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Cover of A Dark and Hollow Star by Ashley Shuttleworth
BookCompleted2021

A Dark and Hollow Star

by Ashley Shuttleworth

Book 1 in The Hollow Star Saga

Queer fae mystery with four POVs, a sapphic romance, an M/M childhood-friends pining arc, and worldbuilding that does not condescend.

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goodreads 3.78/5 8,163 ratings

Quick fit

Is this story right for you?

A decision-first view of the reading experience.

Think twice if…

  • Content warnings: Violence, Graphic violence, Gore, Body horror, Murder, Death of a child, Suicidal ideation, Depression, PTSD, Trauma, Addiction, Drug use, Substance abuse, Human trafficking, Stalking, Racism/bigotry, Manipulation, Fire, Gun violence, Grief
Length512 pages
Series statusOngoing series
Spice1/5 · Closed door / fade to black
PacingMedium

Story profile

What the story promises

The strongest reviewed signals about romance, fantasy, and the reading experience.

Romance promise

  • Slow burn
  • Mixed
  • Low
  • Closed door / fade to black
  • The swoon
  • Brooding prince
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  • Friends to lovers
  • Tension / anticipation
  • Expanded empathy
  • Dark/tortured soul
  • Mutual pining
  • Longing glances
  • Found family feels
  • Morally gray
  • Rivals to lovers
  • Slow burn with late spice
  • Addictive read
  • Reluctant hero
  • Forbidden love
  • Tension
  • Tension finally satisfied
  • Protector
  • Morally gray love interest (LI)
  • Anticipation
  • Protective love interest
  • Touch starvation
  • Love/hate tension
  • Eye contact intensity
  • Neck kisses / neck touching

Fantasy promise

  • Ya fantasy
  • Fae romance
  • Big city / metropolis
  • Urban fantasy
  • Fae
  • Royal court / palace
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  • Fae realm / faerie courts
  • Other
  • Low fantasy / secret magic

Reading experience

  • Multi-POV
  • Medium
  • Dark
  • Witty
  • Heavy
  • High
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  • Outcast/loner
  • Queer
  • Atmospheric
  • Reluctant chosen one
  • Sapphic
  • Intense
  • Immersive
  • Rebel leader / revolutionary
  • Gay
  • Mysterious
  • Character-driven
  • BIPOC MC
  • Epic
  • Dramatic
  • BIPOC love interest (LI)
  • Angsty
  • Sharp
  • Mental health rep
  • Emotional
  • Depression rep
  • Magical
  • ADHD rep
  • Court of shadows
  • Fae courts and politics
  • Morally complex
  • Page turner
  • Unputdownable

Similar stories

Similar in ways that matter

Matched by the most important shared story signals, with the tradeoffs made explicit.

Cover of Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

688 pages Completed

Lady Midnight

Cassandra Clare

Similar because

Ya fantasy · Friends to lovers · Forbidden love

Different because

Spice is higher (2/5 vs 1/5). A longer read (688 vs 512 pages).

Book details
Length
512 pages
Language
English
Format
Book