just been explained again (I'm someone who needs spoon feeding when it comes to fantasy so maybe that's a me problem).
I couldn't really tell you much about any of the characters which meant I just wasn't impacted by the dramatic things that happen to them, and I didn't buy into the romance at all (despite being a romance girly through and through).
Overall, I didn't love it and I didn't hate it but I certainly wouldn't pick up a sequel if there ever was one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder Books for the eARC.
I really wanted to love this, I adored Mindwalker and can't wait to read Mindbreaker. Those books have a really well described and established world that this book is severely lacking sadly. I just still don't understand the powers and the Grey and the In-between and all the Hues and Shades and what it all means really - they're just sort of meaningless words that keep being repeated without every being truly explained. Even after reading the whole book I have no idea what power Cemmy had as a Bronze. There's also magic too but that's never expanded upon so...
It's a strange one because the world isn't explained nearly enough, and the only detail we get is about 40% in which is too long to wait in my opinion, but it's not necessarily badly written. It could have been so much better if it had been simplified a little and maybe edited a bit more. Alternatively it could have just been explained again (I'm someone who needs spoon feeding when it comes to fantasy so maybe that's a me problem).
I couldn't really tell you much about any of the characters which meant I just wasn't impacted by the dramatic things that happen to them, and I didn't buy into the romance at all (despite being a romance girly through and through).
Overall, I didn't love it and I didn't hate it but I certainly wouldn't pick up a sequel if there ever was one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder Books for the eARC.
May 11, 2024
5 / 5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (I’ve updated to 5 stars from 4.5 because I literally haven’t stopped thinking about this book)
Well call me a Hue and Shatter me silly, because what an incredible book!!! This had all the prose and themes I love in a fantasy book, high stakes heists with a gang of ‘misfit’ members all bringing glorious differences to the makeshift family, betrayal and blackmail, a sprinkling of daring romance and so much more.
It follows Cemmy and a group of other Hues who are coerced into pilfering an important object to stop some major shit from going down. It was reminiscent of Percy Jackson and Six of Crows with a fully unique world building and magic system that has only made me more exciting for future Kate Dylan books.
I would recommend reading the first 30% in close succession, just to get through the world building and magic system as there’s lots to pick up on which sometimes had me doubling back to check I’d got things right, but as the plot continues it’s a lot easier to follow how it all works. Again, as the story goes on, with the lies, deceit and major adventure, it helps to have that grasp from reading the first portion in bigger sections.
The writing was absolutely incredible and kept me fully engaged the entire time, I feel by saying anymore would spoil the allure and surprise I got from reading this book that made it so delicious from the get go.
Major thank you to Hodderscape, Netgalley and Kate Dylan for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review !
Well call me a Hue and Shatter me silly, because what an incredible book!!! This had all the prose and themes I love in a fantasy book, high stakes heists with a gang of ‘misfit’ members all bringing glorious differences to the makeshift family, betrayal and blackmail, a sprinkling of daring romance and so much more.
It follows Cemmy and a group of other Hues who are coerced into pilfering an important object to stop some major shit from going down. It was reminiscent of Percy Jackson and Six of Crows with a fully unique world building and magic system that has only made me more exciting for future Kate Dylan books.
I would recommend reading the first 30% in close succession, just to get through the world building and magic system as there’s lots to pick up on which sometimes had me doubling back to check I’d got things right, but as the plot continues it’s a lot easier to follow how it all works. Again, as the story goes on, with the lies, deceit and major adventure, it helps to have that grasp from reading the first portion in bigger sections.
The writing was absolutely incredible and kept me fully engaged the entire time, I feel by saying anymore would spoil the allure and surprise I got from reading this book that made it so delicious from the get go.
Major thank you to Hodderscape, Netgalley and Kate Dylan for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review !
May 23, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
I want to start this review with the magic system, because it's so unique and unlike anything I've ever read. Unfortunately, I feel like the way it was explained was very confusing (information would just pop up when it was convenient) and I only got it about 20% in. And although the concept is incredible, I missed some depth and wish it could have been further developed.
Another thing that wasn't executed very well was the plot twists. The ideas were great but the execution made them either too obvious or like they came out of nowhere, which made the ending very rushed.
The writing was fine. She did an amazing job with the more action packed scenes but the dialogue was lacking for me. There would also be some really fancy words once in a while that felt completely out of place.
And last but not least, the characters. I just didn't care about them (or their relationships) at all. They each felt like they had one single personality trait and the main character made some very contradictory decisions.
Unfortunately, Until We Shatter simply did not work for me execution-wise, which is a shame because I absolutely loved the premise and had high hopes.
I want to start this review with the magic system, because it's so unique and unlike anything I've ever read. Unfortunately, I feel like the way it was explained was very confusing (information would just pop up when it was convenient) and I only got it about 20% in. And although the concept is incredible, I missed some depth and wish it could have been further developed.
Another thing that wasn't executed very well was the plot twists. The ideas were great but the execution made them either too obvious or like they came out of nowhere, which made the ending very rushed.
The writing was fine. She did an amazing job with the more action packed scenes but the dialogue was lacking for me. There would also be some really fancy words once in a while that felt completely out of place.
And last but not least, the characters. I just didn't care about them (or their relationships) at all. They each felt like they had one single personality trait and the main character made some very contradictory decisions.
Unfortunately, Until We Shatter simply did not work for me execution-wise, which is a shame because I absolutely loved the premise and had high hopes.
July 9, 2024
I rated this book 4/5 stars and really enjoyed how unique the magic system is. I also love the representation throughout. This story has friendship, romance, action and a mystery to solve, with some plot twists I didn’t see coming. I enjoyed the character development as well. My only complaint about this book is that some scenes about “the gray” were a little confusing, I understood more and more as the story progressed. I would recommend this book to fantasy book lovers! Thank you for Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to be an arc reader.
September 15, 2024
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Until We Shatter is a lovely standalone that I devoured in one sitting. I didn't know what to expect, to be honest, and I haven't read anything by this author yet, so I dived in with excitement. There's always something magical when you read a book by a new-to-you author. I enjoyed Until We Shatter a lot!!
We follow Cemy's perspective who is a girl lost inside her head, partly trapped by her mother's words and partly trapped by her own trauma. She fears the Grey, and she simply doesn't believe in herself at all. She really does her best in every situation, her best to survive, her best to deliver medicine to her mom, her best to her friends. It goes VERY WRONG at times, but at its core, Cemy always does her best, and it's a pity that she only sees herself as a failure to be avoided...
The love interest is Chase who has a myriad secrets and when you thought you knew the last one, poof, another came to light. He's determined and is willing to do anything to reach his goal, even do awful things. He's a ends justify the means sort of guy.
The worldbuilding is ambitious, especially for a standalone. It's a magic system based in colors, and I always wanted to read a book like this! It was, however, a lot to describe. We had a glossary at the beginning, but I forgot what it said even before the 20% mark. A lot of colors, a lot of powers, and then at some point, there was a dominant side and an atypical side, which I didn't understand much, I'm afraid. I like to have a better grasp on the worldbuilding, but in this case, I just went with the flow because my super-stressed brain couldn't retain the information.
The plot was twisty and always kept us up. I do see why others mention loopholes, but for me, it was the too-complicated plotlines and yet some too-easily-solved events that stick out because of the too-complicated plotline just before the resolution. But I did like the big plot twist!!!!! It was awesome!
I also appreciated the themes in the book and the LGBTQIA+ rep!
Overall, I think the story would benefit if this was a duology so that we had more breathing room to fully understand the worldbuilding. Otherwise, the story was fresh with morally grey characters who do their best to survive in a very cruel society that only hunts them down.
It is the monthly pick for a monthly box, so check my Instagram to see if I recommend to skip or not!
Until We Shatter is a lovely standalone that I devoured in one sitting. I didn't know what to expect, to be honest, and I haven't read anything by this author yet, so I dived in with excitement. There's always something magical when you read a book by a new-to-you author. I enjoyed Until We Shatter a lot!!
We follow Cemy's perspective who is a girl lost inside her head, partly trapped by her mother's words and partly trapped by her own trauma. She fears the Grey, and she simply doesn't believe in herself at all. She really does her best in every situation, her best to survive, her best to deliver medicine to her mom, her best to her friends. It goes VERY WRONG at times, but at its core, Cemy always does her best, and it's a pity that she only sees herself as a failure to be avoided...
The love interest is Chase who has a myriad secrets and when you thought you knew the last one, poof, another came to light. He's determined and is willing to do anything to reach his goal, even do awful things. He's a ends justify the means sort of guy.
The worldbuilding is ambitious, especially for a standalone. It's a magic system based in colors, and I always wanted to read a book like this! It was, however, a lot to describe. We had a glossary at the beginning, but I forgot what it said even before the 20% mark. A lot of colors, a lot of powers, and then at some point, there was a dominant side and an atypical side, which I didn't understand much, I'm afraid. I like to have a better grasp on the worldbuilding, but in this case, I just went with the flow because my super-stressed brain couldn't retain the information.
The plot was twisty and always kept us up. I do see why others mention loopholes, but for me, it was the too-complicated plotlines and yet some too-easily-solved events that stick out because of the too-complicated plotline just before the resolution. But I did like the big plot twist!!!!! It was awesome!
I also appreciated the themes in the book and the LGBTQIA+ rep!
Overall, I think the story would benefit if this was a duology so that we had more breathing room to fully understand the worldbuilding. Otherwise, the story was fresh with morally grey characters who do their best to survive in a very cruel society that only hunts them down.
It is the monthly pick for a monthly box, so check my Instagram to see if I recommend to skip or not!
October 16, 2024
DNF 28%
I'm sorry, but this book just wasn't it. I could not get invested enough in the characters or the world to care about what happens next. The magic system tried and failed to be interesting, and the prose couldn't save it.
The whole concept seemed interesting in theory, but the story is just a combo of cliches and confusing worldbuilding.
I'm sorry, but this book just wasn't it. I could not get invested enough in the characters or the world to care about what happens next. The magic system tried and failed to be interesting, and the prose couldn't save it.
The whole concept seemed interesting in theory, but the story is just a combo of cliches and confusing worldbuilding.
June 14, 2024
This was a great read.
I really loved the idea of people being able to shift into an alternate dimension. It reminded me a little of Six of Crows with the characters performing heists, or lifts as they call them.
I found Cemmy to be a little shallow. She expected everyone to just accept how she is and she wasn't the greatest friend to Novi. True they'd had a relationship before but she was exploring something with Chase and then getting angry over the possibility of Novi moving on with someone else. You can't do one thing and then get mad when someone else does the same.
I felt like a lot of things that happened in the book were as a result of Cemmy's actions and I'm glad that the characters reacted the way they did at the end of the book due to Cemmy's actions once again.
I really loved the idea of people being able to shift into an alternate dimension. It reminded me a little of Six of Crows with the characters performing heists, or lifts as they call them.
I found Cemmy to be a little shallow. She expected everyone to just accept how she is and she wasn't the greatest friend to Novi. True they'd had a relationship before but she was exploring something with Chase and then getting angry over the possibility of Novi moving on with someone else. You can't do one thing and then get mad when someone else does the same.
I felt like a lot of things that happened in the book were as a result of Cemmy's actions and I'm glad that the characters reacted the way they did at the end of the book due to Cemmy's actions once again.
July 8, 2024
Thank you so much to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book!
A standalone fantasy heist with great characters and an incredibly intriguing magic system, what more do you want?
I went into Until We Shatter by Kate Dylan pretty open and not sure what to expect, but I absolutely loved this book. From the writing style, to the characters and world building, it was such an enjoyable read. We follow Cemmy along with her friends and some new characters in their journey to doing a heist. I loved seeing the dynamics between the characters, they really felt like people if that makes sense. The magic system — that being a color magic system — was a little overwhelming to get into at first, as it is very detailed and thought out, but as you grow accustomed to it, your understanding deepens and it truly is interesting. The pacing of the book was great, as well as the writing style.
As the ending neared, I was not sure if the conclusion would be a satisfying one, as I’m used to the fantasy books that I read having at least two books, but this was done incredibly well and I would definitely recommend Until We Shatter to anyone looking for a great fantasy heist. It makes you feel all sorts of things, from happiness, to anger, to sadness, i was completely shattered (ha ha pun intended I’m so funny / sarcasm) at some points. The cover of this book is absolutely gorgeous, props to the people who worked on it because it looks amazing.
I also want to say the representation in this book was great! I don’t want to spoil too much, just know that I personally really liked it :)
Overall, I loved until we shatter and I cannot wait for its release!
A standalone fantasy heist with great characters and an incredibly intriguing magic system, what more do you want?
I went into Until We Shatter by Kate Dylan pretty open and not sure what to expect, but I absolutely loved this book. From the writing style, to the characters and world building, it was such an enjoyable read. We follow Cemmy along with her friends and some new characters in their journey to doing a heist. I loved seeing the dynamics between the characters, they really felt like people if that makes sense. The magic system — that being a color magic system — was a little overwhelming to get into at first, as it is very detailed and thought out, but as you grow accustomed to it, your understanding deepens and it truly is interesting. The pacing of the book was great, as well as the writing style.
As the ending neared, I was not sure if the conclusion would be a satisfying one, as I’m used to the fantasy books that I read having at least two books, but this was done incredibly well and I would definitely recommend Until We Shatter to anyone looking for a great fantasy heist. It makes you feel all sorts of things, from happiness, to anger, to sadness, i was completely shattered (ha ha pun intended I’m so funny / sarcasm) at some points. The cover of this book is absolutely gorgeous, props to the people who worked on it because it looks amazing.
I also want to say the representation in this book was great! I don’t want to spoil too much, just know that I personally really liked it :)
Overall, I loved until we shatter and I cannot wait for its release!
Read
September 30, 2024Until We Shatter is well-written book that flows well, the thief FMC is badass and I liked the misfits vibe for the characters. Saying that I didn’t get on well with the romance aspect. I don’t know if this was because I didn’t get attached to the characters or the constant fights just became too much for me. There is another love interest beyond the typical FMC and MMC that was nice and could have been explored more and potentially I could have been invested there.
The magic system is complex and not well explained but I love the concept of it. That then made the world difficult for me to picture. After finishing this book I don’t really know much about it or what actually happened, there’s a heist and some betrayals and sarcastic humour, which I enjoyed. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.
The magic system is complex and not well explained but I love the concept of it. That then made the world difficult for me to picture. After finishing this book I don’t really know much about it or what actually happened, there’s a heist and some betrayals and sarcastic humour, which I enjoyed. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.
March 23, 2025
I really enjoyed that this felt different to the other books I’ve read recently, I liked the magic system and how it works and the worlds. Not quite a five stars as I feel like there was just something missing, as with most fantasy standalones it’s always going to be hard to cram everything in there. But it was a bloody good job of doing so nonetheless. Great book, quite annoyed I got it from one of my book boxes and have left it on my
Book shelf for a while. Oops.
Book shelf for a while. Oops.
September 16, 2024
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was really excited to read this book as I love a heist story that's aided by magic but sadly it didn't live up to my expectations and was a bit of a slog to get through.
While I'm glad that I didn't DNF it as the end was great, it took me far too long to get into and to finish. I definitely felt a reading slump coming but managed to fight through it to see how it ended.
I think the biggest issue is that the magic system is just way too complex, especially for a pretty short book. I still didn't fully get to grips with it by the end and the explanations and info dumping around it slowed the pace down way too much and got in the way of me caring for the characters. The result was that while the stakes in the story were huge, I didn't care too much about them.
This book also falls into the realm of 'if I just talked to other characters then nothing bad would happen' and it got increasingly frustrating that people weren't communicating or learning from their very obvious mistakes.
While the premise was fun and the action - once we got some - was pretty tense, the story suffered from an overly complicated magic system. This also sapped away a lot of my enjoyment.
I was really excited to read this book as I love a heist story that's aided by magic but sadly it didn't live up to my expectations and was a bit of a slog to get through.
While I'm glad that I didn't DNF it as the end was great, it took me far too long to get into and to finish. I definitely felt a reading slump coming but managed to fight through it to see how it ended.
I think the biggest issue is that the magic system is just way too complex, especially for a pretty short book. I still didn't fully get to grips with it by the end and the explanations and info dumping around it slowed the pace down way too much and got in the way of me caring for the characters. The result was that while the stakes in the story were huge, I didn't care too much about them.
This book also falls into the realm of 'if I just talked to other characters then nothing bad would happen' and it got increasingly frustrating that people weren't communicating or learning from their very obvious mistakes.
While the premise was fun and the action - once we got some - was pretty tense, the story suffered from an overly complicated magic system. This also sapped away a lot of my enjoyment.
July 1, 2025
3.5☆ rounded down
it was a decent book but something felt lacking?
it was a decent book but something felt lacking?
May 29, 2024
Thank you Hodder & Stoughton for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
“Forget everything you know about our magics, Cemilla. It’s time to learn some new tricks.”
Magic is in the blood of Isitar and its residents, but the Council of Shades is systematically hunting down anything less than a full Shade. Cemmy and her friends are all Hues, the name given to half-Shades, forced to live and operate in the shadows, a lifestyle which lends itself to a few particular skills. The crew are dragged into a rogue Shade’s scheme to save the magic of the world, using their colour-specific magical talents, in a life or death heist with a dash of romance.
This book promises a lot for its relatively short length. The grey and the in-between magic are creative and relatively unique, and who doesn't love a found family story? The story also features queer (wlw) and disabled representation (a deaf character), although this feels a little heavy handed at times (no pun intended) when a very clunky and pointed conversation comes up about how to make it easier to communicate with said deaf character, making it very clear to all that she does not need “fixing”. The pacing was also comfortable, with no moment lingering too long, and the plot carrying on at a steady trot towards a fast climax.
The romance between Cemmy and Chase was a standout of this book. I've not read anything else by Kate Dylan but it definitely felt like this was where she was most comfortable and confident with her writing, perhaps she is used to writing more spicy scenes as it certainly felt like it was heading there at times. As the best written parts, I felt like they could have been more of a focus of the book or be given some more space. Despite this, however, the other relationships in the story felt tenuous - there was a tendency to tell rather than show how the friends felt about each other, and history was stated rather than shared in memories. It’s difficult to buy into existing relationships that started before the opening act of the story, and I don’t feel like the author particularly succeeded here.
Despite the premise of the unique magic system, I also feel that the colour/metal naming conventions were a little juvenile and not particularly helpful with reader comprehension. I’ve finished the book and I think I could only tell you what a handful of the colours actually mean (gold, bronze, maybe green?). The story would have benefited from either from simplification, or a lot more depth being given to the worldbuilding of the magic system, even to the fear of “shattering”, which should have been ever prevalent. Perhaps if there were more examples pre-Chase of the crew running jobs together, or using their talents in interesting ways.
Similarly, I struggled to remember any detail about the power structures of the city and/or world - even now, writing this review, I’m having to check back to the book to remember that they are Council (pro-Shades) and Church (anti-magic). I think it was vaguely mentioned that there were three gods, but I couldn’t tell you any other features of the Church. It seemed that they were important to the world (country?) rather than just the city, and yet the pivotal members were here in this city. The on-the-run teens also knew each Council/Church member by name and face, despite being disaffected and constantly in hiding from any of them. It felt like there was a lot of contradiction between the accessibility or transparency of the various wielders of power. In line with the colours, this could either have had more time spent explaining it, or been stripped back and simplified to fit the length of the book.
The majority of my frustration or even boredom from the book came from the above, but it also didn’t help that Cemmy just fundamentally didn’t feel like an interesting main character. She wasn’t particularly likeable, and unnecessary miscommunications were used in abundance - notably about Magdelena but another more spoiler-y plot hole (in my opinion) regarding her mother.
Unfortunately overall for me personally this book was a miss. It had a lot of promise and some of the writing was really enjoyable, but I felt on the most part like I was observing it happen outside a bubble rather than being swept up in the action. It’s been a while since I’ve read YA, and while I don’t think the issues I have with the book are a fault of the genre, I do wonder if this book would have been better given a much higher word and page-count. Perhaps I’m just not the audience for this book. I do think it deserves 3 stars as I believe there are many people who would enjoy this book, especially those who are fans of shorter, quicker stories with less detail and development.
“Forget everything you know about our magics, Cemilla. It’s time to learn some new tricks.”
Magic is in the blood of Isitar and its residents, but the Council of Shades is systematically hunting down anything less than a full Shade. Cemmy and her friends are all Hues, the name given to half-Shades, forced to live and operate in the shadows, a lifestyle which lends itself to a few particular skills. The crew are dragged into a rogue Shade’s scheme to save the magic of the world, using their colour-specific magical talents, in a life or death heist with a dash of romance.
This book promises a lot for its relatively short length. The grey and the in-between magic are creative and relatively unique, and who doesn't love a found family story? The story also features queer (wlw) and disabled representation (a deaf character), although this feels a little heavy handed at times (no pun intended) when a very clunky and pointed conversation comes up about how to make it easier to communicate with said deaf character, making it very clear to all that she does not need “fixing”. The pacing was also comfortable, with no moment lingering too long, and the plot carrying on at a steady trot towards a fast climax.
The romance between Cemmy and Chase was a standout of this book. I've not read anything else by Kate Dylan but it definitely felt like this was where she was most comfortable and confident with her writing, perhaps she is used to writing more spicy scenes as it certainly felt like it was heading there at times. As the best written parts, I felt like they could have been more of a focus of the book or be given some more space. Despite this, however, the other relationships in the story felt tenuous - there was a tendency to tell rather than show how the friends felt about each other, and history was stated rather than shared in memories. It’s difficult to buy into existing relationships that started before the opening act of the story, and I don’t feel like the author particularly succeeded here.
Despite the premise of the unique magic system, I also feel that the colour/metal naming conventions were a little juvenile and not particularly helpful with reader comprehension. I’ve finished the book and I think I could only tell you what a handful of the colours actually mean (gold, bronze, maybe green?). The story would have benefited from either from simplification, or a lot more depth being given to the worldbuilding of the magic system, even to the fear of “shattering”, which should have been ever prevalent. Perhaps if there were more examples pre-Chase of the crew running jobs together, or using their talents in interesting ways.
Similarly, I struggled to remember any detail about the power structures of the city and/or world - even now, writing this review, I’m having to check back to the book to remember that they are Council (pro-Shades) and Church (anti-magic). I think it was vaguely mentioned that there were three gods, but I couldn’t tell you any other features of the Church. It seemed that they were important to the world (country?) rather than just the city, and yet the pivotal members were here in this city. The on-the-run teens also knew each Council/Church member by name and face, despite being disaffected and constantly in hiding from any of them. It felt like there was a lot of contradiction between the accessibility or transparency of the various wielders of power. In line with the colours, this could either have had more time spent explaining it, or been stripped back and simplified to fit the length of the book.
The majority of my frustration or even boredom from the book came from the above, but it also didn’t help that Cemmy just fundamentally didn’t feel like an interesting main character. She wasn’t particularly likeable, and unnecessary miscommunications were used in abundance - notably about Magdelena but another more spoiler-y plot hole (in my opinion) regarding her mother.
Unfortunately overall for me personally this book was a miss. It had a lot of promise and some of the writing was really enjoyable, but I felt on the most part like I was observing it happen outside a bubble rather than being swept up in the action. It’s been a while since I’ve read YA, and while I don’t think the issues I have with the book are a fault of the genre, I do wonder if this book would have been better given a much higher word and page-count. Perhaps I’m just not the audience for this book. I do think it deserves 3 stars as I believe there are many people who would enjoy this book, especially those who are fans of shorter, quicker stories with less detail and development.
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