2021 Beat the Backlist challenge
ARC Review: All the Stars and Teeth (All the Stars and Teeth #1) by Adalyn Grace
10:00
Series: All the Stars and Teeth #1
Author: Adalyn Grace
Published August 4th 2020 by Titan Books
Goodreads Synopsis
Set in a kingdom where danger lurks beneath the sea, mermaids seek vengeance with song, and magic is a choice.
She will reign.
As princess of the island kingdom Visidia, Amora Montara has spent her entire life training to be High Animancer — the master of souls. The rest of the realm can choose their magic, but for Amora, it’s never been a choice. To secure her place as heir to the throne, she must prove her mastery of the monarchy’s dangerous soul magic.
When her demonstration goes awry, Amora is forced to flee. She strikes a deal with Bastian, a mysterious pirate: he’ll help her prove she’s fit to rule, if she’ll help him reclaim his stolen magic.
But sailing the kingdom holds more wonder — and more peril — than Amora anticipated. A destructive new magic is on the rise, and if Amora is to conquer it, she’ll need to face legendary monsters, cross paths with vengeful mermaids, and deal with a stow-away she never expected… or risk the fate of Visidia and lose the crown forever.
I am the right choice. The only choice. And I will protect my kingdom.
Goodreads
Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.
Amora has trained her entire life to become the next High Animacer of Visidia, as the crown princess. To demonstrate her right to rule, she must perform the soul magic in front of the entire court, but when it goes awry, and she's imprisoned - awaiting execution - it's only the mysterious pirate, Bastien, who can help her flee and escape. Now exiled, fleeing from her people and her powers, Amora needs to work with Bastien to save his island from the clutches of a tyrannical dictator, Kaven, hellbent on power, or else the entire kingdom may suffer and fall. Will Amora be able to control her power long enough for the good of her kingdom, or is she doomed to fail?
I wasn't too sure what to expect from this book, but ultimately, it was really enjoyable. Okay, the love triangle aspect of it all was extremely cliched, especially when one of the love interests was only really there because he had been betrothed to Amora when they were younger - there's no real feelings or anything. I did like the chemistry between Amora and Bastien, and aspects of the story were original and engaging. I honestly wasn't expecting how gruesome the book could be at times, especially when discussing the way in which Amora's magic - essentially blood magic - worked, nor how action heavy it would be. I'm definitely going to be reading book 2 when I have a chance, and was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this book!
Dates Read:
August 29-30, 2021
Rating
4 Stars
