Kristiana Y. Sfirlea's Reviews > Comet Rising

I was thrilled to receive an ARC of COMET RISING through a Twitter giveaway. I've had it on my TBR pile for months and have been waiting eagerly for its release date, so to get an early copy was a huge delight!

I enjoyed this book as much as the first one - which is to say, a lot! As with SHADOW WEAVER, the characters and their dynamics are excellent, the pacing makes you never want to stop reading, and the magic of the world is unique and intriguing in its expression. I love how darkness and light are both seen as positives - and negatives at times - which dismantles a very tired metaphor for good and evil, particularly in the fantasy genre. I was happy with how MarcyKate Connolly delved deeper into the magical structure of her world, establishing order and categories for talented people. It was great meeting new characters with fun, new takes on common powers in speculative fiction. The expanded cast was just enough - not too many unfamiliar faces that it felt crowded, but just enough that they lent power and complexity to the story.

For me, though, what hooked me first in SHADOW WEAVER is the same thing that left me feeling immensely satisfied with COMET RISING: the relationship between Emmeline and Dar. These two have been through all sorts of lies, betrayals, moments of trust, and a constantly seesawing friendship. I've rooted for them from the get-go, hoping to see the maturity, forgiveness, and character growth necessary to make their relationship - so full of beautiful potential - a healthy one. That's what this duology has really been about to me. The story of a girl and her shadow. And they ended up exactly where I hoped they would. That last page, man. All the feels! <3

If the Cerelia Comet blessed me with the talent of a sky shaker, I would shake down five perfect stars for this wonderful book. Bravo!