“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.” (Amazon)
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my e-copy of this book.
Review of All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace
My rating: 4/5
It’s been thrilling to get lost in the world of Adalyn Grace’s All the Stars and Teeth.
What I liked the most about Adalyn Grace’s book is the adventure that has dominated All the Stars and Teeth. Some aspects of Amora’s quest has been predictable, but it didn’t take away from the fast-paced adventure-like narration that I have enjoyed so much. There was so much going on! From failing to prove herself at the beginning of the book, through fighting mystical creatures and trying to protect Visidia against all the odds, Amora and her companions are facing the danger almost at all times throughout the book. All the Stars and Teeth kept me reading chapter after chapter hoping for a good resolution for Amora. While a lot of plots (and sub-plots) concluded at the end of the book, there is still so much more that has to happen and I can’t wait for the rest of the adventure.
While some fragments have been information-heavy, the world created by Adalyn Grace has been interesting and I have enjoyed getting to know more about Amora’s kingdom. I have liked magical system and restrictions on using multiple magic that have created tension in Visidia as well as set up Amora to discover deeper secrets about her roots.
Moreover, although I found Amora naive at the beginning of the book, I have grown to like her. Her naivety is a result of being shielded her whole life and lied to, but despite that, it’s clearly visible how much she cares about her kingdom no matter what she discovers along the way. Strong and caring, Amora is definitely an interesting narrator, but I found myself favouring Bastian – he has been such an interesting character from the very beginning. Bastian and Amora’s banter has also added the value to the book, and while I felt like things between them have developed fairly quickly, I’m looking forward to seeing more of their interaction in the next instalment of Adalyn Grace’s duology.
Overall, there is so much I like about this book. Magic and pirates are definitely some of my favourite tropes, so All the Stars and Teeth have been wonderful in that regard. The title is so fitting, as that covers for all the editions – they are gorgeous, making Adalyn Grace’s debut a great package. I’m looking forward to reading the second part of the duology in February 2021.
Who is the book for: I would recommend All the Stars and Teeth to anyone looking for a fun, full of action YA fantasy. You can get your copy here.
Alicja Writes 