As princess of the island kingdom Visidia, Amora Montara has spent her entire life training to be High Animancer—the master of souls. The rest of the realm can choose their magic, but for Amora, it’s never been a choice. To secure her place as heir to the throne, she must prove her mastery of the monarchy’s dangerous soul magic.

When her demonstration goes awry, Amora is forced to flee. She strikes a deal with Bastian, a mysterious pirate: he’ll help her prove she’s fit to rule, if she’ll help him reclaim his stolen magic.

But sailing the kingdom holds more wonder—and more peril—than Amora anticipated. A destructive new magic is on the rise, and if Amora is to conquer it, she’ll need to face legendary monsters, cross paths with vengeful mermaids, and deal with a stow-away she never expected… or risk the fate of Visidia and lose the crown forever.

I’m one of those people who never knows how to describe what kind of music I like because the answer is: basically a little bit of everything. So it’s no surprise that I loved the warring elements at play in All the Stars and Teeth—the glam and glitter, the gore and grit, a heroine who embraces both in the same breath without apology. All this and more came together in a multifaceted, refreshingly unique debut that I devoured.

Before she can lead the island kingdom of Visidia, Princess Amora must prove she has what it takes to be High Animancer—master of souls. But when things go amiss, Amora finds herself on the run with a cursed pirate, her betrothed, and a vengeful mermaid. Between fleeing from the kingdom’s soldiers and facing down legendary monsters, the crew comes up against a new threat to Visidia that could destroy magic as they know it.

If you’ve ever found yourself stuck trying to choose between rocking grungy flannels or poofy dresses, this book is for you. Full of messy, fascinating characters and a magic system both dazzling and brutal, All the Stars and Teeth will keep you on your toes with lightning fast pacing and plot twists galore.