All The Stars And Teeth

by Adalyn Grace

Honestly, this book wasn’t at the top of my TBR – until I got my signed copy from Mysterious Galaxy. They sent me my signed copy with two purple dragon bookmarks, as pictured, the pre-order print you see there, and the book was wrapped up in their newletter thing they do, I think every month? Maybe every week?

Anyway, that cover was stunning, and the package brought me such joy that, between those things and Shelby Mahurin’s [author of Serpent & Dove’s] praise of the book, I decided to pick it up as soon as I was done with my current read at the time, which was The Guinevere Deception.

So, where to start? First of all, the soul magic the main character has is definitely a new twist on main character magic abilities. Usually the magic the main character has is beautiful and graceful and lovely – only does good, maybe a touch of bad if you use it “wrong”, etc., etc. – but this magic is different. I won’t go into too many details, because I feel like that’s kind of spoiler-y – but maybe that’s just because I didn’t read much about this book before picking it up? – but it’s definitely different.

The magic system in this book is interesting. There’s a handful of different kinds, with their own strengths and limitations. Some, when you hear about it, are clearly “good” magic, while others come across initially as “bad” – until you hear how most wielders use it. This book definitely challenges your “presumptions” of certain words and ideas, but also of the words themselves and what the magic use implies using those words.

I like the character arc of the main character, Amora, but it felt a tad predictable. While I enjoyed her and the book, it felt a little . . . off to me. That being said, I do want to read the next book, All the Tides of Fate!

I do like the main group of characters, I’ll admit. They’re fun and quirky, and I enjoy Adalyn Grace’s take on mermaids. Many times, they’re just cast as beautiful ladies with even prettier voices, and not much else, but these mermaids hail back to some of the more original – and darker – tales of mermaids, and it’s a fun twist!

A lot of the plot felt different amounts of predictable, but the twist near the end was great! I can’t go into too much more detail without spoilers so, without further ado – the spoiler line!

**SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT. DON’T READ FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT SPOILERS. SERIOUSLY. STOP HERE. I WANT TO DIVE IN TO SPOILERS, SO YOU’VE BEEN WARNED!**

Soul magic is crazy. It’s crazy what Cato turned it into pre-curse, and it’s crazy what it got turned into because of the curse.

The ending of this book wrecked Amora – her father died, she found out her magic actually doesn’t need to be so dark and cruel and brutal and lethal. I’m excited to see where Adalyn Grace takes Amora and soul magic in All the Tides of Fate.

I’m also looking forward to how Amora plans to get her soul magic back. That being said, her losing her magic felt a little forced and predictable. It was made such a big deal that Amora’s focus would be not losing her magic – and then she seemed to lose it so easily. Even if the goal was to point out how easy – and how much easier – it is to have your magic stolen, it still felt forced and predictable.

Please see my next blog post for details related to this post and some near future ones as well! I hope everyone is finding different and enjoyable ways to spend their time, stay safe, and keep reading [if you can]!