Brigid Kemmerer, Carving Shadows into Gold (Forging Silver into Stars #2), Bloomsbury, February 2025, 384 pp., RRP $19.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781526652188
It doesn’t feel like it’s been three years since I read the first book, Forging Silver into Stars, in this series, but that’s what my Goodreads tells me. Luckily, Kemmerer keeps bringing out other excellent books, so I have been able to get my fix. And now we have this one, which is a second book, so be aware there are tropes – nothing is resolved, there’s a cliff-hanger ending, and now we possibly have to wait another three years to read the conclusion. But none of that puts me off. I love these books.
This series is a spin-off (a companion?) to Kemmerer’s Cursebreaker books. We are still in the world of Rhen and Grey, but now have three new narrators, so our view of the two royal siblings is different. But because we know how loyal and brave they are, any negative perceptions are recognised by readers to be misunderstandings. Of course, Rhen and Grey can do no wrong! Ah yes, but they are only (mostly?) human, and (regardless of magical abilities) are still fallible, and as expected, will sacrifice much to protect each other and those they love.
Our three main characters from the first book continue the story here: Tycho, Jax and Callyn. Each time we leave one of the narrators, we are frustrated to have to move to a different person and a new part of the story, but it doesn’t take long to become immersed in this different perspective, and once again, when Kemmerer moves away, we feel the loss. Great storytelling! Ultimately this means we have only bits and pieces of the story, until they all culminate and connect to provide the bigger and scarier picture.
At the core of the plot’s tension is magic: its uses, both good and evil, its secrecy and the impacts of that. And of course, there’s the hypocrisy of the people who want to ban it but use it to further their own agenda. The parallel to our modern-day geopolitical conflicts is unambiguous. And we connect with our heroes because like us, they feel small and significant to the growing plots and rebellions against those they support and love. But this doesn’t stop them from putting themselves in risky situations to play whatever role they can.
Kemmerer writes with nuance and empathy. No one is perfect, and terrible acts and events happen, and the characters sometimes have to change and adapt. While we hope Tycho and Jax’s feelings for each other will stay strong, we worry about Callyn’s continued attraction to the enigmatic (dare I say swarmy?) Lord Alex. Both Grey and Rhen appear, and are clearly in charge, but their appearances on page are few. I suspect this might change in the next book.
This is not strictly a review of the plot of Carving Shadows into Gold. This is a shoutout to an excellent fantasy author for young adults who consistently writes age-appropriate books for her audience. Her books are deliberately and seamlessly inclusive, diverse, emotionally impactful and swoony. I recommend them all highly to teenage fantasy fans.
Reviewed by Trish Buckley
