By Meghan Mazzaferro
Content warning: blood/gore, depression, off-page suicide, on-page suicide, racism, violence, emotional abuse, physical abuse, self-harm (*Note, an extensive content warning is provided with an author’s note at the beginning of the book, please read before starting the book.)
A Cruel and Fated Light is the second book in the Hollow Star Saga by Ashley Shuttleworth. Picking up where the first book left off, we follow our characters as they deal with the consequences of their confrontation with the ironborn murderer. Nausicaa strikes a deal with the High King that will allow Arlo to study alchemy, but in exchange, Arlo is thrust into the Fae Summer Court right at a time when the Summer Queen seems poised to make a play for the throne. Each of our characters must plot and scheme, learning what they can about their magic, the dark plot that surrounds them, and who, if anyone, can be trusted. A vague summary? Perhaps. But to avoid spoiling book one, that’s all you’ll get from me.
I was a huge fan of A Dark and Hollow Star (a full review is available here). I found it a fun and immersive YA urban fantasy that handled darker themes beautifully, and I was incredibly excited to read a story featuring almost every supernatural creature set in Toronto. While I did have a few critiques of the book, I thought it was a unique and promising start to what I hoped to be an awesome series. Now book two is finally out, and I was not disappointed. While the majority of A Cruel and Fated Light is set in Nevada, not Toronto, the book gave me everything else I wanted—dynamic and dimensional main characters, multiple queer romances, incredibly complex court politics and schemes, untrustworthy fae, and more. This book takes the seeds planted in book one, and while it doesn’t give us all the answers, it pulls us deeper into the complicated politics of the mortal and immortal worlds and the young people that are unwilling pawns in it all.
I found each of the core five characters in this book super interesting and easy to root for. Shuttleworth takes the time to explore each character’s thoughts and motivations, and while I don’t agree with each action characters take in this book, I understand why they each do what they do. Arlo and Nausicaa’s relationship in this book is incredibly sweet and funny while diving deeper into each character’s traumas and fears. Aurelian and Vehan dance around each other and each struggle with their feelings and their roles in their respective worlds, and Celadon is a welcome addition to our cast of main characters, playing a surprising and shockingly poignant role in the story. Riadne makes an excellent antagonist, equal parts untrustworthy, unsympathetic, and yet excellently fleshed out and deliciously villainous. There are no one-dimensional villains in this story, and for that, I must applaud Shuttleworth.
In fact, this book addresses all my critiques of the first one. The first book introduces a lot of different characters, politics, and different mythologies and creatures, to the point that things become a little muddled. This book works to juggle all those different players, and while more elements are introduced, they feel much better integrated than in book one. Likewise, while I found the climax of book one a little disappointing, this book stepped up. I devoured the last 200 pages of this book, and I simply cannot wait to have the next one in my hands. While I do believe there were some pacing issues in this book, I found I didn’t mind, as I was so interested in each character’s individual journey that I appreciated the story taking its time.
Overall, I loved this book. I thought it lived up to and exceeded the promise of the first one, and I am desperately waiting for more. If you like urban fantasy, dark fae, a vibrant cast of characters and complex schemes still in the process of being revealed, I definitely think this series is a must-read.
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.