Emily R. King

Everley Donovan, the sole survivor of her family's assassination, is saved by a replacement clockwork heart, and goes on a quest to expose Killian Markham, the navy admiral who left her for dead.

Before the Broken Star

Judy Hudgins

Really interesting read

Great world creation. Can’t wait to read next book. I plan on seeing what Everley is up to with Jamison and her heart

Alicia Haws

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4 STARS

Before the Broken Star didn't start off as strong as some other books, but I pushed through the slow beginning and I'm so glad that I did! At about the 25% mark, I devoured this book and couldn't get enough of these characters. 

I really loved this unique story. This book also includes a ton of strong female heroines, a love interest, bravery, sadness, pirates, fairies, lost islands and so many things I love in a good book. It reminded me a lot of Once Upon A Time with all the different "worlds" and the magic vibes. 

[Characters]
Everley is quite a complex character. She’s living a lie and hiding her true identity. She comes off cold and brusk but is really loving and gentle inside, she is also completely dependant on the clockwork heart in her chest to keep her alive! On top of all of that, Everley is also driven by revenge. She wants nothing more than to kill the cruel man who slaughtered her family, and will go to extreme lengths to enact it--even going as far as letting herself be convicted of a crime she never committed in order to be close to him. All of these attributes make for a heroine who is fierce and brave, yet vulnerable to her weaknesses which make her an absolutely relatable and beautiful character.

Everley's love interest Jamison is probably my favorite character in the book. I loved his gentle yet protective nature, and I fell in love with his character instantly. He is a constant figure in Everley's journey through the book, and at times I was so disappointed and felt SO.BAD for him. I felt that he put up with a lot of crap from Everley, and did it with such patience and love and got almost nothing in return from her (definitely not enough, if any).

[Plot]
This plot is all about Time (capitalized because not only is it a major plot point, but also a character? You'd have to read to understand lol) which can be a 
  little
 bit complicated at points, but the writing is strong enough that it was pretty easy to understand.

[Overall]
Like I said previously, it started a bit slow for me, (and there were a couple of confusing parts that I had to reread paragraphs to fully understand what was going on) but once the story picks up, it moves pretty quickly. I also didn't feel too rushed or like it left any holes which I appreciate.

This book is the first book in the Evermore Chronicles. I already have an ARC generously provided by NetGalley and the Author- Emily R. King- for the second book in this series--Into the Hourglass, and I will be picking it up tonight because I can't wait to find out what happens to our MC's after that cliffhanger of an ending!

I highly recommend this book if you like YA Fantasy/Sci-Fi!

Liz Griffin

I can honestly say this is the first book I’ve read where Deus Ex Whale occurs. Mostly enjoyable; some strange dialogue issues and character growth inconsistencies. Also, it was never made clear what specifically would cause Everley’s heart to stutter. Physical exertion mostly didn’t, but everything emotional just decked her.

A fierce young female adventurer battles time itself to claim her destiny in a sweeping new fantasy saga from the author of the Hundredth Queen series. Everley Donovan is living on borrowed time. The lone survivor of her family's unexplained assassination, she was saved by an ingeniously crafted clockwork heart. But the time she was given won't last forever. Now, every tick-tock reminds her how fragile her existence is and hastens her quest to expose Killian Markham, the navy admiral who shattered her world and left her for dead. But Everley's hunt for justice will be a long and hard-won voyage. Her journey takes her to a penal colony on a cursed isle, where she will be married off and charged to build the new world. It is here, and beyond, that hidden realms hide, treasures are unearthed, her family secrets are buried, and young love will test the strength of her makeshift heart. When Everley discovers Markham may not be who he seems, her pursuit for truth is bound to his redemption, her tragic history, and her astonishing destiny.

Before the Broken Star

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