A GRIM AND SUNKEN VOW

One by one, Riadne Lysterne, Seelie Queen of Summer, rejuvenates the seven Sins, claiming their power to break the seals on Ruin, a formidable and devastating titan.

At the Solstice party, Arlo Jarsdel and Celadon, her cousin, watch helplessly as Riadne murders their family and seizes the Bone Crown from UnSeelie Spring. Weighed down by guilt for her misplaced trust in Riadne, Arlo swears she will never use her powers to manipulate fate again. The immortals have not forgotten Arlo’s mysterious powers, however, nor given up on winning her allegiance. Celadon carries a heavy burden of his own—a surge of new magic, the truth of his parentage, and rulership over a court that believes he conspired to kill his family. Amid the emotional and political strife, a treacherous ally with a blood-soaked history of and a vendetta against Fate emerges from the shadows. This third installment of the Hollow Star Saga begins in the middle of the turmoil where the last book left off, maintaining momentum and suspense by switching between the perspectives of an ensemble cast of queer, primarily white characters. Shuttleworth’s use of foreshadowing through poignant details, flashbacks, and allusions to mythology sets up satisfying plot twists. Unfortunately, the attempts to examine colonization and racism through plot and worldbuilding miss the mark, as they don’t fully explore the weighty topics they broach.

Offers vicious and thrilling intrigue.