Magic, Lore, and Loyalty in All the Stars and Teeth

All the Stars and Teeth is the first novel in a series of the same name by Adalyn Grace. If you love fantasy series full of legend, lore, royalty, and magic, then this is a novel well worth you checking out. Set in a world where magic is real, but so is the responsibility that comes with it, this is a world unafraid to show the darker side of magic.

Amora was raised to be a queen. She was raised (literally) to become the ruler of Visidia. That is, until her coronation took a disastrous turn, showing that she had no control over her magic. That was a moment that shook her world. But it also opened her eyes to everything happening around her. Now Amora is determined to save her people from an unseen and ignored the threat.

All the Stars and Teeth is a Young Adult fantasy novel that combines many fan-favorite elements. There are determined characters, mermaids, high risks, and intense backstories. This novel has been described as perfect for fans of Caraval and Throne of Glass. As a fan of both, I can’t argue with that statement.

Writing

All the Stars and Teeth was a brilliantly intense novel. This novel had incredibly high stakes and in-depth character backstories and legends. I’ll be the first to admit that the lore of this world was by far my favorite, but I think there was plenty of good reason for feeling that way.

Adalyn Grace’s world-building has brought us a lush world – yet one with darker elements. The magical system was fascinating, a fact that grew stronger as the novel continued. The more I learned about magic, the more I wanted to learn.

This is a novel that combines many different elements and, as such, has countless subplots. Some of those plots haven’t come to fruition. Not yet, at any rate. Since this is the first in a series, that isn’t shocking. It does show that Grace is planning. And I’ll admit that I’m more than a little bit curious to see where some of those threads will lead.

Grace’s writing style was fluid yet intense. She wasn’t afraid to show us the worst that humanity has to offer. But she also pointedly showed us how intent matters, sometimes more than anything else. It was an interesting note to base this series on, but one that has proven effective.

Development

All the Stars and Teeth is one of those novels that starts casually but quickly grows into something tense and enthralling. The first few chapters took the time to introduce us to the leading characters. But this novel quickly turned into a fast-paced read once that was over.

I’ll confess that I initially didn’t like Amora’s character. She reads like an entitled princess, especially in the first chapter or two. However, her character grows significantly throughout this novel, and by the end, I couldn’t help but root for her. So if you’re struggling to enjoy her narrative, just give it a chapter or two before giving up.

One thing I loved about this novel was how it seemed to get more complex with time. As the characters grew up, their motivations changed. The plot became thicker and harder to navigate, increasing the stakes at hand. If that pattern holds, the rest of this series will become even more intense.

Conclusion

All the Stars and Teeth was a thrilling and interesting read. While I’ve seen many of these themes countless times, I still feel like Grace was able to produce something new and unique here. I’m glad that I took the time to read it, and honestly am already looking forward to seeing what the next novel will be about.

This review was originally written for Word of the Nerd, but has been ported over to Quirky Cat’s Fat Stacks now that the site has shut down.

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