“As a general rule, I don’t do middle grade (MG) books. a wondrous fantasy read that reminded me why I adore the genre so much and granted me characters I was surprised, but thrilled, to love. I sincerely hope that there will be at least one sequel. had a satisfying ending, it still left me clamoring for more. The complete cast of characters were fleshed out and entertaining. Anyone that enjoys middle school or young adult novels with cleverly drawn characters will enjoy the book. “I highly recommend The Star Shard to fans of fantasy and coming of age stories. However, nowhere does it come across as overdone or stale. “The Star Shard has all the elements of classic adventure stories, coming of age tales, and fantasy. A brilliant new fantasy world, and I am eager to see this story continue on in future books. However, older and younger children, and adults, can enjoy this book as well. A wonderful fantasy novel for children around eleven to fourteen. It was a nice break away from the worlds of emotional teenage angst.”įrom Sharon Schmidt Tyler, through Yahoo! Voices: The images described were vivid, the world outstanding, and the characters wonderful. It’s hard for me to fully express how much awe I was in.

“Durbin builds a magical world, perfect for the imagination of a young child. She showed me things that I hadn’t seen in a while. I quickly fell in love with, despite our age difference. The world is full of fantasy and wonder, perfectly fitting. Durbin’s The Star Shard is a fairy tale among fairy tales. Durbin’s quiet, reverent tone does slow some of the more action-driven scenes, but the lush, almost poetic prose is something readers will want to linger over anyway.”įrom Michelle Villarmia through NetGalley:

Cymbril’s longing for freedom is deeply felt, and even as she acknowledges her privileges as one of the more well-kept slaves, her desire to become more than the possession of another person and find a life of her own will resonate with young readers just coming into their independence. The charm of old-school fantasy blends with the mechanics of steampunk aboard the Rake, making the massive city feel both menacing in its size and enchanting in its secrets.

“Evocative imagery, an enthralling world, and a fully realized storyline that does not depend on future installments make this a standout among recent pre-YA fantasies. While this story is satisfactorily concluded with surprise revelations and limited loose ends, there is plenty of scope for a follow-up.” Cymbril herself is a strong heroine - loyal, resourceful, and brave. comes alive with fantastic creatures and a varied cast of supporting characters. Middle Grade Fantasy (ages 9 and up).Įducators: For a Discussion Guide usable in classrooms, click here: (originally published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012). The Star Shard is now available in paperback and Kindle editions from JABberwocky Literary Agency Inc.

The Star Shard by Frederic S. Durbin