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Castles in Their Bones #2
Gwiezdny pył we krwi
Dwie siostry, jeden kontynent i wojna, która spali ich świat.
Księżniczki Daphne, Beatriz i Sophronia całe życie były szkolone w jednym celu – by zniszczyć sąsiednie królestwa. Ich matka, cesarzowa Margaraux z Bessemii, pragnie władać całym kontynentem Vesterii, a córki to jej najpotężniejsza broń. I jednocześnie – przynęta. Jednak nawet cesarzowa nie potrafi kontrolować gwiazd. Wysłane do nowych królestw, księżniczki z czasem obrały własną drogę, całkowicie – i tragicznie – zmieniając bieg planów matki. Sophronia wybrała miłość i zapłaciła za to życiem.
Daphne i Beatriz nie mogą uwierzyć, że ich siostra nie żyje. Teraz, rozdzielone przez kontynent – i kłamstwa matki – z każdym dniem coraz wyraźniej dostrzegają, że mogą nie zmierzać do tego samego celu. Gwiazdy szepczą o śmierci, lecz Daphne i Beatriz dopiero zaczynają odkrywać prawdziwą moc, która płynie w ich żyłach. A ich matka zrobi wszystko, by trzymać je w garści – nawet jeśli oznacza to zgładzenie ich wszystkich.
Księżniczki Daphne, Beatriz i Sophronia całe życie były szkolone w jednym celu – by zniszczyć sąsiednie królestwa. Ich matka, cesarzowa Margaraux z Bessemii, pragnie władać całym kontynentem Vesterii, a córki to jej najpotężniejsza broń. I jednocześnie – przynęta. Jednak nawet cesarzowa nie potrafi kontrolować gwiazd. Wysłane do nowych królestw, księżniczki z czasem obrały własną drogę, całkowicie – i tragicznie – zmieniając bieg planów matki. Sophronia wybrała miłość i zapłaciła za to życiem.
Daphne i Beatriz nie mogą uwierzyć, że ich siostra nie żyje. Teraz, rozdzielone przez kontynent – i kłamstwa matki – z każdym dniem coraz wyraźniej dostrzegają, że mogą nie zmierzać do tego samego celu. Gwiazdy szepczą o śmierci, lecz Daphne i Beatriz dopiero zaczynają odkrywać prawdziwą moc, która płynie w ich żyłach. A ich matka zrobi wszystko, by trzymać je w garści – nawet jeśli oznacza to zgładzenie ich wszystkich.
574 pages, Paperback
First published February 7, 2023
178 people are currently reading
5407 people want to read
About the author
Laura Sebastian
13 books4,211 followersLaura Sebastian grew up in South Florida and attended Savannah College of Art and Design. She now lives and writes in London, England, with her two dogs, Neville and Circe. Laura is the author of the New York Times bestselling Ash Princess series: Ash Princess, Lady Smoke, and Ember Queen, as well as the Castles in Their Bones series: Castles in Their Bones, Stardust in Their Veins, and Poison In Their Hearts; Half Sick of Shadows, her first novel for adults; and Into the Glades, for middle-grade readers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 520 reviews
February 6, 2023
not as strong of an installment as the first book, but still enjoyable for the most part!
while the focus of the story is controlling kingdoms, its still light on the court politics, which i like. the scheming is done in a way that is accessible and doesnt get bogged down with mundane details or dense military strategy. i feel like this continues to make the actual manipulations more impactful. i also found all of the POVs to be equally interesting.
but the major weakness of this sequel is that its too drawn out. the length is way too long and could definitely use some editing down. the plot and pacing also could be tweaked a bit more so that its not as slow. its just not as engaging and fun as the first book is.
but overall, i think readers who have remained invested in these characters and the story that began in ‘castle in their bones’ should be looking forward to picking up this sequel.
thanks for the ARC, delacorte press!
↠ 3.5 stars
while the focus of the story is controlling kingdoms, its still light on the court politics, which i like. the scheming is done in a way that is accessible and doesnt get bogged down with mundane details or dense military strategy. i feel like this continues to make the actual manipulations more impactful. i also found all of the POVs to be equally interesting.
but the major weakness of this sequel is that its too drawn out. the length is way too long and could definitely use some editing down. the plot and pacing also could be tweaked a bit more so that its not as slow. its just not as engaging and fun as the first book is.
but overall, i think readers who have remained invested in these characters and the story that began in ‘castle in their bones’ should be looking forward to picking up this sequel.
thanks for the ARC, delacorte press!
↠ 3.5 stars
Want to read
January 11, 2022The feminine urge to rate this book 5 stars before actually reading it.
August 14, 2020
Again, rude to the people rating this 1 star before the book is even out.
Want to read
July 10, 2022another mismatched cover i want to choke
February 7, 2023
edit: happy release day!! this is one of my favorite underrated trilogies. i highly recommend!♥️☺️
Stardust in Their Veins has all the darkness and political intrigue of the first book, but with an exploration of grief. We see our girls grow into themselves and become the people they want to be.
This book picks up right where Castles in Their Bones left off (spoilers for the first book will be in this review). We journey with our three grieving main characters, Violie, Beatriz, and Daphne, who are forced to go on with their lives after Sophie's death. Violie and Prince Leopold are on the run for their lives, Beatriz is desperate for a way to save her and Pasquale, and Daphne is grappling with the realization that her mother might not have her or her sister's best interests in mind.
I was nervous about the brand new POV, but I enjoyed Violie's character. She has a quiet strength about her, and a determination to keep her promises to Sophie. We see her and Leopold and the tension at the beginning of their relationship, as they both feel great guilt that they could not save Sophie's life. We slowly see the beginnings of a friendship between them, built on their shared grief, and grow on the hope that they will make Sophie proud.
Beatriz became a much more morally gray character in this book. Her carefree nature gives way to anger and passion that I did not expect. Her rebellious nature takes on a darker edge as she plans for revenge against her mother. I loved seeing her conniving and manipulative side again but used for a better purpose.
Daphne had the most intense arc out of the three characters. Unlike Beatriz, she cannot accept that her mom had a hand in her sister's death. We see her try to bottle up her grief and guilt and not let it overwhelm her. As more of her mother's schemes come to light, Daphne is forced to choose between what she wants, and what her mother has trained her to be. Her mental struggle with being good and being a good daughter was very complex and nuanced.
I do think this book fell into a little bit of second-book syndrome with the plot. Nothing really big happens in this book, at least compared to the first one. However, it sets up a lot of key factors to make the third book an epic story. With all of our characters having drawn their battle lines and alliances by the end of Stardust, I have the feeling the third book is going to be nonstop action.
HUGE thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's for the arc of what is shaping up to be one of my favorite series!
--------------
i’m excited but i’m gonna cry why did they change the cover😢😢😢
Stardust in Their Veins has all the darkness and political intrigue of the first book, but with an exploration of grief. We see our girls grow into themselves and become the people they want to be.
This book picks up right where Castles in Their Bones left off (spoilers for the first book will be in this review). We journey with our three grieving main characters, Violie, Beatriz, and Daphne, who are forced to go on with their lives after Sophie's death. Violie and Prince Leopold are on the run for their lives, Beatriz is desperate for a way to save her and Pasquale, and Daphne is grappling with the realization that her mother might not have her or her sister's best interests in mind.
I was nervous about the brand new POV, but I enjoyed Violie's character. She has a quiet strength about her, and a determination to keep her promises to Sophie. We see her and Leopold and the tension at the beginning of their relationship, as they both feel great guilt that they could not save Sophie's life. We slowly see the beginnings of a friendship between them, built on their shared grief, and grow on the hope that they will make Sophie proud.
Beatriz became a much more morally gray character in this book. Her carefree nature gives way to anger and passion that I did not expect. Her rebellious nature takes on a darker edge as she plans for revenge against her mother. I loved seeing her conniving and manipulative side again but used for a better purpose.
Daphne had the most intense arc out of the three characters. Unlike Beatriz, she cannot accept that her mom had a hand in her sister's death. We see her try to bottle up her grief and guilt and not let it overwhelm her. As more of her mother's schemes come to light, Daphne is forced to choose between what she wants, and what her mother has trained her to be. Her mental struggle with being good and being a good daughter was very complex and nuanced.
I do think this book fell into a little bit of second-book syndrome with the plot. Nothing really big happens in this book, at least compared to the first one. However, it sets up a lot of key factors to make the third book an epic story. With all of our characters having drawn their battle lines and alliances by the end of Stardust, I have the feeling the third book is going to be nonstop action.
HUGE thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's for the arc of what is shaping up to be one of my favorite series!
--------------
i’m excited but i’m gonna cry why did they change the cover😢😢😢
November 23, 2022
thank you netgalley, delacorte press, and laura sebastian for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! castles in their bones is one of my favorite books because of the world-building, characters, and writing style. due to this, i was extremely excited to read this sequel and see what happens to everyone! i really enjoyed this one and am also rating it 5 stars.
this book follows many of the same characters as book one but it seems to mainly focus on beatriz - which i assumed it would because of the cover. beatriz was always the least interesting triplet to me, but i really liked her story in this one and how she learned more about her powers. my favorite POV in this one was definitely daphne though. i know that a lot of people don’t like her, but i understood her opinions throughout and really enjoyed her character development and relationship with those around her. there’s a new POV in this one as well, violie, and i thought that her storyline was also very interesting.
the political intrigue in this one was also amazing, along with the continued world-building and strengthening of the characters. i’m so excited for book three because i’m thinking it will be daphne’s book and she’s already grown so much in this one.
my one complaint is that the middle of the book did seem to be pretty slow-paced, but this didn’t really bother me and i finished it in only a few days. the ending was crazy and i really enjoyed it! i can’t wait to see how everything comes together in the next one. overall, this is a great sequel, and i think that fans of the first book will really enjoy it. it has all of the great elements and builds suspense even more. i highly recommend it!
this book follows many of the same characters as book one but it seems to mainly focus on beatriz - which i assumed it would because of the cover. beatriz was always the least interesting triplet to me, but i really liked her story in this one and how she learned more about her powers. my favorite POV in this one was definitely daphne though. i know that a lot of people don’t like her, but i understood her opinions throughout and really enjoyed her character development and relationship with those around her. there’s a new POV in this one as well, violie, and i thought that her storyline was also very interesting.
the political intrigue in this one was also amazing, along with the continued world-building and strengthening of the characters. i’m so excited for book three because i’m thinking it will be daphne’s book and she’s already grown so much in this one.
my one complaint is that the middle of the book did seem to be pretty slow-paced, but this didn’t really bother me and i finished it in only a few days. the ending was crazy and i really enjoyed it! i can’t wait to see how everything comes together in the next one. overall, this is a great sequel, and i think that fans of the first book will really enjoy it. it has all of the great elements and builds suspense even more. i highly recommend it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2022
I remember finishing the first book, Castles in Their Bones, in early February this year and imagined I would die waiting for the second book, I wouldn't, but I think there is a higher chance now! :)
And yes, I mentioned that it is not fair to choose my best book of the year in February, but now in the middle of December, I can honestly say Castles in Their Bones and Stardust in Their Veins are my best reads in 2022!
My favorite girls, I loved it, every word, every page, in this case, the narrator, Roisin Rankin. I finished it last night and still thinking, what the hell just happened! and how on earth I could write something without a spoiler!?
Generally for everybody who wants to know what is this book, and to understand their huge mistake of not read it yet,
In Kingdom of Stars, seventy years old Emperor of Bessemia suddenly fathered three daughters, some rumors say princesses are born with magic. Princesses mother, Empress Margaraux educated them to fulfill one duty;
Beatriz, Daphne and Sophronia should marry one of the princes or king of Vesteria, with conspiracy and chaos drive the countries to war till their mother conquest Cellaria, Friv and Temarin.
This was a task in the first book, twist and surprise were unbelievable!
For the second book, Stardust in Their Veins, I may warn you if did not read Castles in Their Bones, don't read the following,
About a week after the three sisters talk to each other, Beatriz was imprisoned in Cellaria and tries to figure out if is it wise to escape with her magic power and the help of Nigellus and come back to her mother!
Daphne in icy Friv still struggling with rebels and not sure whom should trust, Temarin is almost in her mother's hand and she should decide, choose her loyalty!
There is much to say and I really want to talk to someone about this book, I actually want more to scream, but this was all I could express. I think the last book I've read and felt so much tension and stress was in Martin's books! Highly recommended!
I am so grateful to Hodder & Stoughton Audio via Netgalley for ARC, I have given my honest review! Pub Date 07 Feb 2023
And yes, I mentioned that it is not fair to choose my best book of the year in February, but now in the middle of December, I can honestly say Castles in Their Bones and Stardust in Their Veins are my best reads in 2022!
My favorite girls, I loved it, every word, every page, in this case, the narrator, Roisin Rankin. I finished it last night and still thinking, what the hell just happened! and how on earth I could write something without a spoiler!?
Generally for everybody who wants to know what is this book, and to understand their huge mistake of not read it yet,
In Kingdom of Stars, seventy years old Emperor of Bessemia suddenly fathered three daughters, some rumors say princesses are born with magic. Princesses mother, Empress Margaraux educated them to fulfill one duty;
Beatriz, Daphne and Sophronia should marry one of the princes or king of Vesteria, with conspiracy and chaos drive the countries to war till their mother conquest Cellaria, Friv and Temarin.
This was a task in the first book, twist and surprise were unbelievable!
For the second book, Stardust in Their Veins, I may warn you if did not read Castles in Their Bones, don't read the following,
About a week after the three sisters talk to each other, Beatriz was imprisoned in Cellaria and tries to figure out if is it wise to escape with her magic power and the help of Nigellus and come back to her mother!
Daphne in icy Friv still struggling with rebels and not sure whom should trust, Temarin is almost in her mother's hand and she should decide, choose her loyalty!
There is much to say and I really want to talk to someone about this book, I actually want more to scream, but this was all I could express. I think the last book I've read and felt so much tension and stress was in Martin's books! Highly recommended!
I am so grateful to Hodder & Stoughton Audio via Netgalley for ARC, I have given my honest review! Pub Date 07 Feb 2023
January 29, 2023
Review coming soon.
February 15, 2023
7/18/2022 - So is anybody really disappointed by the cover? I’m kinda pissed by this trend of “adultifying” YA covers and trying to make them look more mature/edgy when we had that beautiful portrait of Sophronia on the last cover. :/
January 17, 2023
Last year, I read Castles in Their Bones and was completely blown away. I had never read a book by Laura Sebastian before, but as soon as I finished., I knew I had to read everything she ever wrote. I read four more books by her within the next two weeks, and in every book I loved the author’s writing style and gripping storytelling abilities. So, of course, I leaped at the chance to read an advanced copy of Stardust in the Veins. The ending of Castles in Their Bones was so shocking, and I was eager to see how the sisters’ stories would play out.
Stardust in Their Veins is a fantastic continuation to the series! Suspenseful, layered, and unpredictable, it is a super immersive read and one that I didn’t want to put down. The story picks up where the first book left off, with the characters reeling over the death of their sister and the aftereffects of the coup.
If there’s one thing I learned about Sophie and her sisters it’s this: when they hatch a plan, the stars themselves aren’t enough to stand in their way.
Beatrix begins to plan her revenge against her mother while learning more and more about her gifts, mourning the loss of her sister, and finding allies in the most unlikely of places. She’s such a layered and interesting character, and her development over the course of the story is fantastic. She is no longer the young woman who follows her mother’s dictates without question. She’s stronger and more determined. Beatrix has such a great relationship with Pasquale, and I think this connection is part of the reason she’s changed so much. He’s completely devoted to her and does everything in his power to protect and help her. She, in turn, uses her power to help him, even though she puts herself at risk.
Daphne’s story is also intriguing, though she isn’t as quick to turn against her mother. This isn’t surprising considering she is probably the most similar to the Empress. However, we do see her attitude change as the story progresses. It’s interesting to see how she deals with new and surprising revelations, the grief of losing her sister, and her conflicted feelings toward Bairre.
I love a good romance, and the relationship between Daphne and Bairre is one I’m totally rooting for. They have so much chemistry, and the angst is high with this tortured couple. I love the push and pull and the banter. They’re both so confused and fighting their feelings, but I don’t think it’s working too well for either of them. The tension is palpable, and I’m hoping they can find a way to be together after all the lies, secrets, and betrayals.
“Right now he is looking at her like he would set the stars on fire if she asked it of him, like he will do anything for her except tell her the truth, and suddenly the truth doesn’t matter as much as it should, not for either of them.”
Like the first book, this one is told from multiple perspectives. The sisters are so different, and I like that we continue to get both of their perspectives. You really understand what they feel and why they do certain things. And there’s a new perspective in this book, which I found interesting. This wasn’t a character I liked in the previous book, but I like her redemption arc and her growing relationships with some of my faves. I’m seeing the hint of a love story here too. and I like the direction it’s headed!
The world-building and plot are as layered as the characters, and both are fascinating. It’s complex and rich in description and political intrigue, and there are some plot twists that I totally didn’t see coming! And with that cliffhanger ending, I’m dying to read the next book! So much is at stake for the characters, and their battle to defeat the Empress is going to be epic and shocking and probably a little heartbreaking. I have a feeling the next book will emotionally destroy me, and I’ll thank Laura Sebastian for doing it. lol.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
Stardust in Their Veins is a fantastic continuation to the series! Suspenseful, layered, and unpredictable, it is a super immersive read and one that I didn’t want to put down. The story picks up where the first book left off, with the characters reeling over the death of their sister and the aftereffects of the coup.
If there’s one thing I learned about Sophie and her sisters it’s this: when they hatch a plan, the stars themselves aren’t enough to stand in their way.
Beatrix begins to plan her revenge against her mother while learning more and more about her gifts, mourning the loss of her sister, and finding allies in the most unlikely of places. She’s such a layered and interesting character, and her development over the course of the story is fantastic. She is no longer the young woman who follows her mother’s dictates without question. She’s stronger and more determined. Beatrix has such a great relationship with Pasquale, and I think this connection is part of the reason she’s changed so much. He’s completely devoted to her and does everything in his power to protect and help her. She, in turn, uses her power to help him, even though she puts herself at risk.
Daphne’s story is also intriguing, though she isn’t as quick to turn against her mother. This isn’t surprising considering she is probably the most similar to the Empress. However, we do see her attitude change as the story progresses. It’s interesting to see how she deals with new and surprising revelations, the grief of losing her sister, and her conflicted feelings toward Bairre.
I love a good romance, and the relationship between Daphne and Bairre is one I’m totally rooting for. They have so much chemistry, and the angst is high with this tortured couple. I love the push and pull and the banter. They’re both so confused and fighting their feelings, but I don’t think it’s working too well for either of them. The tension is palpable, and I’m hoping they can find a way to be together after all the lies, secrets, and betrayals.
“Right now he is looking at her like he would set the stars on fire if she asked it of him, like he will do anything for her except tell her the truth, and suddenly the truth doesn’t matter as much as it should, not for either of them.”
Like the first book, this one is told from multiple perspectives. The sisters are so different, and I like that we continue to get both of their perspectives. You really understand what they feel and why they do certain things. And there’s a new perspective in this book, which I found interesting. This wasn’t a character I liked in the previous book, but I like her redemption arc and her growing relationships with some of my faves. I’m seeing the hint of a love story here too. and I like the direction it’s headed!
The world-building and plot are as layered as the characters, and both are fascinating. It’s complex and rich in description and political intrigue, and there are some plot twists that I totally didn’t see coming! And with that cliffhanger ending, I’m dying to read the next book! So much is at stake for the characters, and their battle to defeat the Empress is going to be epic and shocking and probably a little heartbreaking. I have a feeling the next book will emotionally destroy me, and I’ll thank Laura Sebastian for doing it. lol.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
January 16, 2023
"And soon enough, they'll wish they'd killed us when they had a chance."
My huge thanks to Hodder & Stoughton to invite me to read this amazing sequel first!
I remember finishing the first book, Castles in Their Bones, in early February this year and imagined I would die waiting for the second book, I wouldn't, but I think there is a higher chance now! :)
And yes, I mentioned that it is not fair to choose my best book of the year in February, but now in the middle of December, I can honestly say Castles in Their Bones and Stardust in Their Veins are my best reads in 2022!
My favorite girls, I loved it, every word and every page. I finished it last night and still thinking, what the hell just happened! and how on earth could I write something without a spoiler!?
Generally for everybody who wants to know what is this book, and to understand their vast mistake of not read it yet,
In Kingdom of Stars, seventy years old Emperor of Bessemia suddenly fathered three daughters, some rumors say princesses are born with magic. Princesses mother, Empress Margaraux educated them to fulfill one duty;
Beatriz, Daphne and Sophronia should marry one of the princes or king of Vesteria, with conspiracy and chaos driving the countries to war till their mother conquest Cellaria, Friv and Temarin.
This was a task in the first book, the twist and surprises were unbelievable!
For the second book, Stardust in Their Veins, I may warn you if did not read Castles in Their Bones, don't read the following,
About a week after the three sisters talk to each other, Beatriz was imprisoned in Cellaria and tried to figure out if is it wise to escape with her magic power and the help of Nigellus and come back to her mother!
Daphne in icy Friv still struggling with rebels and not sure whom should trust, Temarin is almost in her mother's hand and she should decide, choose her loyalty!
There is much to say and I really want to talk to someone about this book, I actually more want to scream, but this was all I could express. I think the last book I read and felt so much tension and stress was Martin's books!
Highly recommended!
My huge thanks to Hodder & Stoughton to invite me to read this amazing sequel first!
I remember finishing the first book, Castles in Their Bones, in early February this year and imagined I would die waiting for the second book, I wouldn't, but I think there is a higher chance now! :)
And yes, I mentioned that it is not fair to choose my best book of the year in February, but now in the middle of December, I can honestly say Castles in Their Bones and Stardust in Their Veins are my best reads in 2022!
My favorite girls, I loved it, every word and every page. I finished it last night and still thinking, what the hell just happened! and how on earth could I write something without a spoiler!?
Generally for everybody who wants to know what is this book, and to understand their vast mistake of not read it yet,
In Kingdom of Stars, seventy years old Emperor of Bessemia suddenly fathered three daughters, some rumors say princesses are born with magic. Princesses mother, Empress Margaraux educated them to fulfill one duty;
Beatriz, Daphne and Sophronia should marry one of the princes or king of Vesteria, with conspiracy and chaos driving the countries to war till their mother conquest Cellaria, Friv and Temarin.
This was a task in the first book, the twist and surprises were unbelievable!
For the second book, Stardust in Their Veins, I may warn you if did not read Castles in Their Bones, don't read the following,
About a week after the three sisters talk to each other, Beatriz was imprisoned in Cellaria and tried to figure out if is it wise to escape with her magic power and the help of Nigellus and come back to her mother!
Daphne in icy Friv still struggling with rebels and not sure whom should trust, Temarin is almost in her mother's hand and she should decide, choose her loyalty!
There is much to say and I really want to talk to someone about this book, I actually more want to scream, but this was all I could express. I think the last book I read and felt so much tension and stress was Martin's books!
Highly recommended!
March 24, 2024
I've recently found that if I fall in love with the characters, a book could basically be terrible and I'll still rate it higher. I read Castles In Their Bones twice, so when I got to this I'd become attached to the triplets, and wanted to see where they would go after the shocking events at the end of the first book.
While Beatriz travels to Bessemia, Daphne stays in Friv, and this story focuses more of them coming to terms with losing Sophie and preparing for what will happen next, so this story doesn't move forward much at all, for such a big book.
This is pure filler, with a few small events changing the course of the story, but I do wonder if this would have worked better as a duology. However, I appreciated the time spent with Daphne, Beatriz and new POV Violie, and I'm interested to see what will happen in the third book.
While Beatriz travels to Bessemia, Daphne stays in Friv, and this story focuses more of them coming to terms with losing Sophie and preparing for what will happen next, so this story doesn't move forward much at all, for such a big book.
This is pure filler, with a few small events changing the course of the story, but I do wonder if this would have worked better as a duology. However, I appreciated the time spent with Daphne, Beatriz and new POV Violie, and I'm interested to see what will happen in the third book.
Want to read
January 20, 2023ARC received! Thank you, Delacorte Press!!!
I'm so excited to have this. She's thick, also I may need to refresh my memory regarding the first book.
Castles in Their Bones is fantastic, and frankly underrated. If you haven't checked it out yet, now may be a great time to do so!
I'm so excited to have this. She's thick, also I may need to refresh my memory regarding the first book.
Castles in Their Bones is fantastic, and frankly underrated. If you haven't checked it out yet, now may be a great time to do so!
May 20, 2023
Une suite qui ne souffre pas du syndrome du tome 2.
👑 Cette saga est tellement sous cotée ? J’en attendais rien au vu du peu de chroniques que j’avais lu, mais le 1 avait déjà été une très bonne surprise. Coup de chance ? Mood idéal ? Ça aurait pu être simplement ça si le tome 2 ne s’était pas révélé tout aussi cool à lire, même après de nombreux mois sans toucher à l’univers.
👑 On retrouve ce même dynamisme qui m’avait tant séduite initialement, ces mêmes rebondissements qui tiennent en haleine. Je trouve même qu’on va encore plus loin dans cette suite avec l’introduction d’une nouvelle dimension totalement due à la fin du 1. Bien évidemment je ne rentrerai pas davantage dans les explications pour des questions de spoil, sachez simplement qu’il y a de très bons choix narratifs.
👑 Fatalement puisque c’est un tome 2, je ne veux pas trop en dévoiler de l’intrigue mais tout y est : la survie, les sentiments, la loyauté… Il y a vraiment un très bon équilibre entre l’intrigue politique et la notion de famille. Trop trop chouette, quoi. On suit plusieurs points de vue mais comme chaque personnage a un caractère qui lui est propre, il n’y a aucune confusion et on les aime chacune pour des raisons différentes. Comme ce n’est pas toujours le cas pour moi je l’affirme pour celui-ci : j’ai trouvé tous les povs pertinents et intéressants.
👑 L’intrigue en elle-même se veut légèrement plus calme mais on ne tombe jamais dans la lenteur. Il y a beaucoup d’éléments qui se développent et toujours quelque chose qui bout, des révélations qui tombent. Aucun moment d’ennui de mon côté et un tome 2 qui me confirme la qualité de cette saga YA.
👑 Cette saga est tellement sous cotée ? J’en attendais rien au vu du peu de chroniques que j’avais lu, mais le 1 avait déjà été une très bonne surprise. Coup de chance ? Mood idéal ? Ça aurait pu être simplement ça si le tome 2 ne s’était pas révélé tout aussi cool à lire, même après de nombreux mois sans toucher à l’univers.
👑 On retrouve ce même dynamisme qui m’avait tant séduite initialement, ces mêmes rebondissements qui tiennent en haleine. Je trouve même qu’on va encore plus loin dans cette suite avec l’introduction d’une nouvelle dimension totalement due à la fin du 1. Bien évidemment je ne rentrerai pas davantage dans les explications pour des questions de spoil, sachez simplement qu’il y a de très bons choix narratifs.
👑 Fatalement puisque c’est un tome 2, je ne veux pas trop en dévoiler de l’intrigue mais tout y est : la survie, les sentiments, la loyauté… Il y a vraiment un très bon équilibre entre l’intrigue politique et la notion de famille. Trop trop chouette, quoi. On suit plusieurs points de vue mais comme chaque personnage a un caractère qui lui est propre, il n’y a aucune confusion et on les aime chacune pour des raisons différentes. Comme ce n’est pas toujours le cas pour moi je l’affirme pour celui-ci : j’ai trouvé tous les povs pertinents et intéressants.
👑 L’intrigue en elle-même se veut légèrement plus calme mais on ne tombe jamais dans la lenteur. Il y a beaucoup d’éléments qui se développent et toujours quelque chose qui bout, des révélations qui tombent. Aucun moment d’ennui de mon côté et un tome 2 qui me confirme la qualité de cette saga YA.
March 23, 2023
What a bitter disappointment this was… I absolutely loved the first book and had such high hopes for the rest of the series, but this middle book bored me to tears. Let’s face it, Sophronia was the loveliest character and her absence (which,plotting wise, was a jaw dropping punch to the gut) shows.
Want to read
July 17, 2022Ahem, wasn’t it their younger sister…?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2023
4.5 stars!! I just really like these books and I don’t care what anyone else thinks haha
May 9, 2023
Holy shit! That ending and the plot-twist blew my freaking mind! I had to put the book down and scream. The only complaint I have is the fact that I have to wait till 2024 to read the next book :(
June 9, 2024
Pre-read/review thoughts about the cover reveal (7/15/2022): The fact that they switched the style and art of the cover for this second book makes me uneasy for some reason. That's coming from someone who usually doesn't care that much as to whether or not books in a series have matching covers because it seems like such a small, silly thing in the larger context of the actual plot of the story, the character development, the writing style, and the fact that I know I'm going to finish this almost 600-page book in a matter of a day or two in February 2023 and I'm gonna have to wait another year for the third one.
Laura Sebastian explains a little bit about the mismatched covers here and I get that it's out of the author's control on things like marketing and cover art and they're at the mercy of their publishers and their vision on it all, but if this was the direction the publishers wanted to go with the cover the entire time why didn't they just start this cover art style with the first book? The publishing world will never fail to be a mystery to me as someone looking from the outside in, lol.
Like, this cover is pretty don't let me lie. I hope there's gold foiling around the edges and border to make it all nice and shiny, but on the other hand, we got to see Sophronia (my favorite triplet) and her pretty dress on the front of the hardcover edition of Castles in Their Bones and now we BARELY get to see Beatriz's face. BARELY. I wouldn't have been able to tell you this was SUPPOSED TO BE Beatriz's face on the cover if Laura Sebastian didn't flat out say it was on her Instagram posts for the cover reveal (which means that Daphne will be on the cover of the third book by process of elimination).
To make things somewhat worse, they redid the cover of Castles in Their Bones for the PAPERBACK EDITION to match THIS HARDCOVER EDITION for Stardust in Their Veins (Which you can see here and Laura Sebastian confirms in the comments that the mismatched covers and editions are "unfortunately not" going to match) which yeah, makes me do a little eye twitch.
Will I still be reading this? Of course, and you can bet that I'll be pre-ordering this when it gets closer to February 2023 because this series has me in a chokehold. Did I just unlock a new pet peeve I didn't know I had with this cover reveal? Yes, yes I did.
Laura Sebastian explains a little bit about the mismatched covers here and I get that it's out of the author's control on things like marketing and cover art and they're at the mercy of their publishers and their vision on it all, but if this was the direction the publishers wanted to go with the cover the entire time why didn't they just start this cover art style with the first book? The publishing world will never fail to be a mystery to me as someone looking from the outside in, lol.
Like, this cover is pretty don't let me lie. I hope there's gold foiling around the edges and border to make it all nice and shiny, but on the other hand, we got to see Sophronia (my favorite triplet) and her pretty dress on the front of the hardcover edition of Castles in Their Bones and now we BARELY get to see Beatriz's face. BARELY. I wouldn't have been able to tell you this was SUPPOSED TO BE Beatriz's face on the cover if Laura Sebastian didn't flat out say it was on her Instagram posts for the cover reveal (which means that Daphne will be on the cover of the third book by process of elimination).
To make things somewhat worse, they redid the cover of Castles in Their Bones for the PAPERBACK EDITION to match THIS HARDCOVER EDITION for Stardust in Their Veins (Which you can see here and Laura Sebastian confirms in the comments that the mismatched covers and editions are "unfortunately not" going to match) which yeah, makes me do a little eye twitch.
Will I still be reading this? Of course, and you can bet that I'll be pre-ordering this when it gets closer to February 2023 because this series has me in a chokehold. Did I just unlock a new pet peeve I didn't know I had with this cover reveal? Yes, yes I did.
November 18, 2023
Just finished this book last week and it was so good! I'm dying for book 3, I have been holding onto this e-arc for awhile because it's been so long since I've read book 1 but wow am I glad I got this arc! Thank u to Decrote press for sending me an e-arc and then decided to pick it up physically from my library and now I'm dying to buy myself a copy!!(:
I loved how we have a multi pov in this series the only bad part is when I was playing the audiobook, and not following along it and not paying attention to the book the characters kind of blend together for me. But, my favorite character was totally Dahpen! I can't wait to see what book 3 has in store for us!(:
I loved how we have a multi pov in this series the only bad part is when I was playing the audiobook, and not following along it and not paying attention to the book the characters kind of blend together for me. But, my favorite character was totally Dahpen! I can't wait to see what book 3 has in store for us!(:
January 29, 2023
4.5 Stars
The highly anticipated sequel to Laura Sebastian’s Castles In Their Bones ups the stakes and the delicious, slow burn political intrigue that fans of Tricia Levenseller’s The Shadows Between Us or Alexandra Rowland’s A Taste of Gold and Iron don’t want to miss!
I just want to preface this by saying, given how things transpired at the end of Castles In Their Bones, I can’t go into too much detail about Stardust In Their Veins’ premise without revealing spoilers for book one, so this is my attempt at explaining the plot (and sharing a review) WITHOUT giving away any spoilers.
It follows on from the aftermath of event which started with triplet princesses ; Sophronia, Beatriz and Daphne sent off to marry into three kingdoms—and by seduction, deception and espionage,!weaken them enough to allow their power hungry mother (the Empress of Bessemia) to sweep in and take control of the entire continent.
Suffice to say, those plans did not always go so smoothly, and book two opens with each Princess attempting to navigate the repercussions of those plans. But with assassins around every corner and warnings of betrayal (and an ominous new prophecy written in the stars) , the Princesses can’t trust anyone—perhaps not even each other. But, If they've learned anything, it's that their mother’s game is constantly changing. The only question now is, can they tip the scales in their favour, before deadlier foes decide their fates …
If you’ve followed my reviews for a while then you may remember how much enjoyed Castles In Their Bones last year which I completely devoured—and very nearly rioted over, after THAT spectacular cliff hanger of an ending! So when the opportunity to read the sequel arose I couldn’t help but leapt at the chance. And despite some initial reservations (second book syndrome has burned me far too many times not to have any) I’m glad to report that it definitely managed to live up to my (admittedly quite high) expectations—and even made me love a character or two that I previously REALLY disliked.
The writing is (unsurprisingly) just as exquisite as it’s predecessor with world building that was just as expansive and even more nuanced—giving us more insight not only into the Kingdoms of Friv and Cellaria, but Bessemia as well which definitely made for an intriguingly enjoyable read.
It was definitely a more character driven narrative and I loved the depth and emotions that we see from our protagonists—I was especially impressed with the feeling of intimacy we get in a lot of Daphne and Beatriz’s monologue style scenes and the emotional development we see them both undertake. Particularly Daphne, who was probably my least favourite of the sisters in the first book (my fave being Sophronia.) But, I felt she really came into her own here as we see her finally begin to piece together events and begin to question the validity of her mother’s actions. As the most dutiful Princess (and the most loyal to the Empress) this makes for quite an intense emotional journey for Daphne, and one that really helped endear her to me.
The pace is more of a slow burn as there is more political intrigue and scheming as opposed to direct conflict but I felt that really gave us time to process all the new characters, POVs or (in Beatriz’s case) new magical abilities we didn’t fully explore in the previous book. The romance, likewise, took a bit of a back seat to the fraught relationship between Daphne and Beatriz and the tentative sisterly bond that has formed between them.
Overall, this was a great second instalment to this female driven and espionage filled series, and really sets the stage for what is sure be be an explosive book three—which I desperately need a copy of ASAP!
Also, thanks to Hodderscape and Netgalley for the e-arc.
The highly anticipated sequel to Laura Sebastian’s Castles In Their Bones ups the stakes and the delicious, slow burn political intrigue that fans of Tricia Levenseller’s The Shadows Between Us or Alexandra Rowland’s A Taste of Gold and Iron don’t want to miss!
I just want to preface this by saying, given how things transpired at the end of Castles In Their Bones, I can’t go into too much detail about Stardust In Their Veins’ premise without revealing spoilers for book one, so this is my attempt at explaining the plot (and sharing a review) WITHOUT giving away any spoilers.
It follows on from the aftermath of event which started with triplet princesses ; Sophronia, Beatriz and Daphne sent off to marry into three kingdoms—and by seduction, deception and espionage,!weaken them enough to allow their power hungry mother (the Empress of Bessemia) to sweep in and take control of the entire continent.
Suffice to say, those plans did not always go so smoothly, and book two opens with each Princess attempting to navigate the repercussions of those plans. But with assassins around every corner and warnings of betrayal (and an ominous new prophecy written in the stars) , the Princesses can’t trust anyone—perhaps not even each other. But, If they've learned anything, it's that their mother’s game is constantly changing. The only question now is, can they tip the scales in their favour, before deadlier foes decide their fates …
If you’ve followed my reviews for a while then you may remember how much enjoyed Castles In Their Bones last year which I completely devoured—and very nearly rioted over, after THAT spectacular cliff hanger of an ending! So when the opportunity to read the sequel arose I couldn’t help but leapt at the chance. And despite some initial reservations (second book syndrome has burned me far too many times not to have any) I’m glad to report that it definitely managed to live up to my (admittedly quite high) expectations—and even made me love a character or two that I previously REALLY disliked.
The writing is (unsurprisingly) just as exquisite as it’s predecessor with world building that was just as expansive and even more nuanced—giving us more insight not only into the Kingdoms of Friv and Cellaria, but Bessemia as well which definitely made for an intriguingly enjoyable read.
It was definitely a more character driven narrative and I loved the depth and emotions that we see from our protagonists—I was especially impressed with the feeling of intimacy we get in a lot of Daphne and Beatriz’s monologue style scenes and the emotional development we see them both undertake. Particularly Daphne, who was probably my least favourite of the sisters in the first book (my fave being Sophronia.) But, I felt she really came into her own here as we see her finally begin to piece together events and begin to question the validity of her mother’s actions. As the most dutiful Princess (and the most loyal to the Empress) this makes for quite an intense emotional journey for Daphne, and one that really helped endear her to me.
The pace is more of a slow burn as there is more political intrigue and scheming as opposed to direct conflict but I felt that really gave us time to process all the new characters, POVs or (in Beatriz’s case) new magical abilities we didn’t fully explore in the previous book. The romance, likewise, took a bit of a back seat to the fraught relationship between Daphne and Beatriz and the tentative sisterly bond that has formed between them.
Overall, this was a great second instalment to this female driven and espionage filled series, and really sets the stage for what is sure be be an explosive book three—which I desperately need a copy of ASAP!
Also, thanks to Hodderscape and Netgalley for the e-arc.
November 8, 2022
So happy that I had the ARC, because after the cliffhanger from book one, I got to devour this one quickly! (4.5 Stars)
Stardust in Their Veins solidifies the improvements Sebastian has made as a writer between this series and her debut trilogy, Ash Princess (which I was not a fan of). My pet peeve in the fantasy genre is that plot twists about character fatality often end up being reversed (because, of course, magic!). This reversal is cheap, uninspired writing. If you're going to jump off the cliff, you can't go back to the limp.
Thankfully, those who are no longer present STAY no longer present- if you've read book one, you know what I'm talking about. Happy to report that Sebastian avoids this cliché, and the consequences from book one continue to play out in book two.
Violie, Sophronia's maid, is added as a POV in this installment, and she's a welcome addition to the group. At times, though, she could be a little too similar in attitude and disposition to Daphne. As we become more familiar with her in book three, perhaps that may change. Speaking of Daphne, the tension of her plotlines is massively improved in this book. I actually looked forward to her chapters, rather than skimming to get back to Sophronia or Beatriz. She is also probably the most developed character, with the most complex relationships and the most difficult decisions to make. This time around, however, Beatriz had the least interesting story. There isn't enough world-building about Bessemia for me to care what's going on, and we get it, the Empress is evil. Furthermore, Pasquale isn't developed enough as a character for me to be truly invested in his friendship with Beatriz or his relationship with Ambrose. There's no negative traits to him that endear him as a three-dimensional character. Ambrose is even worse- flatter than paper. Especially since Sebastian has added new view points, it may be prudent to include Pasquale's, as he may have an interesting story to tell. I want to care about Pasquale, I really do! I just...don't.
Speaking of half-baked characters- Nigellus. Was I supposed to care? He certainly is not "warm, demanding mentor" that we see often in YA, and that's perfectly fine. If anything, I love a morally gray mentor. However, he just adds absolutely nothing to the story, or to Beatriz. She could have gotten all the information she needed elsewhere, and his conversations with her tended to drag on. He needs to be crueler, or more entertaining, or somewhere in between. He just needs...more. Nicolo belongs in this boring boat, too.
Aside from a slightly lagging middle section, Stardust in Their Veins remains tightly plotted and exciting. I've been entirely absorbed into this world, and I'm sad to leave it until the next book is released.
I am begging Laura Sebastian, BEGGING, for more Gisella in book three! I love me some anti-heroines, and her cunning and self-preservation was delicious. More of her, please! A POV, perhaps?
The most pressing problem of Stardust were those of logic. There were one too many moments of, "how have they not figured this out yet?!" Daphne is denser than rock in some aspects, and she's supposed to be the smartest one. It takes WAY too long for her to realize how treacherous her mother is, and it got tedious watching her justify the Empress' actions for the ten thousandth time.
The Frivian rebellion continues to boil in book two, but their motives are not that clear. Why do they hate King Bartholomew so much? I remember it being referenced in book one, but there's no outward text evidence to support the rebels' hatred of him. Some scenes that demonstrate the pain Bartholomew has caused to Friv would solidify the rebels' actions better. At this point, I don't really care if the rebellion is quelled or not, because I don't really understand what they want anyway. And speaking of Bartholomew, he is a fool, and I'm not sure how the rebels haven't killed him already.
And the tiniest of logic issues- how does Bairre NOT recognize Leopold? They were princes of neighboring countries; I doubt that they have never met each other before.
Another fantastic entry for this series- already foaming at the mouth for book three!
Stardust in Their Veins solidifies the improvements Sebastian has made as a writer between this series and her debut trilogy, Ash Princess (which I was not a fan of). My pet peeve in the fantasy genre is that plot twists about character fatality often end up being reversed (because, of course, magic!). This reversal is cheap, uninspired writing. If you're going to jump off the cliff, you can't go back to the limp.
Thankfully, those who are no longer present STAY no longer present- if you've read book one, you know what I'm talking about. Happy to report that Sebastian avoids this cliché, and the consequences from book one continue to play out in book two.
Violie, Sophronia's maid, is added as a POV in this installment, and she's a welcome addition to the group. At times, though, she could be a little too similar in attitude and disposition to Daphne. As we become more familiar with her in book three, perhaps that may change. Speaking of Daphne, the tension of her plotlines is massively improved in this book. I actually looked forward to her chapters, rather than skimming to get back to Sophronia or Beatriz. She is also probably the most developed character, with the most complex relationships and the most difficult decisions to make. This time around, however, Beatriz had the least interesting story. There isn't enough world-building about Bessemia for me to care what's going on, and we get it, the Empress is evil. Furthermore, Pasquale isn't developed enough as a character for me to be truly invested in his friendship with Beatriz or his relationship with Ambrose. There's no negative traits to him that endear him as a three-dimensional character. Ambrose is even worse- flatter than paper. Especially since Sebastian has added new view points, it may be prudent to include Pasquale's, as he may have an interesting story to tell. I want to care about Pasquale, I really do! I just...don't.
Speaking of half-baked characters- Nigellus. Was I supposed to care? He certainly is not "warm, demanding mentor" that we see often in YA, and that's perfectly fine. If anything, I love a morally gray mentor. However, he just adds absolutely nothing to the story, or to Beatriz. She could have gotten all the information she needed elsewhere, and his conversations with her tended to drag on. He needs to be crueler, or more entertaining, or somewhere in between. He just needs...more. Nicolo belongs in this boring boat, too.
Aside from a slightly lagging middle section, Stardust in Their Veins remains tightly plotted and exciting. I've been entirely absorbed into this world, and I'm sad to leave it until the next book is released.
I am begging Laura Sebastian, BEGGING, for more Gisella in book three! I love me some anti-heroines, and her cunning and self-preservation was delicious. More of her, please! A POV, perhaps?
The most pressing problem of Stardust were those of logic. There were one too many moments of, "how have they not figured this out yet?!" Daphne is denser than rock in some aspects, and she's supposed to be the smartest one. It takes WAY too long for her to realize how treacherous her mother is, and it got tedious watching her justify the Empress' actions for the ten thousandth time.
The Frivian rebellion continues to boil in book two, but their motives are not that clear. Why do they hate King Bartholomew so much? I remember it being referenced in book one, but there's no outward text evidence to support the rebels' hatred of him. Some scenes that demonstrate the pain Bartholomew has caused to Friv would solidify the rebels' actions better. At this point, I don't really care if the rebellion is quelled or not, because I don't really understand what they want anyway. And speaking of Bartholomew, he is a fool, and I'm not sure how the rebels haven't killed him already.
And the tiniest of logic issues- how does Bairre NOT recognize Leopold? They were princes of neighboring countries; I doubt that they have never met each other before.
Another fantastic entry for this series- already foaming at the mouth for book three!
February 25, 2023
I think this is Laura Sebastian's best book yet, honestly.
Review up on March 1, 2023 here https://youtu.be/ejdZ97dWXuo
Review up on March 1, 2023 here https://youtu.be/ejdZ97dWXuo
July 29, 2023
boy do i have some things to say about this book.
There’s no stardust in its veins (thank u katy for that line).
This book is ENTIRELY politics. I want action. I want ROMANCE. I got some little scenes of Daphne and Barre but they always ended in one of them yelling “WE HAVE TOO MANY SECRETS”, accompanied by a backstabbing comment, quickly followed by someone storming out.
now. sophie. why did she have to die?! to motivate her sisters?! well that BARELY worked for one of them and it didn’t work for the other. why couldn’t Leopold have died? no one likes him. he just messes everything up. he’s a character the author created but then realized she didn’t know what to do with him, so she tosses him around like a rag doll. we all know he’s gonna be the one to die in the last book and everyone is supposed to be sad about it.
also. call me the rudest most insensitive person in the word, i don’t care. but i’m SICK of every single time sophie gets mentioned by Daphne or Beatriz they go “OH MY SISTER HOW THIS MEMORY STABS MY HEART.” we get it. ur mother killed ur sister. get over it.
also did anyone else catch the disney references? bc they’re way too obvious and specific to be an accident.
“you’ve got gizmos?”
“gadgets actually”
i’ve got gadgets and gizmos a plentyyyyy
i could say so much more about how not well written this book is but honestly i just need to be done with it.
but the cliffhanger-
i have to read the next one. i did not choose this life, i was FORCED into it.
There’s no stardust in its veins (thank u katy for that line).
This book is ENTIRELY politics. I want action. I want ROMANCE. I got some little scenes of Daphne and Barre but they always ended in one of them yelling “WE HAVE TOO MANY SECRETS”, accompanied by a backstabbing comment, quickly followed by someone storming out.
now. sophie. why did she have to die?! to motivate her sisters?! well that BARELY worked for one of them and it didn’t work for the other. why couldn’t Leopold have died? no one likes him. he just messes everything up. he’s a character the author created but then realized she didn’t know what to do with him, so she tosses him around like a rag doll. we all know he’s gonna be the one to die in the last book and everyone is supposed to be sad about it.
also. call me the rudest most insensitive person in the word, i don’t care. but i’m SICK of every single time sophie gets mentioned by Daphne or Beatriz they go “OH MY SISTER HOW THIS MEMORY STABS MY HEART.” we get it. ur mother killed ur sister. get over it.
also did anyone else catch the disney references? bc they’re way too obvious and specific to be an accident.
“you’ve got gizmos?”
“gadgets actually”
i’ve got gadgets and gizmos a plentyyyyy
i could say so much more about how not well written this book is but honestly i just need to be done with it.
but the cliffhanger-
i have to read the next one. i did not choose this life, i was FORCED into it.
April 10, 2023
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Stardust in Their Veins (Castles in Their Bones #2) by Laura Sebastian is a YA fantasy romance sequel I was really looking forward to reading since I enjoyed the first book in this proposed trilogy. I'm so lucky to have been approved for this one as well because it's pretty great. As with the previous installment, I love that this novel really immerses you into their world. The world-building is outstanding and I loved following along with it's magical Tudor Era-esque court politics and political intrigue. I'm glad that we got to hear from the each of the sisters via the multiple POVs. The only thing I wasn't as interested in though was the romance. I just didn't care about the guys as much. Oh well, the political aspects of the fantasy world, thanks. That said, I can't wait to see how the final installment will wrap everything up.
Stardust in Their Veins (Castles in Their Bones #2) by Laura Sebastian is a YA fantasy romance sequel I was really looking forward to reading since I enjoyed the first book in this proposed trilogy. I'm so lucky to have been approved for this one as well because it's pretty great. As with the previous installment, I love that this novel really immerses you into their world. The world-building is outstanding and I loved following along with it's magical Tudor Era-esque court politics and political intrigue. I'm glad that we got to hear from the each of the sisters via the multiple POVs. The only thing I wasn't as interested in though was the romance. I just didn't care about the guys as much. Oh well, the political aspects of the fantasy world, thanks. That said, I can't wait to see how the final installment will wrap everything up.
September 25, 2023
היה ממש טוב, לא אשקר
האם רציתי לצרוח על דפני חצי מהספר? כן, מאוד. אבל היה שווה את זה🙏🏻
וביאטריז מדהימה, כנל על ויולי ופסקוואלה, לאב לאב לאב.
אהבתי את הספר, היה אחלה בסהכ, אני רוצה את הספר האחרון בבקשה🏃♀️🏃♀️
האם רציתי לצרוח על דפני חצי מהספר? כן, מאוד. אבל היה שווה את זה🙏🏻
וביאטריז מדהימה, כנל על ויולי ופסקוואלה, לאב לאב לאב.
אהבתי את הספר, היה אחלה בסהכ, אני רוצה את הספר האחרון בבקשה🏃♀️🏃♀️
February 20, 2023
Stardust in Their Veins is the follow-up to Castles in Their Bones, the story of three sisters set out (at the behest of their mother) to take over Vesteria. After the shocking loss of their sister, Sophronia, Daphne and Beatriz continue to work toward bringing their mother's plan to fruition. Constantly looking over their shoulders, lest they meet the same fate as their sister, who can Daphne and Beatriz really trust?
Aside from the publisher's dumb decision to change the cover (seriously why), this book suffers from the sophomore slump. I loved Castles in Their Bones, but I had a hard time staying engaged in Stardust. For one it's about 60 pages longer than Castles, and I felt every one of those pages. I feel like this thing could have been pared down a bit. For some reason I didn't love this as much as the first installment and felt a distance from the characters that wasn't in Castles.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC. I wish I would have liked this more.
Aside from the publisher's dumb decision to change the cover (seriously why), this book suffers from the sophomore slump. I loved Castles in Their Bones, but I had a hard time staying engaged in Stardust. For one it's about 60 pages longer than Castles, and I felt every one of those pages. I feel like this thing could have been pared down a bit. For some reason I didn't love this as much as the first installment and felt a distance from the characters that wasn't in Castles.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC. I wish I would have liked this more.
September 24, 2023
Book one, “Castles in Their Bones”, was by far my favorite book of 2022, and definitely in my top 5 series stories of all time. Book two was just as good and I can easily say this is my favorite book of 2023. I can’t wait for book 3. When you want to read a book so bad, yet don’t because you don’t want the series to end…you know it’s going to be one of your favorites forever. I love everything about this story and I had severe anxiety while waiting to see how intense the ending would be. It again, left me dying to purchase the next book in the series. Definitely a must read!
Want to read
January 6, 2023Just setting a place card here. Suck it anti-pride deplorables.
November 7, 2023
4,5 - Très bonne lecture
J'avais un peu peur que Souveraines T2 soit victime du syndrome du deuxième tome, mais j'ai été vite rassurée. Sans être aussi mémorable et flamboyante que le premier tome, cette suite est solide et bien construite, offrant un éclairage intéressant sur les personnages et de nouvelles intrigues.
Les multiples POV offrent toujours un très bon rythme, permettant de ne jamais s'ennuyer et de passer de très bons moments. Les différentes politiques de chaque pays sont également observées en profondeur et les complots et trahisons ne manquent pas !
Sans spoiler le 1er tome, chaque sœur a une belle progression : moins naïves, plus déterminées et féroces. La force de leur lien est extrêmement vive, même séparées, on voit qu'elles gardent toujours une pensée pour les autres.
Les histoires d'amour avancent finalement assez peu dans ce tome, mais apportent une touche de légèreté dans certains moments difficiles.
J'avais un peu peur que Souveraines T2 soit victime du syndrome du deuxième tome, mais j'ai été vite rassurée. Sans être aussi mémorable et flamboyante que le premier tome, cette suite est solide et bien construite, offrant un éclairage intéressant sur les personnages et de nouvelles intrigues.
Les multiples POV offrent toujours un très bon rythme, permettant de ne jamais s'ennuyer et de passer de très bons moments. Les différentes politiques de chaque pays sont également observées en profondeur et les complots et trahisons ne manquent pas !
Sans spoiler le 1er tome, chaque sœur a une belle progression : moins naïves, plus déterminées et féroces. La force de leur lien est extrêmement vive, même séparées, on voit qu'elles gardent toujours une pensée pour les autres.
Les histoires d'amour avancent finalement assez peu dans ce tome, mais apportent une touche de légèreté dans certains moments difficiles.
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