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A review by laurenbookishtwins
Even the Darkest Stars by Heather Fawcett
4.0
Disclaimer: I received a free copy via Edelweiss for review purposes.
Amid several reading slumps, Even the Darkest Stars was a lovely surprise. It follows Kazmin, who has always dreamed of getting out of her little village and becoming one of the Emperor's royal explorers, responsible for mapping the mountainous empire. And when River, the current royal explorer, arrives and hires Kazmin to climb Raskha, the tallest and deadliest mountain, in search of a rare talisman, it's Kazmin's chance to prove she's the best. After her sister betrays her and sets off in search of the talisman herself with a rival explorer, Kazmin must decide what's more important: protecting her sister, or beating her to the summit of Rashka.
I'm going to start by getting the negatives out of the way (don't worry, there are very few). Firstly, the pace did lag a bit. That's because Fawcett put so much detail and attention into the world-building, and creating a truly atmospheric and engaging read. If you're looking for a fast-paced book, I wouldn't look to this one. But if you're looking for a solid high fantasy with exceptional world-building, suspense, and immersiveness, then I would definitely keep this on your radar. Secondly, there is a love triangle, and it's pretty in your face. There's the old childhood friend, and the mysterious attractive newcomer. It's definitely not my favourite part of this book, but the book also has enough good points that I can give the love-triangle a pass.
Now onto the positives! As I said, the world-building was A+. I loved the Himalayan inspired setting, the magical aspects, the snowy mountainous landscape, and what was especially standout was the survivalist aspects. Kazmin and her team encounter avalanches, storms, and hazards of a supernatural nature. Kazmin was, beyond a doubt, an admirable protagonist. She's definitely flawed, but that makes her all the more realistic. We also have a wonderful cast of fully-fleshed out side characters.
It was a difficult book to put down because of the fantastic setting and the edge of your seat thrills. It's a solid high fantasy and it's a series I do hope to keep up with. I would recommend Even The Darkest Stars to fans of survivalist and magical fantasies.
Amid several reading slumps, Even the Darkest Stars was a lovely surprise. It follows Kazmin, who has always dreamed of getting out of her little village and becoming one of the Emperor's royal explorers, responsible for mapping the mountainous empire. And when River, the current royal explorer, arrives and hires Kazmin to climb Raskha, the tallest and deadliest mountain, in search of a rare talisman, it's Kazmin's chance to prove she's the best. After her sister betrays her and sets off in search of the talisman herself with a rival explorer, Kazmin must decide what's more important: protecting her sister, or beating her to the summit of Rashka.
I'm going to start by getting the negatives out of the way (don't worry, there are very few). Firstly, the pace did lag a bit. That's because Fawcett put so much detail and attention into the world-building, and creating a truly atmospheric and engaging read. If you're looking for a fast-paced book, I wouldn't look to this one. But if you're looking for a solid high fantasy with exceptional world-building, suspense, and immersiveness, then I would definitely keep this on your radar. Secondly, there is a love triangle, and it's pretty in your face. There's the old childhood friend, and the mysterious attractive newcomer. It's definitely not my favourite part of this book, but the book also has enough good points that I can give the love-triangle a pass.
Now onto the positives! As I said, the world-building was A+. I loved the Himalayan inspired setting, the magical aspects, the snowy mountainous landscape, and what was especially standout was the survivalist aspects. Kazmin and her team encounter avalanches, storms, and hazards of a supernatural nature. Kazmin was, beyond a doubt, an admirable protagonist. She's definitely flawed, but that makes her all the more realistic. We also have a wonderful cast of fully-fleshed out side characters.
It was a difficult book to put down because of the fantastic setting and the edge of your seat thrills. It's a solid high fantasy and it's a series I do hope to keep up with. I would recommend Even The Darkest Stars to fans of survivalist and magical fantasies.