This book was really excellent. It has a good solid story (it's a portal fantasy), but its strengths are the characters and character development. For one, I can't remember ever having read a book with so many non-traditional characters. To start with, there are a tremendous number of women. Women of all sorts and sizes, many with competence, bravery, and character. And not to forget, positions of power. Then there are people of varied shades. Then, even more noteworthy, characters who are lesbian, aromantic, and transgender.
A second positive point is the treatment of emotion. Yes, we have a classical portal fantasy with a story that may be solid, but doesn't stand out that much. For once though, there is room for crying, for trauma, and for bewilderment. It isn't ignored; the characters feel lost some times, even the ones originating from the world the story takes place on. It feels realistic, and, well, mature.

I am very curious about the next instalment. ( )

Saffron Coulter is a typical teenage girl dealing with the things teenage girls, well, deal with. Except she's stuck in a school system where the "boys will be boys" mentality means her and her classmates have to put up with some really rough behavior. Which is why Saffron is taken aback when the mysterious Gwen Vere stands up for her to one of the biggest bullies in the school. Gwen tells her she's looking for a job at the school. Saffron is intrigued and wonders if someone like Gwen could give her hope for change.

When Saffron learns Gwen has been spotted behind the school, she rushes to find her and thank her. What she finds is something she never could have imagined. She comes upon Gwen running into what looks like a portal of some kind. Throwing caution to the wind, Saffron follows--something that could lead to great adventure or be the biggest mistake of her life.

Saffron finds herself in Kena, one of several other worlds besides her own. And while Kena is full of magic, it's not a happy fantasy realm. Its leader, Vex Leodon, misled people to come to power and is nothing short of a tyrant. But it just so happens that Gwen is part of a group dedicated to bringing him down. Having followed Gwen into Kena, Saffron has little choice but to take a side and hope she can find a way back home. But when the opportunity to get back presents itself, will she take it? Or will Kena prove so inviting she will choose to stay there forever?

--

I know that describing a book as "fun" isn't very specific, but that's really how I have to start this one. I enjoyed being thrust into the world of Kena with its people and its history. Foz Meadows has done an outstanding job building and presenting this world to readers. The rich backstory and the political dynamics make for a strong setting and compelling plot.

Of course, I have to also acknowledge a well-written young adult science fiction/fantasy story that doesn't revolve around the female protagonist's love interests or include a love triangle. Have we finally moved on from that trope? Let's hope so.

What I would say I most love about this story is the strong character development. As I went through the story, there weren't many moments when I found myself questioning a character's behavior. And those moments were shortly answered with a bit more history of a character or relationship dynamics.

I definitely recommend giving this one a read. ( )

I loved this book! Saffron, Gwen, and Zech are amazing characters. The worldbuilding is fleshed out and really interesting. There's an expansive cast of supporting characters with complex motivations. The Shavaktiin are a fascinating concept. ( )

I so enjoyed AN ACCIDENT OF STARS for various reasons. The plot seemed to nod at many other fantasy novels - worldwalking, portals, something in the hedge right outside of the school, technology that makes learning languages easy, kings with secrets, queens from other lands also with secrets - while feeling like something new. The main character's attitudes and feelings were refreshing, including the ways she reacted to the many new experiences and traumas with which she was almost immediately confronted. Sometimes she was more adventurous than I expected, but then the author made it clear that her natural adventurousness and courage were squelched at a school that allowed those with more societal power to run roughshod over those with less. The final moments felt shocking and a bit rushed, which means waiting for the second book is going to be a bit agonizing. I liked the ways that various characters had a wide variety of different skin colors, traditions, abilities and disabilities, sexual orientations and relationships. I look forward to reading book two though I'm still pretty broken up about something that happened at the end of this book. ( )

Portal fantasy for adults! I have no idea how to review this book. There were things I didn’t love about it, but not anything that would make me not recommend it. It was a fun read, there are great characters, the worldbuilding was solid and I’m looking forward to the sequels.

So, while it’s not my favorite book that I read this year, I liked it a lot and I’ll certainly reread it someday. ( )