Forging Silver Into Stars (Forging Silver Into Stars, #1)

by Brigid Kemmerer

New York Times bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer expands the Cursebreaker world in an electrifying new series.

When ancient magic tests a newfound love, a dark fate beckons . . .

Magic has been banished in the land of Syhl Shallow for as long as best friends Jax and Callyn can remember. They once loved the stories of the powerful magesmiths and mythical scravers who could conjure fire or control ice, but now they’ve learned that magic only leads to danger: magic is what killed Callyn’s parents, leaving her alone to raise her younger sister. Magic never helped Jax, whose leg was crushed in an accident that his father has been punishing him for ever since. Magic won’t save either of them when the tax collector comes calling, threatening to take their homes if they can't pay what they owe.

Meanwhile, Jax and Callyn are astonished to learn magic has already returned to Syhl Shallow--in the form of a magesmith who's now married to their queen. Now, the people of Syhl Shallow are expected to allow dangerous magic in their midst, and no one is happy about it.

When a stranger rides into town offering Jax and Callyn silver in exchange for holding secret messages for an anti-magic faction, the choice is obvious--even if it means they may be aiding in a plot to destroy their new king. It’s a risk they’re both willing to take. That is, until another visitor arrives: handsome Lord Tycho, the King’s Courier, the man who’s been tasked with discovering who’s conspiring against the throne.

Suddenly, Jax and Callyn find themselves embroiled in a world of shifting alliances, dangerous flirtations, and ancient magic . . . where even the deepest loyalties will be tested.

• ISBN10: 1547609125
• ISBN13: 9781547609123
• Publish Date: 7 June 2022 (first published 3 May 2022)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
• Imprint: Bloomsbury YA
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 560
• Language: English

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

Have you ever read a single book by an author and decided then and there that you would grab all their books when given a chance? That's what happened to me with Brigid Kemmerer. I'm kind of behind on the game here since I have only read Defy the Night. However, she just started a new series, Forging Silver into Stars, which I do not intend to miss.

Jax and Callyn grew up in a city where magic is banned. Given how few people have magic, this isn't really a concern. Unless you know somebody who died at the hands of magic, it feels personal.

When a magesmith marries the queen and becomes king (in his own right), people begin to talk. Talking turns to plotting; before you know it, even innocent bakers and blacksmiths are caught in the middle of this magical mess.

“If your heart tells you someone deserves your attention, listen to it.”

So I'll confess that I didn't realize Forging Silver into Stars was a spin-off series (based on Cursebreakers). I don't think that knowledge would have stopped me from reading it, though it might have been helpful motivation to get me to read the original series first. Oh well.

This does explain why the magical system felt so complex, alongside many characters and their history. I had wondered why there wasn't more detail on those accounts, but now I understand that it must have been covered in other books. Oops. So maybe don't make the same mistake as me?

Forging Silver into Stars is told mainly through three perspectives: Jax, Callyn, and Tychno (who is from the main series, if I understand correctly). I love how different all three perspectives are, even though they all get wrapped up in the same mess.

As always, there were some perspectives I found more intriguing than others. I don't know if my favorites would have changed depending on whether or not I read the original series. But I don't think so.

It was amazing to see how quickly the politics and motivations of this story turned into something complex and lethal. I love it when it all weaves together so neatly. Overall, I would have to say that this is an excellent start to the series! I'm looking forward to more.

Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks