A Diamond Bright and Broken
Published on 28. October 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
360 pages
978-1-958607-29-9 (ISBN)
Description
Discover the founder of Diversity is Lit Bookclub's debut where one girl's magical power is both a gift and a curse.
Sixteen-year-old Cadence was born with the ability to cry tears of diamonds–a secret talent her parents have abused to climb the royal ranks thanks to the infinite source of wealth. At their command, she cries diamonds to pay for the pricey treatments for her sister's neuromuscular disorder. Regardless of the pain, she'll do anything for her sister, who weakens by the day.
When the prince heckles Cadence at the King’s Summer Solstice Ball about her sister’s disability while dancing in the ballroom, she’s left on the verge of tears, threatening to expose her power. She is saved by a mysteriously charming girl who sweeps in to take the next dance—and the single diamond Cadence cried. The stranger reveals the Magi Queen sent her to tell Cadence that she's a mage, and that her power is a curse.
Yearning to discover the secrets behind her powers, Cadence sets off for the City of Magi. To claim the life she wants, Cadence must embrace her power—before she loses the bright spots in her otherwise sad existence. After all, even diamonds can shatter.
Includes bonus chapter from beloved side character's POV.
Sixteen-year-old Cadence was born with the ability to cry tears of diamonds–a secret talent her parents have abused to climb the royal ranks thanks to the infinite source of wealth. At their command, she cries diamonds to pay for the pricey treatments for her sister's neuromuscular disorder. Regardless of the pain, she'll do anything for her sister, who weakens by the day.
When the prince heckles Cadence at the King’s Summer Solstice Ball about her sister’s disability while dancing in the ballroom, she’s left on the verge of tears, threatening to expose her power. She is saved by a mysteriously charming girl who sweeps in to take the next dance—and the single diamond Cadence cried. The stranger reveals the Magi Queen sent her to tell Cadence that she's a mage, and that her power is a curse.
Yearning to discover the secrets behind her powers, Cadence sets off for the City of Magi. To claim the life she wants, Cadence must embrace her power—before she loses the bright spots in her otherwise sad existence. After all, even diamonds can shatter.
Includes bonus chapter from beloved side character's POV.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Target group
Young adult
Interest Age: From 14 years
Dimensions
Height: 202 mm
Width: 128 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
314 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-958607-29-9 (9781958607299)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Holly Davis is a kidlit author who started her writing journey as a child, often drawing the book cover and only writing a couple of chapters. In high school, she wrote fanfiction for the video game, Kingdom Hearts, before eventually wanting to write stories of worlds and characters all her own!
Now Holly gives writing advice and interacts with the online community via her YouTube channel. She’s also a Page Turner Young Writer Awards judge and the host of the Diversity is Lit Book Club on Goodreads, which promotes BIPOC authors.
You can find her in the Chicago suburbs helping people in the hospital as a physical therapist, enjoying the company of her two babies who have fur, and binging Netflix shows. A Diamond Bright and Broken is her debut novel.
Now Holly gives writing advice and interacts with the online community via her YouTube channel. She’s also a Page Turner Young Writer Awards judge and the host of the Diversity is Lit Book Club on Goodreads, which promotes BIPOC authors.
You can find her in the Chicago suburbs helping people in the hospital as a physical therapist, enjoying the company of her two babies who have fur, and binging Netflix shows. A Diamond Bright and Broken is her debut novel.