
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Series: Forging Silver into Stars #2
Publication: January 28, 2025 by Bloomsbury YA
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Find it on: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AUS | Amazon DE | Apple Books | Blackwell’s | Barnes & Noble | Google Play | Kobo | Waterstones
Rating: 4/5★
Dangerous magic. Fateful choices. Broken promises. The spellbinding series by New York Times bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer continues.
The King’s Courier Tycho has made a treacherous bargain. Now beholden to the magical scraver who saved King Gray’s life, one false move could end everything.
Jax escaped his life in Briarlock and traveled with Tycho to Emberfall. But life outside his small village brings unexpected challenges–and unlikely adversaries.
After years of hating the royal family and their magic, Callyn never expected to be at the Queen’s side, with magic on her fingertips. But at the royal court, she can’t trust anyone–including the man she thought she loved.
Cast apart, Tycho, Jax, and Callyn must learn to wield the magic that is dividing their kingdom. As the magical scravers attack from the north and the king’s rivals gain strength, time is running out.
War is looming. Love is tested. And magic could be the only answer. . .
Brigid Kemmerer’s work are some of the few (if not only???) books in the YA (fantasy) genre that I still read. No shade at all towards YA books but I’ve just grown out of the genre, personally. Carving Shadows into Gold once again reminded me why I still read this author’s books. They, and especially this series, just hit something within me with with its flawed yet incredible and diverse cast of characters. Brigid Kemmerer just always manages to make me really care about the story, characters’ trials and tribulations.
I already know this will not be a comprehensive review because I go so hard for the characters in this book so bear with me, please. I just love these characters so much and the author keeps making them go through shit (understandably, otherwise there wouldn’t be much of a story but you get what I’m saying). I just wanna hug them all and tell them it’s going to be okay. And I don’t know who needs a hug more. Tycho? Jax? Callyn? Grey? Lia Mara? All of them probably!
The end of the book, once again, made me want to smack Alek in his pretty face. I ship him and Callyn so freaking hard but Alex isn’t making it easy for me at this point. It also seems like things aren’t going to be smooth sailing for Jax and Tycho who’m I love so very much together. I just want them to be happy. And another thing that made me really sad were the problems between Grey and Lia Mara. You just can’t do this to my heart, Brigid. Basically everything hurts now. Happier things in the book that I loved was the appearance of Harper. She always makes me smile and I still love seeing her together with Rhen. Also, Tycho’s friendship (???) with Nakiis and how they help each other.
Also, Brigid Kemmerer always has great magic systems in her fantasy books. And I think this is especially true in the world of this series. Magic is still very much feared, like in book one. But I really hope this will change somehow in the last book. Yes, the magic can be dangerous and potentially hurt people, but it can also heal them. There are two sides to every coin, after all.
I did say this wouldn’t be a very comprehensive review and not very clear or useful to people who haven’t read the first book at least. I just loved this book and especially its characters so much. On the one hand, I’m already worried for the final book and what will happen to everyone. But on the other I’m also excited to see what the final conclusion is going to be.
About the author:
Brigid Kemmerer is the New York Times bestselling author of more than a dozen dark and alluring novels like Defy the Night, A Curse So Dark and Lonely, and Letters to the Lost. Her stories always feature complex characters facing the challenges of life, both in realistic settings and rich fantasy worlds, making her a beloved author among young adult readers. A full time writer, Brigid lives in the Baltimore area with her husband, her boys, her dog, and her cats. When she’s not writing or being a mommy, you can usually find her with her hands wrapped around a barbell.
I don’t read much YA either, and I’m glad you found an author that works for you in that age group. I do love when authors write painful scenes because it means the characters are written so well😁
I have loved Brigid Kemmerer’s books in the past, but I still need to pick up this series. And I do love books where the authors makes you care so much for the characters!
I’ve been wanting to read Brigid Kemmerer’s work. I read YA from time to time, although not as much as I used to.
She does have her first adult book coming up. Can’t remember if it’s a 2025 or 2026 release but it’s coming!
I seriously need to catch up with her latest books!
YES!