I received a digital copy of All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace free from NetGalley; all thoughts and opinions are my own, unbiased, and honest. This post contains links from which I may receive a commission if you make a purchase.
All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace Book Review
Post written by Molly Maurer
I was lucky to receive an advanced readers copy of All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace, an action-packed, high-seas adventure coming to a bookstore near you February 4th, 2020. I first heard about All the Stars and Teeth from Tomi Adeyemi, the New York Times bestselling author of Children of Blood and Bone. Intrigued by the premise and trusting Adeyemi’s taste in books (and friends!) I requested All the Stars and Teeth as soon as I could. This book promises bloody magic and a journey full of adventure, and it fully delivers on those promises.
All the Stars and Teeth
Set in a kingdom where danger lurks beneath the sea, mermaids seek vengeance with song, and magic is a choice, Adalyn Grace’s All the Stars and Teeth is a thrilling fantasy for fans of Stephanie Garber’s Caraval and Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass series.
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.
All the Stars and Teeth Review
Setting
I am not usually a fan of ebooks because they don’t draw me in as much as a physical book. Adalyn Grace weaves such a magical world with her creative and vivid descriptions that I didn’t have a problem getting sucked into the world of All the Stars and Teeth. The kingdom of Visidia is composed of several islands, and readers get to visit most of those islands. Rather than getting bogged down by the repetition of visiting island after island and the required descriptions of each location, Grace manages to weave these islands into the story in such a way that it moves the story along. I wanted to keep reading because I wanted to keep learning about Visidia, which is as diverse as it is beautiful. Readers are surely in for a visual treat when they pick up All the Stars and Teeth.
Characters
In addition to the setting, the characters also move the story along nicely. Amora is definitely my favorite character, and not just because she’s the protagonist. Amora has been sheltered from much of her home for most of her life, and her journey across the kingdom reveals just how little she knows. Instead of getting wrapped up in self-pity, though, Amora uses her lack of understanding to keep moving forward on her quest to save her kingdom from a dark threat. She keeps pushing through even when she learns a truth that turns everything she knows on its head. Amora is the definition of a strong female character, and readers are sure to fall in love with this feisty heroine.
Amora is far from the only character in All the Stars and Teeth. She is joined by the pirate captain, Bastian; her fiance, Ferrick; and even a mermaid, Vataea. Amora is by far the most developed character, but the supporting characters all bring something to the story. But you’ll have to read the book to find out!
Dark themes
Another of my favorite aspects of All the Stars and Teeth are its darker themes. Amora practices soul magic, and soul magic requires blood. All the Stars and Teeth definitely reads like an old-fashioned Grimm-style fairy tale. One of the first instances of Amora’s magic fully demonstrates how dark it actually is, and Grace does not hold back from other examples.
In addition to dark magic, Grace also addresses dark themes like slavery, corrupt politics, and sexism. She addresses these themes in various ways. I don’t want to spoil the plot for anyone, so I won’t go into too much detail. I do want to promise you that she does not paint the world of Visidia in black and white. Do not expect there to be a clear good side and bad side, because there are always so many shades of gray in between. Grace weaves these concepts into her story seamlessly, and not once does she come across as “preachy.” These themes are definitely a testament to her storytelling abilities.
Praise for All the Stars and Teeth
“Beautiful and bloody. Vicious and charming. Dark and romantic. Let All the Stars and Teeth ensnare your heart and soul.” —Astrid Scholte, Four Dead Queens
“A deliciously twisted fantasy that keeps your heart jumping from page to page….Richly imaginative and full of political intrigue, I loved every moment of this fast-paced adventure!”
—Akemi Dawn Bowman, author of Starfish and The Infinity Courts
Read All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace
All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace releases February 4th, 2020. You can pre-order it by clicking the link below:
About the author
Adalyn Grace graduated from Arizona State University when she was nineteen years old. She spent four years working in live theater and acted as the managing editor of a nonprofit newspaper before studying storytelling as an intern on Nickelodeon Animation’s popular series The Legend of Korra. Adalyn splits time between San Diego and Arizona with her bossy cat and two dorky dogs, and spends her days writing full-time while trying to find the best burrito around. All the Stars and Teeth is her debut novel. Visit Adalyn online on her website.
Follow Adalyn
Twitter @AdalynGrace_
Instagram authoradalyngrace
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17671937.Adalyn_Grace
Post written by Molly Maurer
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