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The Onyx Court #3
A Star Shall Fall
The Royal Society of London plays home to the greatest minds of England. It has revolutionized philosophy and scientific knowledge. Its fellows map out the laws of the natural world, disproving ancient superstition and ushering in an age of enlightenment.
To the fae of the Onyx Court, living in a secret city below London, these scientific developments are less than welcome. Magic is losing its place in the world and science threatens to expose the court to hostile eyes.
In 1666, a Great Fire burned four-fifths of London to the ground. The calamity was caused by a great Dragon, an elemental beast of flame. Incapable of destroying something so powerful, the fae of London banished it to a comet moments before the comet's light disappeared from the sky. Now the calculations of Sir Edmond Halley have predicted its return in 1759.
So begins their race against time. Soon the Dragon's gaze will fall upon London and it will return to the city it ravaged once before. The fae will have to answer the question that defeated them a century before: How can they kill a being more powerful than all their magic combined? It will take both magic and science to save London, but reconciling the two carries its own danger.
To the fae of the Onyx Court, living in a secret city below London, these scientific developments are less than welcome. Magic is losing its place in the world and science threatens to expose the court to hostile eyes.
In 1666, a Great Fire burned four-fifths of London to the ground. The calamity was caused by a great Dragon, an elemental beast of flame. Incapable of destroying something so powerful, the fae of London banished it to a comet moments before the comet's light disappeared from the sky. Now the calculations of Sir Edmond Halley have predicted its return in 1759.
So begins their race against time. Soon the Dragon's gaze will fall upon London and it will return to the city it ravaged once before. The fae will have to answer the question that defeated them a century before: How can they kill a being more powerful than all their magic combined? It will take both magic and science to save London, but reconciling the two carries its own danger.
494 pages, Paperback
First published August 31, 2010
9 people are currently reading
1133 people want to read
About the author
Marie Brennan
172 books3,253 followersMarie Brennan a.k.a. M.A. Carrick
Marie Brennan is a former anthropologist and folklorist who shamelessly pillages her academic fields for material. She recently misapplied her professors' hard work to Turning Darkness Into Light, a sequel to the Hugo Award-nominated series The Memoirs of Lady Trent. As half of M.A. Carrick, she is also the author of The Mask of Mirrors, first in the Rook and Rose trilogy. For more information, visit swantower.com, Twitter @swan_tower, or her Patreon.
Marie Brennan is a former anthropologist and folklorist who shamelessly pillages her academic fields for material. She recently misapplied her professors' hard work to Turning Darkness Into Light, a sequel to the Hugo Award-nominated series The Memoirs of Lady Trent. As half of M.A. Carrick, she is also the author of The Mask of Mirrors, first in the Rook and Rose trilogy. For more information, visit swantower.com, Twitter @swan_tower, or her Patreon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
September 27, 2016
I read book 1, but I did not read book 2. But for me it worked excellent like this anyway. Book 1 took place 200 years before this one and book 2 100 years before this one. And the main character was not born back then. Though there is this other big POV that they do mention was around in book 2, but I really can't say how much. I got to know her here and that was fine.
Haley's comet is approaching and with it a dragon that wants to destroy London. This London is the normal London and fairy London. The queen of the Onyx court I got to know in book 1 as she got her throne, but here she is only in the background. This book is Lord Galen's, the human consort of the queen. The one who stands in both worlds (though nothing romantic about it, they are not lovers. It is just a title.) Galen was young, he wanted to save the world, and he was totally in love with his queen. Poor thing.
The book is also about a sprite, Lady Irrith that comes back to the Onyx court. She gets involved in court intrigues, meets Galen and is the one that shows more of the fae world.
The next book jumps ahead again so this is it for this crew.
It's an interesting series, but I do fear for the Onyx court. Iron and all that you know. The world is changing.
Haley's comet is approaching and with it a dragon that wants to destroy London. This London is the normal London and fairy London. The queen of the Onyx court I got to know in book 1 as she got her throne, but here she is only in the background. This book is Lord Galen's, the human consort of the queen. The one who stands in both worlds (though nothing romantic about it, they are not lovers. It is just a title.) Galen was young, he wanted to save the world, and he was totally in love with his queen. Poor thing.
The book is also about a sprite, Lady Irrith that comes back to the Onyx court. She gets involved in court intrigues, meets Galen and is the one that shows more of the fae world.
The next book jumps ahead again so this is it for this crew.
It's an interesting series, but I do fear for the Onyx court. Iron and all that you know. The world is changing.
August 26, 2010
"From the celestial heights the arbitrary acts of life seem patterned like a fairy-tale landscape, populated by charming and eccentric figures. The glittering observers require vital doses of joy and pain, sudden reversals of fortune, dire portents and untimely deaths. Life itself proceeds in its unpredictable infinite patterns — so unlike the measured dance of stars — until, for the satisfaction of their entertainment, the watchers choose a point at which to stop."
That’s a quote from Ellen Kushner’s Swordspoint, but I kept thinking of it while reading A Star Shall Fall. It’s part of the nature of the ONYX COURT series that the books are tightly focused on specific points in time. Marie Brennan zooms in on her characters as a pivotal period begins, follows them until that situation is resolved, and then zooms back out, leaving only tantalizing glimpses of what happens in the spaces between books. Inevitably, this leaves me wanting more of some of the characters: I still wish we’d seen more of Michael Deven, for example, and Lune the way she was with him (before he died and she closed off her heart forever); and in this volume we see some flashbacks of Jack Ellin of In Ashes Lie and wish we’d had more time to spend with him as well. There’s a new character introduced in A Star Shall Fall, too, who I really wish had more page time.
A Star Shall Fall takes place between the years of 1757 and 1759. At the end of In Ashes Lie, the fae of the Onyx Court imprisoned the Dragon who destroyed most of London by fire. A few years later, the Dragon’s prison began to weaken and the fae banished it to a comet. But as science advanced, it was discovered that this comet would approach Earth again and bring the vengeful Dragon with it. Lune and her court must now figure out a way to prevent the monster from destroying London and the Onyx Court when it returns. Meanwhile, dissension is brewing in the court; many disgruntled fae believe that their troubles are due to Lune no longer being “whole” because of her battle scars, and plots to overthrow her are hatching.
Brennan makes the wise decision of stepping a little away from Lune in terms of point-of-view. This enables Brennan to play a few cards close to her chest, plus there’s the fact that Lune has steadily become an emotionally remote character. These books already have a certain “coolness” or “distance” about them, and narrating this one through Lune’s eyes would probably exacerbate that. Instead, we focus primarily on the tomboyish sprite Dame Irrith and on the current Prince of the Stone, Galen St. Clair. Irrith snoops into the doings of the rebels against the Queen and starts to wonder whether some of their theories might be correct. Galen has an unrequited love for the Queen but is being pressured to marry by his father. The two of them eventually become allies and more.
As in the two previous installments, the plot of A Star Shall Fall builds slowly. The characters are racing against time, but their path to a solution involves many conversations, debates, spying missions, and so on. The prose is elegant, and I found it especially beautiful in the All Hallows’ Eve scene.
Marie Brennan does a good job of portraying the time period in which the novel is set. She works that time period’s science into the plot in clever ways; several theories that have since been debunked are presented as true, or partially true, or true-but-only-in-Faerie, in the world of the novel. The characters, too, are products of their time. Sometimes they express opinions that will sit uncomfortably with readers. Brennan doesn’t write modern characters dressed up in period costumes, and I appreciate this even when it leads to a few moments of unease.
The final scenes are moving; as always, Brennan drops the reserve at the climactic point and lets emotion shine through. The way everything works out is well-thought-out, unexpected, and affecting. Particularly haunting is the scene in which we finally find out what became of the man who was Prince of the Stone before Galen; talk about the stuff of nightmares!
A Star Shall Fall is a well-written novel and a good addition to the series. I recommend it to fans of historical fantasy. See more Marie Brennan reviews at Fantasy Literature!
That’s a quote from Ellen Kushner’s Swordspoint, but I kept thinking of it while reading A Star Shall Fall. It’s part of the nature of the ONYX COURT series that the books are tightly focused on specific points in time. Marie Brennan zooms in on her characters as a pivotal period begins, follows them until that situation is resolved, and then zooms back out, leaving only tantalizing glimpses of what happens in the spaces between books. Inevitably, this leaves me wanting more of some of the characters: I still wish we’d seen more of Michael Deven, for example, and Lune the way she was with him (before he died and she closed off her heart forever); and in this volume we see some flashbacks of Jack Ellin of In Ashes Lie and wish we’d had more time to spend with him as well. There’s a new character introduced in A Star Shall Fall, too, who I really wish had more page time.
A Star Shall Fall takes place between the years of 1757 and 1759. At the end of In Ashes Lie, the fae of the Onyx Court imprisoned the Dragon who destroyed most of London by fire. A few years later, the Dragon’s prison began to weaken and the fae banished it to a comet. But as science advanced, it was discovered that this comet would approach Earth again and bring the vengeful Dragon with it. Lune and her court must now figure out a way to prevent the monster from destroying London and the Onyx Court when it returns. Meanwhile, dissension is brewing in the court; many disgruntled fae believe that their troubles are due to Lune no longer being “whole” because of her battle scars, and plots to overthrow her are hatching.
Brennan makes the wise decision of stepping a little away from Lune in terms of point-of-view. This enables Brennan to play a few cards close to her chest, plus there’s the fact that Lune has steadily become an emotionally remote character. These books already have a certain “coolness” or “distance” about them, and narrating this one through Lune’s eyes would probably exacerbate that. Instead, we focus primarily on the tomboyish sprite Dame Irrith and on the current Prince of the Stone, Galen St. Clair. Irrith snoops into the doings of the rebels against the Queen and starts to wonder whether some of their theories might be correct. Galen has an unrequited love for the Queen but is being pressured to marry by his father. The two of them eventually become allies and more.
As in the two previous installments, the plot of A Star Shall Fall builds slowly. The characters are racing against time, but their path to a solution involves many conversations, debates, spying missions, and so on. The prose is elegant, and I found it especially beautiful in the All Hallows’ Eve scene.
Marie Brennan does a good job of portraying the time period in which the novel is set. She works that time period’s science into the plot in clever ways; several theories that have since been debunked are presented as true, or partially true, or true-but-only-in-Faerie, in the world of the novel. The characters, too, are products of their time. Sometimes they express opinions that will sit uncomfortably with readers. Brennan doesn’t write modern characters dressed up in period costumes, and I appreciate this even when it leads to a few moments of unease.
The final scenes are moving; as always, Brennan drops the reserve at the climactic point and lets emotion shine through. The way everything works out is well-thought-out, unexpected, and affecting. Particularly haunting is the scene in which we finally find out what became of the man who was Prince of the Stone before Galen; talk about the stuff of nightmares!
A Star Shall Fall is a well-written novel and a good addition to the series. I recommend it to fans of historical fantasy. See more Marie Brennan reviews at Fantasy Literature!
Read
September 27, 2010I really enjoyed this third installment of Marie Brennan's Onyx Court series. Though I love the eighteenth century enough to have wished for a bit more of the vocabulary of the time, I suspect I am pretty much alone in that (I have a weakness for the 'prodigious' idiom of the time) but the prose is clear and there are passages of real beauty.
The real strength of this book is how deftly Brennan wove together the various scientific theories of the mid 1700s and the magic. I also loved how the fae and the humans who know of them strive (for the most part) to find a meeting point as the Onyx Hall begins to disintegrate and they cannot figure why.
What drives the novel is the threat of the Dragon returning on Haley's Comet in 1759. There are all kinds of plots afoot for dealing. The novel begins slowly, as all of these do, as Brennan lays down a complicated plot, and introduces a large cast. And what a cast! I like Lune, the queen, but I really loved Irrith, the sprite who changes form and gender, Delphia, the bookish young woman whom Galen St. Clair must court at his father's insistence, even though he is forever devoted to Lune, the beautiful queen of the local fae. Like the other two novels, this one builds to an intense crescendo, and ends with satisfying poignance.
The real strength of this book is how deftly Brennan wove together the various scientific theories of the mid 1700s and the magic. I also loved how the fae and the humans who know of them strive (for the most part) to find a meeting point as the Onyx Hall begins to disintegrate and they cannot figure why.
What drives the novel is the threat of the Dragon returning on Haley's Comet in 1759. There are all kinds of plots afoot for dealing. The novel begins slowly, as all of these do, as Brennan lays down a complicated plot, and introduces a large cast. And what a cast! I like Lune, the queen, but I really loved Irrith, the sprite who changes form and gender, Delphia, the bookish young woman whom Galen St. Clair must court at his father's insistence, even though he is forever devoted to Lune, the beautiful queen of the local fae. Like the other two novels, this one builds to an intense crescendo, and ends with satisfying poignance.
January 9, 2017
This is the fourth Brennan book I've read, and I have to conclude that her writing and I just don't quite mesh. I always feel a degree removed from the action; emotions are muted, settings feel more like static theatrical scenery than real places. I enjoy the stories she's trying to tell more than the way she chooses to tell them.
In this case, though, I'm willing to forgive quite a lot of emotional distance, because the story is So Very Relevant To My Interests. Every time the fairy court and the natural philosophers started trying to rationalize magic using cutting edge eighteenth-century science, I giggled with glee. So what that the great love affair motivating the protagonist rang completely hollow to me; I would happily read 500 pages of nothing but debate about whether salamanders are made of pure phlogiston and, if so, how to isolate it. If the final book in the series promises more of that sort of thing, I will definitely hunt it down.
In this case, though, I'm willing to forgive quite a lot of emotional distance, because the story is So Very Relevant To My Interests. Every time the fairy court and the natural philosophers started trying to rationalize magic using cutting edge eighteenth-century science, I giggled with glee. So what that the great love affair motivating the protagonist rang completely hollow to me; I would happily read 500 pages of nothing but debate about whether salamanders are made of pure phlogiston and, if so, how to isolate it. If the final book in the series promises more of that sort of thing, I will definitely hunt it down.
August 14, 2012
This dragged a lot, but it had the best ending of the three - about the last 1/4? or so was really, really good, and I think it has the best ending of any book in the series so far. Not as well-written as the first book, not as well-plotted as the second, but this has the most heart - and three great female characters. This was also a great example of a writer really developing a character - for about 3/4 of the book I wanted to drown the male lead in a bucket, and yet at the end he's a deeply dignified, even tragic, figure. Well-done indeed. This book would probably be the one I'd give to someone to start them off on the series/writer. 3.5 stars.
April 6, 2022
It made me cry so I suppose it can have 5 stars, as a treat
December 12, 2010
Disclaimer: I happen to know the author of this book. I don't think that this much changes my opinion of the book, and I don't think any of my readers are expecting journalistic standards of objectivity from me anyway, but I feel like I should note it.
So, there were actually a couple of reasons why I almost didn't read this book. First, I hadn't actually read the first two volumes in the series, Midnight Never Come and In Ashes Lie. I intend to remedy this inexplicable omission quite soon, but it didn't actually harm my enjoyment of this book at all. While I'm sure there were sequences that would have had more richness if I'd read the previous volumes, everything you need to know to grasp what's going on in this book is explained in the text.
Second, I'm unfairly suspicious of novels involving fairies, because I'm always afraid they'll be twee. These fairies are about as un-twee as you can get, while still being very definitely magical. I particularly liked that these fairies are multicultural (a Greek centaur and an Arab djinn feature in the book), that they have internal politics, and that their interaction with the mortal world is a bit more complicated than them just having fun messing with mortals' heads. (Don't worry - they definitely have fun messing with mortals' heads. But there's more to it than that.)
Anyway, what's really cool about A Star Shall Fall is that it's a fantasy novel that's utterly steeped in science. In the previous book, the faeries dealt with a dragon that was threatening London by trapping it in a comet. Halley's comet, actually. So, in this book, it's 75 years later, the scientific revolution is in full swing, and the comet (with dragon) is on its way back. So the faeries attempt to tackle the return of the dragon as a scientific problem, and eventually enlist a few mortal scientists, who attempt to tackle the fairies as a scientific problem. It probably helps if you're the right kind of geek, but I really enjoyed the exploration of the faerie realm as one that may not obey our physical laws, but nevertheless operates by rules that can be investigated by the scientific method.
So, there were actually a couple of reasons why I almost didn't read this book. First, I hadn't actually read the first two volumes in the series, Midnight Never Come and In Ashes Lie. I intend to remedy this inexplicable omission quite soon, but it didn't actually harm my enjoyment of this book at all. While I'm sure there were sequences that would have had more richness if I'd read the previous volumes, everything you need to know to grasp what's going on in this book is explained in the text.
Second, I'm unfairly suspicious of novels involving fairies, because I'm always afraid they'll be twee. These fairies are about as un-twee as you can get, while still being very definitely magical. I particularly liked that these fairies are multicultural (a Greek centaur and an Arab djinn feature in the book), that they have internal politics, and that their interaction with the mortal world is a bit more complicated than them just having fun messing with mortals' heads. (Don't worry - they definitely have fun messing with mortals' heads. But there's more to it than that.)
Anyway, what's really cool about A Star Shall Fall is that it's a fantasy novel that's utterly steeped in science. In the previous book, the faeries dealt with a dragon that was threatening London by trapping it in a comet. Halley's comet, actually. So, in this book, it's 75 years later, the scientific revolution is in full swing, and the comet (with dragon) is on its way back. So the faeries attempt to tackle the return of the dragon as a scientific problem, and eventually enlist a few mortal scientists, who attempt to tackle the fairies as a scientific problem. It probably helps if you're the right kind of geek, but I really enjoyed the exploration of the faerie realm as one that may not obey our physical laws, but nevertheless operates by rules that can be investigated by the scientific method.
Read
November 12, 2010I am sorry to say I wish I had never heard of this book. It sounds wonderful, but if I hadn't won it from First-Reads, I wouldn't have got past the first ten pages. The first 100 pages were torture to get past, and I can't even say why I hated them. The rest was just boring.
There were too many characters, most of which seemed to given a name just so that they could be given a species, of which there were far too many--there really should have been a glossary. There was one completely unnecessary character, Galen's wife, Delphia, whose only apparent purpose was to continue Galen's plan of an Academy in the Onyx Court. He didn't love her, she didn't love him, and her role could as easily have been played by Galen's sister, Cynthia, who he supposedly loved but who he didn't seem to care much for--he couldn't even help her find a husband, as he promised, after she introduced him to Delphia.
I don't even know what to say about Galen, the Prince of the Stone. He falls in love with Lune, the Queen of the Onyx Court, after seeing her only once, and stays in love for five years. He knows, or should know, that she will never choose to fall in love with him, as she would have to, but he continues to think that if he sacrifices enough for the Onyx Court, she might fall in love with him, which does not happen to fae. He trusts Dr. Andrews to help the fae even after Andrews cuts out the heart of a salamander while it is alive. He wants to be the Prince, but he never quite manages to fulfill his responsibilities until he gives his own life for London
There were too many plans which didn't work--at least seven--and while they were all used effectively in some form by the end of the book, that didn't lessen the fact that I had to force myself to keep reading yet another failure.
The last 50 pages tied up all of the loose ends wonderfully, but it didn't make up for the previous 450 pages.
There were too many characters, most of which seemed to given a name just so that they could be given a species, of which there were far too many--there really should have been a glossary. There was one completely unnecessary character, Galen's wife, Delphia, whose only apparent purpose was to continue Galen's plan of an Academy in the Onyx Court. He didn't love her, she didn't love him, and her role could as easily have been played by Galen's sister, Cynthia, who he supposedly loved but who he didn't seem to care much for--he couldn't even help her find a husband, as he promised, after she introduced him to Delphia.
I don't even know what to say about Galen, the Prince of the Stone. He falls in love with Lune, the Queen of the Onyx Court, after seeing her only once, and stays in love for five years. He knows, or should know, that she will never choose to fall in love with him, as she would have to, but he continues to think that if he sacrifices enough for the Onyx Court, she might fall in love with him, which does not happen to fae. He trusts Dr. Andrews to help the fae even after Andrews cuts out the heart of a salamander while it is alive. He wants to be the Prince, but he never quite manages to fulfill his responsibilities until he gives his own life for London
There were too many plans which didn't work--at least seven--and while they were all used effectively in some form by the end of the book, that didn't lessen the fact that I had to force myself to keep reading yet another failure.
The last 50 pages tied up all of the loose ends wonderfully, but it didn't make up for the previous 450 pages.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2015
"It was amazing."
Holy fucking shit. Can I give six stars? Can I give seven? What the fuuuu
Okay so the first two books in this series are like, they're okay. I enjoy what they were trying to do and I learned a lot about history and folklore and was generally fond of the characters. Midnight Never Come was uneven as shit but had a strong, epic ending, while In Ashes Lie was sort of disjointed and incomprehensible but I liked them enough to keep going so I got this one and WHAT THE FUCK IT'S AMAZING??????????
Finished it in two days of intermittent reading, could NOT put it down. What an amazing book. The character arcs in this are absolutely insane. Galen and Irrith and Delphia and Lune, everyone has such an AMAZING arc and they all conclude so satisfyingly and jesus. The book kept me guessing the whole time about how it was going to end, only it ended up going in a COMPLETELY different direction that I was totally unprepared for and oh lordy.
I am feeling so many feelings right now.
Goddamn, what an AMAZING book. I loved this. What the fresh hell.
Amazing book.
Holy fucking shit. Can I give six stars? Can I give seven? What the fuuuu
Okay so the first two books in this series are like, they're okay. I enjoy what they were trying to do and I learned a lot about history and folklore and was generally fond of the characters. Midnight Never Come was uneven as shit but had a strong, epic ending, while In Ashes Lie was sort of disjointed and incomprehensible but I liked them enough to keep going so I got this one and WHAT THE FUCK IT'S AMAZING??????????
Finished it in two days of intermittent reading, could NOT put it down. What an amazing book. The character arcs in this are absolutely insane. Galen and Irrith and Delphia and Lune, everyone has such an AMAZING arc and they all conclude so satisfyingly and jesus. The book kept me guessing the whole time about how it was going to end, only it ended up going in a COMPLETELY different direction that I was totally unprepared for and oh lordy.
I am feeling so many feelings right now.
Goddamn, what an AMAZING book. I loved this. What the fresh hell.
Amazing book.
June 7, 2010
A beautifully written fantasy novel. The magic is perfectly interwoven with 18th-century British history and scientific theory, and the characters and their emotions are wonderfully complex.
I loved Book One in Brennan's Onyx Court series (Midnight Never Come, which was really fun), and I admired Book Two (In Ashes Lie) for how ambitious it was, but A Star Shall Fall is my favorite of Marie Brennan's novels so far, and it stands alone perfectly - you definitely don't need to have read either of the earlier Onyx Court books to enjoy this one.
I loved Book One in Brennan's Onyx Court series (Midnight Never Come, which was really fun), and I admired Book Two (In Ashes Lie) for how ambitious it was, but A Star Shall Fall is my favorite of Marie Brennan's novels so far, and it stands alone perfectly - you definitely don't need to have read either of the earlier Onyx Court books to enjoy this one.
May 9, 2016
I won an advanced reader copy from Goodreads. I had been holding out on reading this as it is third in a series, but I decided to give it a go. So far, although I have only scratched the surface (pg 47 of 491) it seems to be able to stand on its own. Time will tell.
January 19, 2024
The third entry in the quartet that makes up The Onyx Court, a series of novels revolving around a London above, and their interactions with the Fae court below. Absolutely loving these historical fantasy novels, and can't put them down! So well written, and I am getting so involved with the characters, the plot, the world building. How do you keep the balance between a world of science and a world of magic? How fine is that line?
Blurb:
The Royal Society of London plays home to the greatest minds of England. It has revolutionised philosophy and scientific knowledge. Its fellows map out the laws of the natural world and usher in an age of enlightenment.
To the fae of the Onyx Court, living in a secret city below London, these scientific developments are less than welcome. It is now 1757 and magic is losing its place in the world. Science threatens to expose the fae's hidden city to hostile eyes. To make matters worse, the calculations of Sir Edmond Halley predict the return of a comet in two years' time, the same comet to which the powerful Dragon that cause the Great Fire of 1666 was banished.
So begins their race against time. It will take both magic and science to save London, but reconciling the two carries its own danger....
Such a great read. Although this volume is about a time period of British history that I know little about, I was still drawn into it, and so wanted to know more. And now I only have one more volume... and looking forward to that!
Blurb:
The Royal Society of London plays home to the greatest minds of England. It has revolutionised philosophy and scientific knowledge. Its fellows map out the laws of the natural world and usher in an age of enlightenment.
To the fae of the Onyx Court, living in a secret city below London, these scientific developments are less than welcome. It is now 1757 and magic is losing its place in the world. Science threatens to expose the fae's hidden city to hostile eyes. To make matters worse, the calculations of Sir Edmond Halley predict the return of a comet in two years' time, the same comet to which the powerful Dragon that cause the Great Fire of 1666 was banished.
So begins their race against time. It will take both magic and science to save London, but reconciling the two carries its own danger....
Such a great read. Although this volume is about a time period of British history that I know little about, I was still drawn into it, and so wanted to know more. And now I only have one more volume... and looking forward to that!
January 27, 2017
I liked this one quite a bit; it was at least as good as either of its predecessors. I liked the genre-blending, I liked the characters, and I liked the setting.
It's another of Brennan's genre-blending novels about the fairies under London. To illustrate that, let's consider the plight of the protagonist. Galen St. Clair is a young man with many problems. For one, there's a dragon hiding on Halley's comet that might destroy the city when it arrives in 1759. For another, Galen's family is running out of money and he has to find a rich heiress to marry, or else.
Brennan has learned the art of alluding to things the reader has heard of, without getting hung up on them. Early in the book, Galen goes to a salon with Samuel Johnson, who is not a major character, but does get in some good lines. Later, Galen goes to a Royal Society meeting and we hear, in one sentence, that there's somebody from the colonies there to talk about electricity -- a Mr. Franklin.
I enjoyed the "courtship" subplot the best in the book; I don't want to spoil it, but I moved by it.
It's another of Brennan's genre-blending novels about the fairies under London. To illustrate that, let's consider the plight of the protagonist. Galen St. Clair is a young man with many problems. For one, there's a dragon hiding on Halley's comet that might destroy the city when it arrives in 1759. For another, Galen's family is running out of money and he has to find a rich heiress to marry, or else.
Brennan has learned the art of alluding to things the reader has heard of, without getting hung up on them. Early in the book, Galen goes to a salon with Samuel Johnson, who is not a major character, but does get in some good lines. Later, Galen goes to a Royal Society meeting and we hear, in one sentence, that there's somebody from the colonies there to talk about electricity -- a Mr. Franklin.
I enjoyed the "courtship" subplot the best in the book; I don't want to spoil it, but I moved by it.
August 23, 2019
This book has a bunch of stuff that I don't normally like - a faerie court, including toxic court politics, a damsel in distress (actually, more than one distressed damsel), plus both. Plus it's chock full of white people (and white faeries) who are generally oblivious to racism, and all but one of the characters of color in the story show up in the context of an awful pseudo-scientific display of curiosities.
But somehow it all worked for me. The racism was actually relevant to the plot, providing a contemporary reader with useful information the characters didn't have (dramatic irony!), and it's a pleasant surprise to have a historical with faeries address the realities of race at all, even in the kind of side-on approach found here. The story was unpredictable and satisfying, and the characters were compelling. I think Marie Brennan's later work is stronger, but you can see the themes and approach taking shape here.
But somehow it all worked for me. The racism was actually relevant to the plot, providing a contemporary reader with useful information the characters didn't have (dramatic irony!), and it's a pleasant surprise to have a historical with faeries address the realities of race at all, even in the kind of side-on approach found here. The story was unpredictable and satisfying, and the characters were compelling. I think Marie Brennan's later work is stronger, but you can see the themes and approach taking shape here.
July 25, 2022
So I've now read the first three books in this series - or actually listened to them. I like Marie Brennan's style. Her dialog is real, her vocabulary is extensive but not ostentatious, and her characters are likeable and believable.
I'd say A Star Shall Fall has been my least favorite of the three - but still definitely worth it, especially if you're already invested in the series. I enjoyed the body of the story much more than the ending. I think I was supposed to feel a lot of emotion at the end but I didn't. But it could have been worse. I'll read the next book (if there is one, which I think there is).
I'd say A Star Shall Fall has been my least favorite of the three - but still definitely worth it, especially if you're already invested in the series. I enjoyed the body of the story much more than the ending. I think I was supposed to feel a lot of emotion at the end but I didn't. But it could have been worse. I'll read the next book (if there is one, which I think there is).
January 28, 2024
This was the third book in the series, and the longest. This one is set during the 18th century, although the story focuses more on the faerie world than the mortal world. Unlike the other books so far, we hear less about how historical events influence the lives of the fae and vice versa. There is reference to Halley’s Comet, and the adjustment of the calendar from Julian to Gregorian which resulted in the loss of 11 days in the middle of September. But mostly this was the story of the Onyx Court being under threat and how they could save it.
December 22, 2016
I preordered A Star Shall Fall at the end of August, so that I would have it as soon as it came out, as I knew my local bookshop would not stock it in the store. I wanted to know as soon as possible what happened after Midnight Never Come and In Ashes Lie. I do feel that it is better to have read the previous two books, otherwise you will be left a bit behind on what is happening.
Read more at: http://abisbookreviews.com/2016/09/24...
Read more at: http://abisbookreviews.com/2016/09/24...
January 23, 2019
My favourite in the series so far. Perfectly paced, great character development, exciting plot - everything you could wish for. The ending was just right and I can't wait to read the next instalment. I haven't felt this excited about and author & series of books since I discovered Lila Bowen and her Shadow series last year. Highly recommended - these novels are great fun and very well written.
December 4, 2023
I jumped straight into book 3 of the series, which I believe swayed my rating downwards, because I probably should have been more attached to the characters as well as had a better understanding of the faerie world the book is set in. Overall though, it was a good story with a touching ending, but I found myself confused at times with all of the characters I had to keep up with as well as the story didn’t touch me personally, hence the 3 stars. A very standard fantasy, but it was quality.
March 22, 2020
I did not realize that this was the third book and do not feel that handicapped my reading in any way. Though the ending was satisfying and there were lots of interesting bits, the pacing was a bit studdering for me.
September 14, 2021
Listened to this as an audio book, which is an excellent way to enjoy this novel. I feel due to it's somewhat padded feel I would not have enjoyed the print version as much. Fairies and early science set in 1750s England.
January 25, 2019
Rich, vivid... I was still thinking about the significance of the dragon this morning.
Want to read
July 19, 2020elibrary
September 28, 2021
Very much enjoyed this fantasy/historical fiction. Looking forward to read book 4, With Fate Conspire
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July 31, 2022
I love the historical moment this series is choosing to explore, a fun way to use essentially immortal characters that I’ve never read before. Can’t wait to see where the final book takes me
Read
February 26, 2023Why did I start this when I disliked the previous…
October 28, 2010
As we get to the third in Marie’s Faerie series (Midnight Never Come, (2008; In Ashes Lie,(2009))we reach the Age of Enlightenment in England, the time when historically science superseded superstition and religion.
Here we have Marie’s entertaining take on it: that in 1757 the Faerie Court under London still exists, though diminished in power since the last novel. The exile of the fire dragon that was the cause of the Great Fire of London in 1666 (in the previous book) seems to have led to a more settled time in the court of the Faerie Queen Lune. As time has rolled on, however, again we see many of the cast of previous books now gone.
Edmond Halley’s calculations that propose comets travel elliptical orbits and that the comet will return in 1759 suggests that the previous problem may not have disappeared. A comet is traditionally often seen as a bad omen: and it so proves here. Facing both the return of the great dragon and the difficulties created by science upon faerie magic may just be too much for Lune and the fae this time.
As this series has developed there has been change in both worlds, though it is perhaps the human world that has changed most. After the removal of four-fifths of London in the Great Fire, it is here that we begin to see the reconstruction and urbanisation that leads to the historic elements of London today. There is also the social reconstruction after the debacle of the English Civil War. London here is a growing, thriving centre of commerce as well as ideas.
The crisis here for the Faerie world is a fundamental one: one of science versus magic, of rationalism versus mysticism. As the world above becomes more concerned with facts, there becomes less room for the superstition and the supernatural of the world below. This is the crisis that Lune faces, because she is aware, unlike the world above, that the two co-exist. It is further echoed in the fact that as the Onyx Court is fraying at its edges, Lune’s monarchy is under threat from a rival group, the Sanists, who feel that Lune needs replacing.
To convince the reader that the Human and Faerie worlds go together in a logical, well-rounded way is not easy and yet here Marie has managed it supremely well. We not only see the growth and development of London above but the magnificence and other-worldliness of the Onyx Court below.
In terms of characters, we see Irrith make decisions that are not always for the best, and also the consequences of Galen, the Prince of the Stone’s actions, as he searches for a mortal wife. Above all is Queen Lune, whose imperious governance oversees all and yet maintains a front behind which there lies a much more fragile figure.
In some ways this tale is less complex than In Ashes Lie, and all the better for it. Although there is some, we have less of the frenetic to-ing and fro-ing forwards and backwards in time that seemed to me to be an unnecessary element of Ashes. Instead, we have a stronger narrative, with better realised characterisation and a much better sense of drive.
The ending is terrific and one I found most moving: there is a major sacrifice and the loss of a major character. The solution to the plot problem is one which emphasises both human and faerie responsibilities and yet simultaneously their fundamental differences. The end is a bitter-sweet moment, where some sacrifice all and there are also future opportunities for both human and fae to work together.
Though Ashes was a little disappointing in consequence, this one really works. An ambitious tale and a pleasing triumph. Wonderful.
Mark Yon, August 2010.
Here we have Marie’s entertaining take on it: that in 1757 the Faerie Court under London still exists, though diminished in power since the last novel. The exile of the fire dragon that was the cause of the Great Fire of London in 1666 (in the previous book) seems to have led to a more settled time in the court of the Faerie Queen Lune. As time has rolled on, however, again we see many of the cast of previous books now gone.
Edmond Halley’s calculations that propose comets travel elliptical orbits and that the comet will return in 1759 suggests that the previous problem may not have disappeared. A comet is traditionally often seen as a bad omen: and it so proves here. Facing both the return of the great dragon and the difficulties created by science upon faerie magic may just be too much for Lune and the fae this time.
As this series has developed there has been change in both worlds, though it is perhaps the human world that has changed most. After the removal of four-fifths of London in the Great Fire, it is here that we begin to see the reconstruction and urbanisation that leads to the historic elements of London today. There is also the social reconstruction after the debacle of the English Civil War. London here is a growing, thriving centre of commerce as well as ideas.
The crisis here for the Faerie world is a fundamental one: one of science versus magic, of rationalism versus mysticism. As the world above becomes more concerned with facts, there becomes less room for the superstition and the supernatural of the world below. This is the crisis that Lune faces, because she is aware, unlike the world above, that the two co-exist. It is further echoed in the fact that as the Onyx Court is fraying at its edges, Lune’s monarchy is under threat from a rival group, the Sanists, who feel that Lune needs replacing.
To convince the reader that the Human and Faerie worlds go together in a logical, well-rounded way is not easy and yet here Marie has managed it supremely well. We not only see the growth and development of London above but the magnificence and other-worldliness of the Onyx Court below.
In terms of characters, we see Irrith make decisions that are not always for the best, and also the consequences of Galen, the Prince of the Stone’s actions, as he searches for a mortal wife. Above all is Queen Lune, whose imperious governance oversees all and yet maintains a front behind which there lies a much more fragile figure.
In some ways this tale is less complex than In Ashes Lie, and all the better for it. Although there is some, we have less of the frenetic to-ing and fro-ing forwards and backwards in time that seemed to me to be an unnecessary element of Ashes. Instead, we have a stronger narrative, with better realised characterisation and a much better sense of drive.
The ending is terrific and one I found most moving: there is a major sacrifice and the loss of a major character. The solution to the plot problem is one which emphasises both human and faerie responsibilities and yet simultaneously their fundamental differences. The end is a bitter-sweet moment, where some sacrifice all and there are also future opportunities for both human and fae to work together.
Though Ashes was a little disappointing in consequence, this one really works. An ambitious tale and a pleasing triumph. Wonderful.
Mark Yon, August 2010.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2011
A Star Shall Fall picks up the storyline very nicely where Ashes Fall left off, even though there is a bit of a time gap - but because of the continuation, it makes more sense to review the two together.
In Ashes Fall, Lune's court is dealing with both problems internal and external; internally, Lune has power struggles for her court taking up much of her time. Externally, London above is being attacked by one of its greatest enemies of all - The Great Fire of London is raging. And with horror, the fae realize that the two attacks are intertwined - the Great Fire of London is being fueled by a Dragon, unlike anything seen by the faerie in their lifetime. In order to save themselves, they must save London above as well as find out who is behind the attack.
A Star Shall Fall opens decades after Ashes Fall, and is told mostly through Irriana's eyes, a wild sprite, who somewhat an outsider a court. In the decades between the two books, Lune fought down an internal fight for power in the court from her own courtiers (in which Irriana played an unwilling part), and the fae have discovered that the Dragon was neither killed or defeated -- but their last attempt to save London (and themselves) was not as permanent as they hoped. Instead, the brightest minds in England have discovered that its' prison - Halleys' comet - is going to come back to Earth, bringing the Dragon back to Earth.
Lune is also once again facing more battles - the London Wall is being chipped away in London Above, and as it disappears, so does the size of her court. And the Onyx Court has grown to increasingly distrust her ability to hold her court together in the face of this loss, with the danger of the dragon, and her own physical power waning. To make matters worse, her new Prince of Stone in young and untested.
Brennan mixes in these books - as she did in her fist book - a well balanced blend of historical research and fantasy; and especially in A Star Shall Fall the mix of Victorian-age science blended in with the world of the fae and was very nicely done.
All over all, the Onyx Court trilogy is a real pleasure to read, blending historical fantasy, fae and intrigue into a great series spanning three hundred years.
In Ashes Fall, Lune's court is dealing with both problems internal and external; internally, Lune has power struggles for her court taking up much of her time. Externally, London above is being attacked by one of its greatest enemies of all - The Great Fire of London is raging. And with horror, the fae realize that the two attacks are intertwined - the Great Fire of London is being fueled by a Dragon, unlike anything seen by the faerie in their lifetime. In order to save themselves, they must save London above as well as find out who is behind the attack.
A Star Shall Fall opens decades after Ashes Fall, and is told mostly through Irriana's eyes, a wild sprite, who somewhat an outsider a court. In the decades between the two books, Lune fought down an internal fight for power in the court from her own courtiers (in which Irriana played an unwilling part), and the fae have discovered that the Dragon was neither killed or defeated -- but their last attempt to save London (and themselves) was not as permanent as they hoped. Instead, the brightest minds in England have discovered that its' prison - Halleys' comet - is going to come back to Earth, bringing the Dragon back to Earth.
Lune is also once again facing more battles - the London Wall is being chipped away in London Above, and as it disappears, so does the size of her court. And the Onyx Court has grown to increasingly distrust her ability to hold her court together in the face of this loss, with the danger of the dragon, and her own physical power waning. To make matters worse, her new Prince of Stone in young and untested.
Brennan mixes in these books - as she did in her fist book - a well balanced blend of historical research and fantasy; and especially in A Star Shall Fall the mix of Victorian-age science blended in with the world of the fae and was very nicely done.
All over all, the Onyx Court trilogy is a real pleasure to read, blending historical fantasy, fae and intrigue into a great series spanning three hundred years.
September 20, 2012
Marie Brennan has fast become one of my favorite fantasy authors. This particular novel, A Star Shall Fall, is the third segment of her Onyx court series, which revolves around the notion that a Fae (fairie) court exists beneath the city of London. The Fae court mirrors the mortal court above and the intermingling of the two has profound effects on the great junctures in British history. This specific novel is nowhere near as fraught as its immediate predecessor, which dealt with the period of history during which parliament struggled to seize power from King Charles and the great fire. In Marie Brennan’s construct, the great fire was not a tragic accident, but rather the actions of a malevolent fire dragon…Without giving much of the conclusion away, In Ashes Lie culminates with the defeat and banishment of the Dragon to a passing Haley’s Comet.
As comets as apt to do, this one returns and brings with fears that the Dragon will return to extract a measure of vengeance for its long exile. This is the central foundation for this particular novel. It is a novel re3plete with intrigue and passion, magic and science. As is typical of all Ms. Brennan’s novels, A Star Shall Fall is deftly executed. Her characters are compelling and her prose is well-crafted and elegant…this novel read well and can be consumed in great portions. Ms. Brennan’s knowledge of the geography and topography of London through the ages is extensive and most impressive and she succeeds in immersing the reader in the spirit of the various eras in which the three Onyx Court tales occur. Ms. Brennan is a hidden jewel in the rich tapestry of fantasy authors and I look forward to her future works, while hoping she returns with future tales of Lune and the Onyx Court! I highly recommend A Star Shall Fall and give it 4.5/5!!!
As comets as apt to do, this one returns and brings with fears that the Dragon will return to extract a measure of vengeance for its long exile. This is the central foundation for this particular novel. It is a novel re3plete with intrigue and passion, magic and science. As is typical of all Ms. Brennan’s novels, A Star Shall Fall is deftly executed. Her characters are compelling and her prose is well-crafted and elegant…this novel read well and can be consumed in great portions. Ms. Brennan’s knowledge of the geography and topography of London through the ages is extensive and most impressive and she succeeds in immersing the reader in the spirit of the various eras in which the three Onyx Court tales occur. Ms. Brennan is a hidden jewel in the rich tapestry of fantasy authors and I look forward to her future works, while hoping she returns with future tales of Lune and the Onyx Court! I highly recommend A Star Shall Fall and give it 4.5/5!!!
June 19, 2013
A Star Shall Fall is the third book in Marie Brena's Onyx Court series, which follows a fairy queen's reign and how it impacts (and is impacted) by the history of England. Taking place in the mid 1700s, A Star Shall Fall is highly concerned with the dragon that was banished during In Ashes Lie. When faerie methods alone cannot stop the dragon, the court turns to the great thinkers of the Royal Society to try to find a solution.
It took me a while to pick up A Star Shall Fall. This is mainly due to finding In Ashes Lie a little uneven. Fortunately, due to the large time gaps, it's really easy to pick up a book in the series even if you find yourself struggling to recall past events. I found Galen to be a great Prince of Stone, and enjoyed the way that his unrequited love for Lune is handled. A Star Shall fall also features some excellent suspense building, as everyone tries to find a solution for the returning dragon. The character of Irrith and her storyline involving the Sanists (people who believe that Queen Lune should no longer hold the throne), was very interesting as it built off her her own conflicting loyalties and doubts over the queen. Honestly I found A Star Shall Fall to be the strongest book in the series yet. If you made it this far, you really should continue.
It took me a while to pick up A Star Shall Fall. This is mainly due to finding In Ashes Lie a little uneven. Fortunately, due to the large time gaps, it's really easy to pick up a book in the series even if you find yourself struggling to recall past events. I found Galen to be a great Prince of Stone, and enjoyed the way that his unrequited love for Lune is handled. A Star Shall fall also features some excellent suspense building, as everyone tries to find a solution for the returning dragon. The character of Irrith and her storyline involving the Sanists (people who believe that Queen Lune should no longer hold the throne), was very interesting as it built off her her own conflicting loyalties and doubts over the queen. Honestly I found A Star Shall Fall to be the strongest book in the series yet. If you made it this far, you really should continue.
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