This well-done but underrated romantasy book combines the cities of Velaris and The Court of Nightmares from wait for A Court of Thorns & Roses book 6 has continued to tick on, with audiences theorizing and speculating about where exactly the Maas series is going to go next in this next chapter. However, some audiences, myself included, miss the wonderful worlds Maas crafted and are eager to return and explore new corners of Prythian.

While there are plenty of Fae Courts of Prythian, which Maas showcases in wonderful detail in her books. And one of the prominent locations that captured audiences' attention was Velaris, the Night Court's capital city and A Court of Thorns & Roses' most popular location. Those missing this spot — and wishing for a slightly darker take on it — can find that combination in one 2024 book that deserves more love: City of Stardust by Georgia Summers.

City of Stardust's Fidelis Mirrors The Night Court's Velaris And The Court Of Nightmares

Fidelis Only Appears To Be As Idyllic As Velaris

In Summers' novel, it seems like Fidelis is the perfect replica of A Court of Thorns & Roses' Velaris, but it has just as much in common with the Hewn City or The Court of Nightmares within the Night Court. City of Stardust chronicles the story of Violet Everly, the latest in her family to be accosted by the Everly curse, which has been stealing her ancestors for centuries. Determined to find the truth and her missing mother, who escaped the curse's hold, she finds herself embroiled with Penelope, the ruler of Fidelis, who will see the curse fulfilled at any cost.

Fidelis itself seems to be a perfect Velaris replacement at first glance, as it is also a secret city perched along a mountain range like the one in A Court of Thorns & Roses. It is a city run by a complex type of magic, filled with flying airships, a fascinating culture, and seemingly happy residents who adore their leader. The scholars, in particular, fuel that adoration, their inventive solutions both aiding the city during its harsh winters and, as the book later reveals, becoming tools of its secret oppression at the hands of Penelope.

City of Stardust was published in January 2024.

As it turns out, due to Penelope's cruelty, Fidelis has more in common with the Hewn City from A Court of Thorns & Roses. Penelope uses the scholars to unethical degrees, often leaving them severely hurt or scared, both within and outside Fidelis' borders. The other leaders within Fidelis are just as afraid of her, yielding to her will as she mercilessly tries to achieve her goals and immorally push the city further. That twist within City of Stardust is what makes it so compelling, especially as it is not the only concept from Maas that Summers plays with.

Summer's Book Mirrors Other Aspects of ACOTAR (But With A Twist)

City of Stardust's Romance & Monsters Also Mirror ACOTAR

The romance and monsters within City of Stardust parallel those found within A Court of Thorns & Roses, Summers combining and twisting those elements in captivating ways. Though this part of the novel got mixed reactions, I think that this is one of many books that blends fantasy and romance well, the relationship between Violet and Aleksander having aspects of Feyre and Rhysand's more tender moments of connection. Their relationship, though, also has more mystery and tension behind it, as other players' agendas infringe on that connection rather than their own choices most of the time.

Another aspect of Maas' series that Summers twists well is the monsters within her world. A key example is Tamriel, who is seemingly an eldritch being in the same league as Penelope, whom the latter locks away and visits for answers. Tamriel's cannibalistic urges and cryptic speech make him the perfectly terrifying combination of the Bone Carver and Weaver, rendering him just as nightmare-inducing. Even so, City of Stardust does have its brighter moments, making it both a well-balanced story and the perfect replacement as the wait for the next A Court of Thorns & Roses book continues.