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The Crimson Crown Duology
The Crimson Crown
Win a free print copy of this book!
20 days and 20:42:23
5 copies available
U.S. only
Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who’s the wickedest of them all? Snow White’s dark queen tells her side of the story in the first book of a queer, witchy duology that reimagines the classic fairy tale—from the author of Malice.
“An alluring, vengeful origin story that brings tremendous dimension to a classic fairytale.”—Chloe Gong, New York Times bestselling author of Immortal Longings
Legends tell of a witch who became a queen—the heartless villain in the story of Snow White.
But now the wicked queen is stepping out of Snow White’s shadow to become the heroine of her own legend.
Her real “once upon a time” begins when she is just Ayleth, a young witch who lives in the forest with her coven. The witches practice their magic in secret, hiding from the White King and his brutal war against witchcraft.
Ayleth, however, faces a war of her own. Her magical gifts have yet to reveal themselves, and as the threat of the Royal Huntsmen intensifies, Ayleth fears she will never become the witch her coven needs.
To prove herself, Ayleth sets out on a perilous quest that sends her to the White Palace, a decadent world of drama and deceit. There, Ayleth encounters an unlikely figure from her past: Jacquetta, a witch who once held Ayleth’s heart—and betrayed her.
As events at the palace escalate, Ayleth finds herself caught in the web of the White King, whose dark charisma is as dangerous as the sinister force that seems to be haunting the palace—and perhaps even Ayleth herself. With the threat of discovery looming, Ayleth and Jacquetta must set aside the wounds of their past and work together to survive.
As she uncovers the secrets of the White Court—and those of her own heart—Ayleth must find the strength to transform into someone she never imagined she could be.
A powerful witch, the very wickedest of them all.
Book One in The Crimson Crown series.
“An alluring, vengeful origin story that brings tremendous dimension to a classic fairytale.”—Chloe Gong, New York Times bestselling author of Immortal Longings
Legends tell of a witch who became a queen—the heartless villain in the story of Snow White.
But now the wicked queen is stepping out of Snow White’s shadow to become the heroine of her own legend.
Her real “once upon a time” begins when she is just Ayleth, a young witch who lives in the forest with her coven. The witches practice their magic in secret, hiding from the White King and his brutal war against witchcraft.
Ayleth, however, faces a war of her own. Her magical gifts have yet to reveal themselves, and as the threat of the Royal Huntsmen intensifies, Ayleth fears she will never become the witch her coven needs.
To prove herself, Ayleth sets out on a perilous quest that sends her to the White Palace, a decadent world of drama and deceit. There, Ayleth encounters an unlikely figure from her past: Jacquetta, a witch who once held Ayleth’s heart—and betrayed her.
As events at the palace escalate, Ayleth finds herself caught in the web of the White King, whose dark charisma is as dangerous as the sinister force that seems to be haunting the palace—and perhaps even Ayleth herself. With the threat of discovery looming, Ayleth and Jacquetta must set aside the wounds of their past and work together to survive.
As she uncovers the secrets of the White Court—and those of her own heart—Ayleth must find the strength to transform into someone she never imagined she could be.
A powerful witch, the very wickedest of them all.
Book One in The Crimson Crown series.
544 pages, Hardcover
First published August 27, 2024
About the author
Heather Walter
3 books1,800 followersHeather Walter has been telling stories for as long as she can remember. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with both English and Information Science degrees, books are--and always will be--a definitive part of her life.
As an author, Heather loves writing about what-ifs, flawed protagonists, and re-imagined history. Her favorite characters are usually villains.
When not writing, you can find her reading (duh), knitting, binging TV, and planning her next travel adventure.
As an author, Heather loves writing about what-ifs, flawed protagonists, and re-imagined history. Her favorite characters are usually villains.
When not writing, you can find her reading (duh), knitting, binging TV, and planning her next travel adventure.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 326 reviews
Shelved as 'priority-tbr'
August 30, 2024Lesbians are good, but there's nothing better than a lesbian who just happens to be very very bad
If it's about a villain and Heather Walter writes it, I will read it.
If it's about a villain and Heather Walter writes it, I will read it.
Shelved as 'dnf'
September 5, 2024After almost a week where I could not make myself read on I think it's time to admit defeat.
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A book about Snow White’s dark queen, and it's queer? I'm listening
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A book about Snow White’s dark queen, and it's queer? I'm listening
Want to read
December 16, 2023
Want to read
August 2, 2022Heather Walter is a new favorite!! Very much looking forward to this one!
August 25, 2024
3.5/5 ⭐️
This is a sapphic reimagining of Snow White following the Evil Queen before her rise to villainy, back when she was merely a young witch named Ayleth who would do anything for her sister.
This was… fine. It was a pretty solid fantasy, but I never developed any strong feelings towards the plot or characters. The story felt like it wanted to lean more into coven and court politics, but never made the effort to truly dive into them. Everything was merely surface level and very meandering. I never felt the stakes. Even when Ayleth’s life was in danger, I never felt gripped by the story. The book was simply a little too long with not enough direction to really sell it.
The character relationships were also lackluster. Ayleth’s rocky relationship with her mother is the prime motivator behind the plot, and yet their issues come across as a little juvenile. I wasn’t completely sold on their strife being a major cause behind Ayleth choosing the path she did. I also wish we saw more malicious actions committed by the White King. He spends most of the book staring intensely at Ayleth or looking bored. Everything to fear from him is known mainly by reputation rather than actual actions occurring. I feel like Jacquetta wasn’t used to her fullest potential as a love interest. She seemed to just float in and out of the story and I wish they had more conversations with actual weight.
One thing Heather Walter knows how to do is write an ending though. As with Malice, while 99% of this book has a slow simmering atmosphere the last 1% explodes with pent up anger. It definitely hooks you into wanting to pick up the sequel. I simply wish that intensity was found throughout the book to help capture your heart and attention. Again, I think this is a solid book. I just did not care for it as much as I hoped.
Thank you Del Rey for the physical ARC
This is a sapphic reimagining of Snow White following the Evil Queen before her rise to villainy, back when she was merely a young witch named Ayleth who would do anything for her sister.
This was… fine. It was a pretty solid fantasy, but I never developed any strong feelings towards the plot or characters. The story felt like it wanted to lean more into coven and court politics, but never made the effort to truly dive into them. Everything was merely surface level and very meandering. I never felt the stakes. Even when Ayleth’s life was in danger, I never felt gripped by the story. The book was simply a little too long with not enough direction to really sell it.
The character relationships were also lackluster. Ayleth’s rocky relationship with her mother is the prime motivator behind the plot, and yet their issues come across as a little juvenile. I wasn’t completely sold on their strife being a major cause behind Ayleth choosing the path she did. I also wish we saw more malicious actions committed by the White King. He spends most of the book staring intensely at Ayleth or looking bored. Everything to fear from him is known mainly by reputation rather than actual actions occurring. I feel like Jacquetta wasn’t used to her fullest potential as a love interest. She seemed to just float in and out of the story and I wish they had more conversations with actual weight.
One thing Heather Walter knows how to do is write an ending though. As with Malice, while 99% of this book has a slow simmering atmosphere the last 1% explodes with pent up anger. It definitely hooks you into wanting to pick up the sequel. I simply wish that intensity was found throughout the book to help capture your heart and attention. Again, I think this is a solid book. I just did not care for it as much as I hoped.
Thank you Del Rey for the physical ARC
August 14, 2024
Heather Walter’s "The Crimson Crown" is a mesmerizing start to a new duology that reimagines the Snow White fairy tale through the eyes of the wicked queen. As someone who adored the Malice and Misrule duology, I had high expectations for this book, and Walter certainly delivers a story rich with magic, intrigue, and deep, raw emotion.
The novel introduces us to Ayleth, a young witch struggling to find her place within her coven as her magical gifts remain dormant. Her journey from a carefree second daughter to the heartless villain of the Snow White story is both heartbreaking and compelling. Walter masterfully portrays Ayleth’s emotional turmoil—her grief over her sister’s death, the lingering heartbreak from Jacquetta’s betrayal, and the growing realization that her mother and coven may never truly accept her. These emotional threads weave together to create a protagonist who is both relatable and tragically flawed, making her descent into darkness feel all the more poignant.
The world-building in "The Crimson Crown" is equally captivating. The magic of the witches and the treachery of the White Palace court are beautifully rendered, drawing readers into a world where danger lurks around every corner. I particularly enjoyed the character of Blodwyn, our Snow White, whose curiosity and innocence add a layer of complexity to the story. The interactions between Ayleth and Blodwyn are filled with tension and foreshadowing, setting the stage for what promises to be an explosive continuation in the next book.
However, there were a few aspects where I wished for more. The concept of Malum, a sinister force hinted at throughout the story, could have used further explanation. Its vague presence left me wanting a deeper understanding of its role in the narrative. Additionally, while there is some romantic tension and a bit of spice, it remains relatively tame, which might leave some readers craving more intensity in that department.
Despite these minor qualms, "The Crimson Crown" is a fantastic read that left me eagerly anticipating the next installment. Walter’s ability to breathe new life into familiar tales while maintaining a dark, witchy atmosphere is truly impressive. This book is a must-read for fans of queer fantasy and fairy tale retellings. I’m excited to see where Ayleth’s journey will take her next, and how her story will ultimately intertwine with the legend of Snow White.
Thank you to Del Rey Books, Netgalley and Heather Walter for a physical galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The novel introduces us to Ayleth, a young witch struggling to find her place within her coven as her magical gifts remain dormant. Her journey from a carefree second daughter to the heartless villain of the Snow White story is both heartbreaking and compelling. Walter masterfully portrays Ayleth’s emotional turmoil—her grief over her sister’s death, the lingering heartbreak from Jacquetta’s betrayal, and the growing realization that her mother and coven may never truly accept her. These emotional threads weave together to create a protagonist who is both relatable and tragically flawed, making her descent into darkness feel all the more poignant.
The world-building in "The Crimson Crown" is equally captivating. The magic of the witches and the treachery of the White Palace court are beautifully rendered, drawing readers into a world where danger lurks around every corner. I particularly enjoyed the character of Blodwyn, our Snow White, whose curiosity and innocence add a layer of complexity to the story. The interactions between Ayleth and Blodwyn are filled with tension and foreshadowing, setting the stage for what promises to be an explosive continuation in the next book.
However, there were a few aspects where I wished for more. The concept of Malum, a sinister force hinted at throughout the story, could have used further explanation. Its vague presence left me wanting a deeper understanding of its role in the narrative. Additionally, while there is some romantic tension and a bit of spice, it remains relatively tame, which might leave some readers craving more intensity in that department.
Despite these minor qualms, "The Crimson Crown" is a fantastic read that left me eagerly anticipating the next installment. Walter’s ability to breathe new life into familiar tales while maintaining a dark, witchy atmosphere is truly impressive. This book is a must-read for fans of queer fantasy and fairy tale retellings. I’m excited to see where Ayleth’s journey will take her next, and how her story will ultimately intertwine with the legend of Snow White.
Thank you to Del Rey Books, Netgalley and Heather Walter for a physical galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 25, 2024
This was an interesting one.
As an OG Malice/Misrule truther I have resigned myself to the fact that I am a Heather Walter fan for life. I will be reading what she drops for as long as she puts out books. It's also because I have read and enjoyed their previous books that I went into this expecting the tale of the evil queen to be flipped in an interesting way.
Honestly that good will is part of why I was okay reading a fantasy book where magic is frowned upon and the witches are being hunted. It also does this thing where so much of the driving action of the story is prompted by a character we don't really get to spend a lot of time with. We do see this character briefly, but not really long enough for me as a reader to buy it as motivation for our protagonist and I just had to decide to accept that at a certain point. I do want to give credit to how fairest is used in this retelling, how the religion that was brought in to replace the role witches once served in this society. It was obvious that a lot of thought had gone into this world and all that information was relayed in a way that felt natural.
Motivations being wonky aside I do wish we could have leaned more into the court intrigue once we were in the palace. It felt like we were hedging our bets a little. Not really want to lean too much in that direction as we also worked on Alyth's original plan. I did like the roadblocks that forced her to change directions at several points in the narrative. The breadcrumbs that were laid definitely paid off in the end.
It did sort of give echos of their first duology, but that might be a byproduct of having these women who are perceived as antagonists getting their time to be viewed from a different perspective. It's not that it was a one to one experience, more that it felt like something I'd already read from Walter previously.
That said I do think that the simmering political plotlines and Alyth's original mission does come to a head in a pretty satisfactory way. A lot of the threads that we'd seen develop of the course of the narrative do get to come together in the third act where Walter does a really good job of tying some up while also delivering a perfect setup to kick off the sequel. I've already said that I will be reading The Witch Queen, and I'm very excited to see the ramifications of this ending and how that is going to go. This isn't a book that I would recommend to just anyone, but in a world where so many of my anticipated releases have let me down recently I'm happy to see this was an exception .
As an OG Malice/Misrule truther I have resigned myself to the fact that I am a Heather Walter fan for life. I will be reading what she drops for as long as she puts out books. It's also because I have read and enjoyed their previous books that I went into this expecting the tale of the evil queen to be flipped in an interesting way.
Honestly that good will is part of why I was okay reading a fantasy book where magic is frowned upon and the witches are being hunted. It also does this thing where so much of the driving action of the story is prompted by a character we don't really get to spend a lot of time with. We do see this character briefly, but not really long enough for me as a reader to buy it as motivation for our protagonist and I just had to decide to accept that at a certain point. I do want to give credit to how fairest is used in this retelling, how the religion that was brought in to replace the role witches once served in this society. It was obvious that a lot of thought had gone into this world and all that information was relayed in a way that felt natural.
Motivations being wonky aside I do wish we could have leaned more into the court intrigue once we were in the palace. It felt like we were hedging our bets a little. Not really want to lean too much in that direction as we also worked on Alyth's original plan. I did like the roadblocks that forced her to change directions at several points in the narrative. The breadcrumbs that were laid definitely paid off in the end.
It did sort of give echos of their first duology, but that might be a byproduct of having these women who are perceived as antagonists getting their time to be viewed from a different perspective. It's not that it was a one to one experience, more that it felt like something I'd already read from Walter previously.
That said I do think that the simmering political plotlines and Alyth's original mission does come to a head in a pretty satisfactory way. A lot of the threads that we'd seen develop of the course of the narrative do get to come together in the third act where Walter does a really good job of tying some up while also delivering a perfect setup to kick off the sequel. I've already said that I will be reading The Witch Queen, and I'm very excited to see the ramifications of this ending and how that is going to go. This isn't a book that I would recommend to just anyone, but in a world where so many of my anticipated releases have let me down recently I'm happy to see this was an exception .
Shelved as 'dnf'
September 30, 2024DNF @45%
I loved the Malice duology and was excited for a sapphic retelling of the evil queen from Snow White. Unfortunately this doesn't really read like a retelling and I was bored to tears with almost the first half of the book. Based on other reviews, this doesn't seem to pick up until the very end and I just don't have the patience for that. I'm not invested in the characters or what's going on, which is really too bad. I received a copy of this book for review via Goodreads, all opinions are my own.
I loved the Malice duology and was excited for a sapphic retelling of the evil queen from Snow White. Unfortunately this doesn't really read like a retelling and I was bored to tears with almost the first half of the book. Based on other reviews, this doesn't seem to pick up until the very end and I just don't have the patience for that. I'm not invested in the characters or what's going on, which is really too bad. I received a copy of this book for review via Goodreads, all opinions are my own.
August 10, 2024
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Even though this took me three months to basically read, I am so happy with how it all ended. Hot damn! The Crimson Crown is the third book by this author, Heather Walter, and I'm surprised that I have received all of her books as an ARC. Well, okay, maybe not that surprised because I absolutely love her writing.
In this, you will meet Ayleth. She is a young witch who is just trying to live her life. Whether it's with her mother and the coven, or maybe it's on the quest to find the stones, she will always need to figure out who is a friend or foe. Her life is never the same after her sisters dies. It also doesn't help that the love of her life has left her and the coven either.
So, it's kind of interesting when she goes on a quest and runs into the one person she would never expect to. Jacquetta. The girl who broke her heart and betrayed her. Together, they are like feral cats trying to claim territory. It's not always easy, or a pretty picture, but eventually they start to get closer. Throw in some castle drama, magic failings, an unknown bad guy, and a thirsty ass king who needs to hear the word no more often, and you are basically hooked.
Or maybe that's how I felt? Either way, I enjoyed the heck out of this book. The last part—there's five—blew my mind, and I'm so excited that this is part of a duology. I can't wait for the next book and hope to be amazed even more. I want to see what Ayleth will do to the world next.
"Mirror, mirror on the wall," I say, the words pulled from my lips like a spell. "Who is fairest of them all?"
Even though this took me three months to basically read, I am so happy with how it all ended. Hot damn! The Crimson Crown is the third book by this author, Heather Walter, and I'm surprised that I have received all of her books as an ARC. Well, okay, maybe not that surprised because I absolutely love her writing.
In this, you will meet Ayleth. She is a young witch who is just trying to live her life. Whether it's with her mother and the coven, or maybe it's on the quest to find the stones, she will always need to figure out who is a friend or foe. Her life is never the same after her sisters dies. It also doesn't help that the love of her life has left her and the coven either.
So, it's kind of interesting when she goes on a quest and runs into the one person she would never expect to. Jacquetta. The girl who broke her heart and betrayed her. Together, they are like feral cats trying to claim territory. It's not always easy, or a pretty picture, but eventually they start to get closer. Throw in some castle drama, magic failings, an unknown bad guy, and a thirsty ass king who needs to hear the word no more often, and you are basically hooked.
Or maybe that's how I felt? Either way, I enjoyed the heck out of this book. The last part—there's five—blew my mind, and I'm so excited that this is part of a duology. I can't wait for the next book and hope to be amazed even more. I want to see what Ayleth will do to the world next.
September 4, 2024
THIS WAS SO GOOD
September 10, 2024
Audiobook (19 hours) narrated by Emily Woo Zeller
Emily Woo Zeller is excellent. I had the opportunity to visit her in one of my favorite reads last year, The Poppy War, The Dragon Republic, and The Burning God. While this first book of a series by Heather Walter, is completely different than The Poppy Wars trilogy, Zeller kills it, in every way. I recommend the audiobook, if you are considering it.
The audio quality is also excellent, without distortion, erroneous noise, or obvious edits.
Whew. This was a ride!
Heather Walter just wrote an exquisite origin story to one of the most recognizable fairy tale villains.
Mirror, mirror, on the wall... hint! hint!
I was such a fan of this authors first duology, Malice, and Misrule, but this... This is incredible.
It is so pretty and dark and delicious.
Ayleth is not born evil. There's nothing that would suggest her future as the big bad in Snow White: A Tale from the Brothers Grimm, except we all know due to the story written all the way back in 1812. A mere 212 years later, we finally get an opportunity to read Heather Walter's version of Ayleth's origin story.
Not only is it laced in old fairy tale lore but it also has a bit more of a whisper of an old Salem feel to the story, with the witches and witch fear mongering.
Even a couple of days after reading it, I cannot say too much or I will say too much!
This is also a duology, so we will get a part 2, hopefully early next year or tomorrow, if Heather is open to a mind meld, I am available to just auto absorb all of the book and I promise not to tell a soul!
I cannot wait to read what's next, I am really excited to see all of the things that are running around in Heather's mind. Well, what she is willing to share. I'm not about to go using any magical force mind stealing, you know, just regular reading. Not because I am all good but mostly because I don't know how to use the force and never quite grew into any magical powers.
Anyway...
If fairy tales or witches are your thing, and you are up for an origin story. This is the book to read next.
Emily Woo Zeller is excellent. I had the opportunity to visit her in one of my favorite reads last year, The Poppy War, The Dragon Republic, and The Burning God. While this first book of a series by Heather Walter, is completely different than The Poppy Wars trilogy, Zeller kills it, in every way. I recommend the audiobook, if you are considering it.
The audio quality is also excellent, without distortion, erroneous noise, or obvious edits.
Whew. This was a ride!
Heather Walter just wrote an exquisite origin story to one of the most recognizable fairy tale villains.
Mirror, mirror, on the wall... hint! hint!
I was such a fan of this authors first duology, Malice, and Misrule, but this... This is incredible.
It is so pretty and dark and delicious.
Ayleth is not born evil. There's nothing that would suggest her future as the big bad in Snow White: A Tale from the Brothers Grimm, except we all know due to the story written all the way back in 1812. A mere 212 years later, we finally get an opportunity to read Heather Walter's version of Ayleth's origin story.
Not only is it laced in old fairy tale lore but it also has a bit more of a whisper of an old Salem feel to the story, with the witches and witch fear mongering.
Even a couple of days after reading it, I cannot say too much or I will say too much!
This is also a duology, so we will get a part 2, hopefully early next year or tomorrow, if Heather is open to a mind meld, I am available to just auto absorb all of the book and I promise not to tell a soul!
I cannot wait to read what's next, I am really excited to see all of the things that are running around in Heather's mind. Well, what she is willing to share. I'm not about to go using any magical force mind stealing, you know, just regular reading. Not because I am all good but mostly because I don't know how to use the force and never quite grew into any magical powers.
Anyway...
If fairy tales or witches are your thing, and you are up for an origin story. This is the book to read next.
June 1, 2024
2024 reads: 149/250
i received an advanced review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
in this queer, witchy reimagining of snow white’s evil queen, we follow the queen from the time she was a young witch named ayleth. she fears that, with her gifts having yet to reveal themselves, she will never become the witch her coven needs. so, she embarks on a perilous quest to the white palace, where she’s surprised to encounter jacquetta, a fellow witch who betrayed ayleth.
i have yet to read heather walter’s duology, but they’ve been on my tbr for a while, so i was interested in reading this book when i came across it. i will say, while this initially drew me in due to the comparison to snow white’s villain, i had completely forgotten that comparison before and while reading this. so, i would go in with the expectation that this is just a loose reimagining, and wasn’t meant to heavily resemble that story!
i’d recommend this to anyone who likes witchy stories, queer and morally grey main characters, and complex family dynamics!
i received an advanced review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
in this queer, witchy reimagining of snow white’s evil queen, we follow the queen from the time she was a young witch named ayleth. she fears that, with her gifts having yet to reveal themselves, she will never become the witch her coven needs. so, she embarks on a perilous quest to the white palace, where she’s surprised to encounter jacquetta, a fellow witch who betrayed ayleth.
i have yet to read heather walter’s duology, but they’ve been on my tbr for a while, so i was interested in reading this book when i came across it. i will say, while this initially drew me in due to the comparison to snow white’s villain, i had completely forgotten that comparison before and while reading this. so, i would go in with the expectation that this is just a loose reimagining, and wasn’t meant to heavily resemble that story!
i’d recommend this to anyone who likes witchy stories, queer and morally grey main characters, and complex family dynamics!
May 27, 2024
Mirror, Mirror on the wall. Who’s the wickedest of them all? 🍎
I’m such a sucker for a new spin on a classic fairytale. And Heather Walter is one of the best in the game in my personal opinion.
After getting swept away in her Malice Duo-logy, which was inspired by Sleeping Beauty, I jumped at the chance to have access to this book so quickly.
This is a story a reimagining of Snow White from the point of view of The Evil Queen and girl, it didn’t disappoint whatsoever.
I just love how Heather is able to take such iconic fairytales and spin them into new tales that stand on their own. Add in the Queer aspects and I’m sold.
We meet Ayleth, the evil queen character, who in this story is a young woman who is unsure of her place in the world after her sister is murdered by The Huntsman in a raid. Her mother has become cold and distant after the loss of her daughter.
When Ayleth is presented with an opportunity to bring her sister back. Willing to do anything to bring back the only person that really saw her
She must travel to the White City, the place that is so drenched in the blood of her kind, in hopes these Bloodstones to get her sister back.
Of course you know it can’t be easy. Her Ex is there. Right? Talk about major FML moment.
Overall this book was a pretty solid reimagining of Snow White. It had its moments of sluggishness but for sure shined with the finale that had my aching to see where this Duo-logy will end. I absolutely loved getting to know Ayleth and her world. It honestly reminded me of the live action film Maleficent in a lot of ways.
A misunderstood villain who of course did bad things but had this backstory of loss and pain that pushed them in that direction of perceived villainy.
I loved that Heather was able to showcase how women of power and intelligence are painted as villains because of them being women. While men are celebrated.
I’m for sure a big fan of Heather Walter and she has quickly became one of my favorite authors. For sure an auto buy for me.
Would I recommend this book?
If you love fairytale reimagining with a queer twist. This book is for you.
5⭐️
Thanks to the folks at NetGalley for a ARC of this book. Y’all are the best.
I’m such a sucker for a new spin on a classic fairytale. And Heather Walter is one of the best in the game in my personal opinion.
After getting swept away in her Malice Duo-logy, which was inspired by Sleeping Beauty, I jumped at the chance to have access to this book so quickly.
This is a story a reimagining of Snow White from the point of view of The Evil Queen and girl, it didn’t disappoint whatsoever.
I just love how Heather is able to take such iconic fairytales and spin them into new tales that stand on their own. Add in the Queer aspects and I’m sold.
We meet Ayleth, the evil queen character, who in this story is a young woman who is unsure of her place in the world after her sister is murdered by The Huntsman in a raid. Her mother has become cold and distant after the loss of her daughter.
When Ayleth is presented with an opportunity to bring her sister back. Willing to do anything to bring back the only person that really saw her
She must travel to the White City, the place that is so drenched in the blood of her kind, in hopes these Bloodstones to get her sister back.
Of course you know it can’t be easy. Her Ex is there. Right? Talk about major FML moment.
Overall this book was a pretty solid reimagining of Snow White. It had its moments of sluggishness but for sure shined with the finale that had my aching to see where this Duo-logy will end. I absolutely loved getting to know Ayleth and her world. It honestly reminded me of the live action film Maleficent in a lot of ways.
A misunderstood villain who of course did bad things but had this backstory of loss and pain that pushed them in that direction of perceived villainy.
I loved that Heather was able to showcase how women of power and intelligence are painted as villains because of them being women. While men are celebrated.
I’m for sure a big fan of Heather Walter and she has quickly became one of my favorite authors. For sure an auto buy for me.
Would I recommend this book?
If you love fairytale reimagining with a queer twist. This book is for you.
5⭐️
Thanks to the folks at NetGalley for a ARC of this book. Y’all are the best.
Want to read
September 7, 2022I adored Malice and Misrule, also by Heather Walter, and found the characters full of life, the magic interesting and the world building wonderful. Hope this will be as good!
June 6, 2024
The ending EASILY made up for what was a solid 4 star read for me. Review to come! 👑
(FINAL REVIEW:)
This was a great sapphic reimagining of the origin story of the Evil Queen from the Snow White tale. I really enjoyed the deep dive into how Ayleth slowly becomes the queen we all know and secretly fear. 🍎
Ayleth is an interesting character from the get go. Going from the well loved, but slightly ignored second daughter to being directly under the thumb of her distant and cold mother, I felt for her need for companionship and desire to prove herself. I loved her descent into villainy towards the end of the book, but man I felt like she gave too many second chances to people. 🐦⬛
Jacquetta is an interesting love interest. She’s an enigma to me because while she slowly gains Ayleth’s trust back, I never really felt like we got to know her outside of the one who breaks Ayleth’s heart. I’m very excited to see if we get more back ground into her relationship with her mother and coven in the next book. ⚡️
All in all, I will admit that this book was a solid 4 star for me up until the last 20% of the book. The big reveal at the end and the concluding events made it immediately jump up in rating and now I’m so excited to see what’s in store in the future! 😱
Big thank you goes to Del Rey Books and NetGalley for accepting my request to read this great villain origin story in exchange for an honest review, and to the author, Walter, for really hooking me on fairytale women going full unhinged. 😈
Publication date: August 27!
Overall: 4.5/5 ⭐️
(FINAL REVIEW:)
This was a great sapphic reimagining of the origin story of the Evil Queen from the Snow White tale. I really enjoyed the deep dive into how Ayleth slowly becomes the queen we all know and secretly fear. 🍎
Ayleth is an interesting character from the get go. Going from the well loved, but slightly ignored second daughter to being directly under the thumb of her distant and cold mother, I felt for her need for companionship and desire to prove herself. I loved her descent into villainy towards the end of the book, but man I felt like she gave too many second chances to people. 🐦⬛
Jacquetta is an interesting love interest. She’s an enigma to me because while she slowly gains Ayleth’s trust back, I never really felt like we got to know her outside of the one who breaks Ayleth’s heart. I’m very excited to see if we get more back ground into her relationship with her mother and coven in the next book. ⚡️
All in all, I will admit that this book was a solid 4 star for me up until the last 20% of the book. The big reveal at the end and the concluding events made it immediately jump up in rating and now I’m so excited to see what’s in store in the future! 😱
Big thank you goes to Del Rey Books and NetGalley for accepting my request to read this great villain origin story in exchange for an honest review, and to the author, Walter, for really hooking me on fairytale women going full unhinged. 😈
Publication date: August 27!
Overall: 4.5/5 ⭐️
August 16, 2024
This story of the origins of the evil queen from Snow White's fairytale was nothing like I expected but at the same time it wad deeply enjoyable and fascinating.
Ayleth is a young witch who's supposed to be the second to the heir and one day lead her coven. But she feels lost in the role assigned to her and feels like she doesn't measure. So when her Ascension ritual goes awry, she leaves her coven hoping to fix everything by recovering Blood stones that hold ancient magic.
I thought it was amazig how deftly the author waved some of the classic aspects we know from the story of snow white into a story that felt completely novel and unique. The world building was really well presented and it didn't feel like it just borrowed everything from the original fairytale. Quite the opposite, it felt like its own world with the bits from the original fairytale serving more as fun Easter eggs. I thought Ayleth was a fascinating character and I loved reading about her growing into her own person. The story had a cast of such enjoyable and interesting characters I'm really looking forward to the second book in this duology to discover where this story goes and what happens to all these characters that made it so easy to care about them.
My one complaint is surprisingly the romance. I thought Jacquetta was probably the least fleshed out character and while I understand why that was the case I think giving us some flashbacks into her and Ayleth's relationship in the past would have helped in creating the chemistry between them that I felt was lacking. I ended up wanting Ayleth and the Queen to be together more because I felt like we could actually see that relationship grow.
All in all I had fun with this book and I'm very much looking forward to reading the sequel.
Ayleth is a young witch who's supposed to be the second to the heir and one day lead her coven. But she feels lost in the role assigned to her and feels like she doesn't measure. So when her Ascension ritual goes awry, she leaves her coven hoping to fix everything by recovering Blood stones that hold ancient magic.
I thought it was amazig how deftly the author waved some of the classic aspects we know from the story of snow white into a story that felt completely novel and unique. The world building was really well presented and it didn't feel like it just borrowed everything from the original fairytale. Quite the opposite, it felt like its own world with the bits from the original fairytale serving more as fun Easter eggs. I thought Ayleth was a fascinating character and I loved reading about her growing into her own person. The story had a cast of such enjoyable and interesting characters I'm really looking forward to the second book in this duology to discover where this story goes and what happens to all these characters that made it so easy to care about them.
My one complaint is surprisingly the romance. I thought Jacquetta was probably the least fleshed out character and while I understand why that was the case I think giving us some flashbacks into her and Ayleth's relationship in the past would have helped in creating the chemistry between them that I felt was lacking. I ended up wanting Ayleth and the Queen to be together more because I felt like we could actually see that relationship grow.
All in all I had fun with this book and I'm very much looking forward to reading the sequel.
June 16, 2024
While I, too, am slowly starting to suffer from retelling fatigue, I can't stop myself from wanting to read those retellings that focus on the villains of the story. So obviously, Heather Walter's The Crimson Crown is right up my alley. It tells the story of Snow White's evil stepmother before she became just that - or at least that's what the blurb promises. I haven't read Walter's previous retellings but they're really popular, so I was excited to dive right in. Especially because it's wlw, promising a new spin on an old story.
And I did enjoy my time with Ayleth, our future evil witch. She's a complex character who I emphathized with, and I was invested in her story. The writing is beautiful, the world intriguing. There are little nods throughout the story reminding you that this is, indeed, a Snow White "prequel" if you will. Though quite frankly, if they weren't there I wouldn't have guessed it at all. It definitely does not feel like a retelling, and I'm not sure it had to be one as it had an intriguing story to tell on its own. As a retelling, it honestly didn't work for me.
The pacing was a little meandering at times and the "corruption" of Ayleth was teased throughout the story but then came rather suddenly in the end, with our girl going from zero to 100 in what feels like minutes. I also, sadly, wasn't a fan of the relationships in this book. While I enjoyed the conflict between Ayleth and her mother as well as Ayleth and the princess, the story focused more on the romance between her and Jacquetta, and because the latter never felt like a fully fleshed out character to me and I didn't feel any chemistry between them, this part fell flat. Generally, I think the whole story would have benefitted from being shorter, too. It's a pretty long book for what it contains.
I don't know if this will get a sequel - there is definitely potential for one - but if it does, I might still read it. It's a perfectly fine 3 star book with a lot of interesting ideas.
Many thanks to Random House/Ballantine and Netgalley for the arc
And I did enjoy my time with Ayleth, our future evil witch. She's a complex character who I emphathized with, and I was invested in her story. The writing is beautiful, the world intriguing. There are little nods throughout the story reminding you that this is, indeed, a Snow White "prequel" if you will. Though quite frankly, if they weren't there I wouldn't have guessed it at all. It definitely does not feel like a retelling, and I'm not sure it had to be one as it had an intriguing story to tell on its own. As a retelling, it honestly didn't work for me.
The pacing was a little meandering at times and the "corruption" of Ayleth was teased throughout the story but then came rather suddenly in the end, with our girl going from zero to 100 in what feels like minutes. I also, sadly, wasn't a fan of the relationships in this book. While I enjoyed the conflict between Ayleth and her mother as well as Ayleth and the princess, the story focused more on the romance between her and Jacquetta, and because the latter never felt like a fully fleshed out character to me and I didn't feel any chemistry between them, this part fell flat. Generally, I think the whole story would have benefitted from being shorter, too. It's a pretty long book for what it contains.
I don't know if this will get a sequel - there is definitely potential for one - but if it does, I might still read it. It's a perfectly fine 3 star book with a lot of interesting ideas.
Many thanks to Random House/Ballantine and Netgalley for the arc
September 11, 2024
Man, I’m torn over this book. I really enjoyed this story! It had so many captivating ideas and beautiful depictions of the castle and other buildings but what really is killing me from absolutely loving it is that it’s extremely repetitive. From the constant mention of the symbols on Ayleth’s ring fingers to the mention of the crow nursery rhyme, I understand that these two things are EXTREMELY important but to bring up the symbol almost every chapter then a small pause from mentioning them to going right back to those symbols, it was like being spoon fed the idea that “ hey these are super important!” Besides the repetitiveness I adore this book! The plot, the relationships, and the twists I wasn’t expecting, I didn’t want to stop reading. I love the growth of Ayleth all the way up to the end! And the absolute disgust I feel for some of these characters is palpable, Ms. Walter knows how to write a character that readers can hate viciously! #BurnTheKing. Though this book does have sapphic desire written through out the pages it took a sharp turn compared to how it was in Malice and it’s a interesting take cause I know there is a second book and I have NO IDEA how this is going to be fixed or if I even want it fixed….I really didn’t like Jacquetta at all. I’m curious to see if this changes in the next book because I don’t know how she’ll redeem herself, personally she did a lot of messed up things through out this book and is kind of a hypocrite. I’m hoping that in the second book if there is the huntsman that it’s a woman as well… I think that’s would be fascinating…a possible love triangle, I could only hope.
Also I desperately want to know what’s going to happen to baby girl Blodwyn and how Heather Walter is going to portray the relationship between her and Ayleth now that everything is said and done.
Also I desperately want to know what’s going to happen to baby girl Blodwyn and how Heather Walter is going to portray the relationship between her and Ayleth now that everything is said and done.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2024
woah that ending!! this was an engaging and enjoyable read for me. i like that there were many scenes that had me shooock
September 1, 2024
Delicious and addictive.
Shelved as 'dnf'
September 1, 2024DNF @60%.
Even 3x speed can’t help this snail paced plot. Literally NOTHING has happened.
Even 3x speed can’t help this snail paced plot. Literally NOTHING has happened.
August 14, 2024
3🌟 “The Crimson Crown “ 👑❤️
Love a good fairytale retelling ( Snow White)or reimagining, unfortunately this book didn’t do it for me.
I felt myself skimming through most of it because I really didn’t connect with the story or characters.
The book tells the story of the would be “Evil Queen “ and it really doesn’t come to light until the very end of the book. And this book is long lol 😂
I did enjoy some aspects of the book, the world building was amazing and it was very well written and I love the Witchy aspects of the story but I still couldn’t get into it and was very confused throughout most of the book. 🫤
Overall this book wasn’t my cup of tea but it might be yours. ❤️
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC ❤️
Love a good fairytale retelling ( Snow White)or reimagining, unfortunately this book didn’t do it for me.
I felt myself skimming through most of it because I really didn’t connect with the story or characters.
The book tells the story of the would be “Evil Queen “ and it really doesn’t come to light until the very end of the book. And this book is long lol 😂
I did enjoy some aspects of the book, the world building was amazing and it was very well written and I love the Witchy aspects of the story but I still couldn’t get into it and was very confused throughout most of the book. 🫤
Overall this book wasn’t my cup of tea but it might be yours. ❤️
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC ❤️
April 1, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book early! This book was one of my most anticipated books of the year and it did not disappoint! This book is inspired by Anne Boleyn and Snow White and follows a 23 year old witch named Ayleth.
Pinterest Board: https://pin.it/4RXAuaT1x
Pinterest Board: https://pin.it/4RXAuaT1x
March 28, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of The Crimson Crown. All opinions are my own.
I think I need to come back to this one in the future with a different mindset about it. It just wasn't what I was expecting... I was expecting a much clearer connection to Snow White, more romance, more familiar characters, and Ayleth to come into herself and her powers sooner in the story rather than at the very end... Because of where I thought this book was going to go based on the description, I had a hard time getting into the book and where the story actually went. Maybe I didn't read the description well enough! And that's on me. But I think if I knew right up front that this is a story of female rage (cue Mad Woman by Taylor Swift) I would have had a much different experience with it.
I think I need to come back to this one in the future with a different mindset about it. It just wasn't what I was expecting... I was expecting a much clearer connection to Snow White, more romance, more familiar characters, and Ayleth to come into herself and her powers sooner in the story rather than at the very end... Because of where I thought this book was going to go based on the description, I had a hard time getting into the book and where the story actually went. Maybe I didn't read the description well enough! And that's on me. But I think if I knew right up front that this is a story of female rage (cue Mad Woman by Taylor Swift) I would have had a much different experience with it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
January 24, 2024Update: GUUUUUUYS, The cover is out and it’s so fucking gorgeous!!!!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
This better have a clear happy ending 😒.
This better have a clear happy ending 😒.
September 3, 2024
Find this review at Forever Lost in Literature!
I loved Heather Walter's Malice duology, which was a dark villain-based Sleeping Beauty inspired story, so I was thrilled when The Crimson Crown–a dark Snow White villain story–was announced. If anyone has proven that they know how to write a villain origin story, it's Heather Walter, and this The Crimson Crown did not disappoint me in the slightest in that regard.
We begin our story with Ayleth, a witch who lives with her coven in the forest, where the coven as a hole has to hide their magic from the White King who crusades against witchcraft. To stay hidden, the coven disguises themselves as Order Sisters from the King's new rule in order to maintain their safety. Although a witch herself and a direct heir of a powerful witch, Ayleth's own magic has not manifested its powers, and she struggles to feel ready to take on a higher role in the coven where her magic will be utilized and tested. After an unpredictable series of events, Ayleth ends up traveling to the lair of the witch's enemies, the White Palace itself, where she undertakes a quest that made end with grave consequences.
Heather Walter truly excels with her villain stories and I thoroughly enjoying diving deep into Ayleth's mind as we followed along her journey that is full of deceit, betrayal, and discovery. Villains stories and stories of characters descending into darkness are my favorite, and I really loved these aspects of The Crimson Crown, particularly with watching how Ayleth is affected by everything that happens around her and builds her own versions of strength to deal with everything. Ayleth is an incredibly complex character and I though Walter did a great job capturing the many different elements of her personality and also showcased their constant evolution throughout the story.
It's a testament to Walter's writing and her ability to portray such complex and multi-faceted characters that my feelings about Jacquetta-a witch from Ayleth's past who once held her heart, broke it, and who once again plays a rather tempestuous role in Ayleth's life-were continuously wavering. In the beginning, I was steadfast about hating her, but then Walter introduced some aspects about Jacquetta that made me more curious about her and less hateful, and then more things happened that changed that... and then even more things happened that changed that. Suffice to say, Walter deftly crafts characters that are so real and human that you can't help but start to feel some connections with them, or at the very least can better understand their motivations and complex feelings and actions that they have.
There's also plenty of political intrigue at play in the White Palace, and watching Ayleth navigate the variety of characters that inhabit the Court was both intriguing and, quite frankly, a bit amusing at times as well. Ayleth is not someone who has spent a lot of time around mortals, and similarly does not have much experience with courtly politics and how to act around them, so this added some interesting dynamics to her interactions with others that was enjoyable to read. It would also be remiss of me not to mention Nettle, Ayleth's cat, who follows her on her journey and acts as the best companion one could ask for when she's around, as well as the young princess whom Ayleth befriends and earned a quick place in my heart.
With regards to world-building, we learn a good deal about this world and the magic that exists, including things such as the Veil that holds back Malum, a tide of dark entities that could wreak havoc upon the realm if it is not upheld (and which naturally poses a large threat to this story). However, since we largely stay in a two main areas, I would say that not all that much of the physical world is explored in this story, so it didn't feel quite as explored or explained as I might prefer. Despite this, I didn't feel lost within the world and I still really enjoyed everything that we do learn about this world, and I can only hope we'll learn even more and have more expansion in the next book.
Overall, I've given The Crimson Crown four stars! I'm not sure that I enjoyed this one quite as much as Malice, but it's hard to compare to something that I loved as much as I did Malice, and I think The Crimson Crown is still an exceptional fantasy that will surely delight readers of dark retellings, as well as general fantasy fans alike.
*I received a copy of The Crimson Crown in exchange for an honest review. This has no effect on my rating.*
I loved Heather Walter's Malice duology, which was a dark villain-based Sleeping Beauty inspired story, so I was thrilled when The Crimson Crown–a dark Snow White villain story–was announced. If anyone has proven that they know how to write a villain origin story, it's Heather Walter, and this The Crimson Crown did not disappoint me in the slightest in that regard.
We begin our story with Ayleth, a witch who lives with her coven in the forest, where the coven as a hole has to hide their magic from the White King who crusades against witchcraft. To stay hidden, the coven disguises themselves as Order Sisters from the King's new rule in order to maintain their safety. Although a witch herself and a direct heir of a powerful witch, Ayleth's own magic has not manifested its powers, and she struggles to feel ready to take on a higher role in the coven where her magic will be utilized and tested. After an unpredictable series of events, Ayleth ends up traveling to the lair of the witch's enemies, the White Palace itself, where she undertakes a quest that made end with grave consequences.
Heather Walter truly excels with her villain stories and I thoroughly enjoying diving deep into Ayleth's mind as we followed along her journey that is full of deceit, betrayal, and discovery. Villains stories and stories of characters descending into darkness are my favorite, and I really loved these aspects of The Crimson Crown, particularly with watching how Ayleth is affected by everything that happens around her and builds her own versions of strength to deal with everything. Ayleth is an incredibly complex character and I though Walter did a great job capturing the many different elements of her personality and also showcased their constant evolution throughout the story.
It's a testament to Walter's writing and her ability to portray such complex and multi-faceted characters that my feelings about Jacquetta-a witch from Ayleth's past who once held her heart, broke it, and who once again plays a rather tempestuous role in Ayleth's life-were continuously wavering. In the beginning, I was steadfast about hating her, but then Walter introduced some aspects about Jacquetta that made me more curious about her and less hateful, and then more things happened that changed that... and then even more things happened that changed that. Suffice to say, Walter deftly crafts characters that are so real and human that you can't help but start to feel some connections with them, or at the very least can better understand their motivations and complex feelings and actions that they have.
There's also plenty of political intrigue at play in the White Palace, and watching Ayleth navigate the variety of characters that inhabit the Court was both intriguing and, quite frankly, a bit amusing at times as well. Ayleth is not someone who has spent a lot of time around mortals, and similarly does not have much experience with courtly politics and how to act around them, so this added some interesting dynamics to her interactions with others that was enjoyable to read. It would also be remiss of me not to mention Nettle, Ayleth's cat, who follows her on her journey and acts as the best companion one could ask for when she's around, as well as the young princess whom Ayleth befriends and earned a quick place in my heart.
With regards to world-building, we learn a good deal about this world and the magic that exists, including things such as the Veil that holds back Malum, a tide of dark entities that could wreak havoc upon the realm if it is not upheld (and which naturally poses a large threat to this story). However, since we largely stay in a two main areas, I would say that not all that much of the physical world is explored in this story, so it didn't feel quite as explored or explained as I might prefer. Despite this, I didn't feel lost within the world and I still really enjoyed everything that we do learn about this world, and I can only hope we'll learn even more and have more expansion in the next book.
Overall, I've given The Crimson Crown four stars! I'm not sure that I enjoyed this one quite as much as Malice, but it's hard to compare to something that I loved as much as I did Malice, and I think The Crimson Crown is still an exceptional fantasy that will surely delight readers of dark retellings, as well as general fantasy fans alike.
*I received a copy of The Crimson Crown in exchange for an honest review. This has no effect on my rating.*
September 30, 2024
3.75
I want them to hurt. I want to dig the blade deeper, even if it means I’m the one who bleeds.
Crimson Crown was a book I was looking forward to reading for so long, having read Misrule and fallen in love with Alyce and Aurora, I had high expectations for this book as well. And I did like it, the world building was easily explained and I never felt confused or unsure because of how well the history of the realm and the context was woven into the threads of the story. However, I felt like Ayleth's ascension of the ranks in the castle all happened fairly too quickly. It all felt a bit unnatural for a long time. At the end when we discover Ignacius had been watching her since she was still at coven, it started making a bit of sense, but not enough to justify how easily she was welcomed into the high society of the white king. I also don't understand how everyone had not suspected her and Jacquetta sooner, or at least raised valid concerns, as they were not being careful at all. I understand Ignacius's "obliviousness" throughout most of the book, but I don't understand everyone else's.
Jacquetta was also another sore topic. I desperately wanted to like her but in the end, I don't believe their dynamic and relationship convinced me to root for them, after everything. I also don't feel very sympathetic towards Jacquetta as a character, I don't think that the story spends enough time with her and Ayleth for me to have that kind of connection with her character. I was hoping that Ayleth would try to kill her when she showed up at the empty coven after her betrayal. Is it too bad I am still hoping for that on the second book?
I really enjoyed reading the book towards the end, plenty of revelations, one after the other, and I can get behind this new Ayleth more, though I understand she needed time to get there.
Can't wait for the Witch Queen to conclude her story :)
I want them to hurt. I want to dig the blade deeper, even if it means I’m the one who bleeds.
Crimson Crown was a book I was looking forward to reading for so long, having read Misrule and fallen in love with Alyce and Aurora, I had high expectations for this book as well. And I did like it, the world building was easily explained and I never felt confused or unsure because of how well the history of the realm and the context was woven into the threads of the story. However, I felt like Ayleth's ascension of the ranks in the castle all happened fairly too quickly. It all felt a bit unnatural for a long time. At the end when we discover Ignacius had been watching her since she was still at coven, it started making a bit of sense, but not enough to justify how easily she was welcomed into the high society of the white king. I also don't understand how everyone had not suspected her and Jacquetta sooner, or at least raised valid concerns, as they were not being careful at all. I understand Ignacius's "obliviousness" throughout most of the book, but I don't understand everyone else's.
Jacquetta was also another sore topic. I desperately wanted to like her but in the end, I don't believe their dynamic and relationship convinced me to root for them, after everything. I also don't feel very sympathetic towards Jacquetta as a character, I don't think that the story spends enough time with her and Ayleth for me to have that kind of connection with her character. I was hoping that Ayleth would try to kill her when she showed up at the empty coven after her betrayal. Is it too bad I am still hoping for that on the second book?
I really enjoyed reading the book towards the end, plenty of revelations, one after the other, and I can get behind this new Ayleth more, though I understand she needed time to get there.
Can't wait for the Witch Queen to conclude her story :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2024
Ayleth is a girl who has had some tragedy in her life, loss of family and love, and thrust into a position she doesn't want (or feel she deserves)
Pressured by her mother, she should be stepping up as her mothers Heir, but Ayleth feels in her heart there is a more important task to be done. Against her mothers (and the Covens) expectations, she travels to the Kingdom but must hide her true nature to get close to finding the objects she needs
What she doesn't realise is these objects aren't the only thing she will find on her journey, old wounds will be reopened and her loyalties will be questioned when she crosses paths with an old acquaintance. But does time heal all wounds.....? and can Ayleth succeed in recovering all she has lost to help her find her place....? One thing is for sure, Ayleth will have to learn that life just really isn't Fair sometimes...
This was a steady paced but gripping tale which builds up to an epic ending. Much like the tension and stakes of Malice, we join another misunderstood girl on the path to her destiny and you are right there with her, feeling what she feels as she goes through it all.
Bravo to Heather for another great read... and I absolutely cannot wait until book two!
Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for the review copy.... all opinions my own... out a week tomorrow so still time to get those preorders in!!
Pressured by her mother, she should be stepping up as her mothers Heir, but Ayleth feels in her heart there is a more important task to be done. Against her mothers (and the Covens) expectations, she travels to the Kingdom but must hide her true nature to get close to finding the objects she needs
What she doesn't realise is these objects aren't the only thing she will find on her journey, old wounds will be reopened and her loyalties will be questioned when she crosses paths with an old acquaintance. But does time heal all wounds.....? and can Ayleth succeed in recovering all she has lost to help her find her place....? One thing is for sure, Ayleth will have to learn that life just really isn't Fair sometimes...
This was a steady paced but gripping tale which builds up to an epic ending. Much like the tension and stakes of Malice, we join another misunderstood girl on the path to her destiny and you are right there with her, feeling what she feels as she goes through it all.
Bravo to Heather for another great read... and I absolutely cannot wait until book two!
Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for the review copy.... all opinions my own... out a week tomorrow so still time to get those preorders in!!
September 19, 2024
Let me start this off by saying overall I liked this book!
I am a huge sucker for fairytale retellings and villain origin stories, so of course I scooped this one up.
This was a really interesting take on how the Evil Queen came to be. I liked the overall premise; there are a lot of neat ideas here that unfortunately felt like they started drifting all over the place before getting lost in the vastness of the book.
I should say that I don't know if this book is *actually* too long or if it just feels that way because of the absolutely insane amount of repetition, which is my biggest gripe with this story. Whole phrases get recycled throughout pretty much the whole book, most of the time ver batim.
Ayleth's "force behind [her] ribs" is mentioned so often I consider it a main character - and my least favorite at that.
There were way too many times where something intense was happening and I got sucked out of it because her ribs started doing the thing again.
I liked the way the characters interacted with each other! Blodwyn was my favorite and I fear for her. Joan was also great, as was Roland.
I liked Ayleth, and Jacquetta had her moments, but the dialogue between them was not the best - it felt like they were just having the same half-conversation over and over and not getting anywhere, which made me find their ... whatever is going on between them ... really annoying at times.
The ending was incredible.
If the story was a long, slow-burning fuse, the explosion at the end made the wait well worth it.
I look forward to the sequel.
I am a huge sucker for fairytale retellings and villain origin stories, so of course I scooped this one up.
This was a really interesting take on how the Evil Queen came to be. I liked the overall premise; there are a lot of neat ideas here that unfortunately felt like they started drifting all over the place before getting lost in the vastness of the book.
I should say that I don't know if this book is *actually* too long or if it just feels that way because of the absolutely insane amount of repetition, which is my biggest gripe with this story. Whole phrases get recycled throughout pretty much the whole book, most of the time ver batim.
Ayleth's "force behind [her] ribs" is mentioned so often I consider it a main character - and my least favorite at that.
There were way too many times where something intense was happening and I got sucked out of it because her ribs started doing the thing again.
I liked the way the characters interacted with each other! Blodwyn was my favorite and I fear for her. Joan was also great, as was Roland.
I liked Ayleth, and Jacquetta had her moments, but the dialogue between them was not the best - it felt like they were just having the same half-conversation over and over and not getting anywhere, which made me find their ... whatever is going on between them ... really annoying at times.
The ending was incredible.
If the story was a long, slow-burning fuse, the explosion at the end made the wait well worth it.
I look forward to the sequel.
August 22, 2024
4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine, Del Rey, and Random House Publishing Group for this advanced copy! You can pick up The Crimson Crown on August 27, 2024.
What a phenomenal fairytale retelling. I absolutely love the world Heather Walter created and how she infused the bones of the original Snow White tale into her story. I was immediately sucked in from the moment we meet the covens and learn of Ayleth's role in her family. The bonds of sisterhood and how lonely one can be even among loved ones was spectacularly depicted. We truly see Ayleth evolve from a young woman who doesn't see her worth to a queen willing to risk everything for her future.
The second-chance romance and sapphic enemies to lovers in this book was absolutely delicious. I felt so conflicted about Jacquetta, just like Ayleth, never knowing if we could truly trust her and her intentions. While some parts of the ending didn't surprise me, the final climactic moment 100% did and I LOVED the turn the story took.
I will be anxiously awaiting the conclusion to this duology and can't wait to scream about this book to everyone I know. If you're in the mood for a gothic fairytale retelling/villian origin story with sapphic romance and witches, this is your book!
What a phenomenal fairytale retelling. I absolutely love the world Heather Walter created and how she infused the bones of the original Snow White tale into her story. I was immediately sucked in from the moment we meet the covens and learn of Ayleth's role in her family. The bonds of sisterhood and how lonely one can be even among loved ones was spectacularly depicted. We truly see Ayleth evolve from a young woman who doesn't see her worth to a queen willing to risk everything for her future.
The second-chance romance and sapphic enemies to lovers in this book was absolutely delicious. I felt so conflicted about Jacquetta, just like Ayleth, never knowing if we could truly trust her and her intentions. While some parts of the ending didn't surprise me, the final climactic moment 100% did and I LOVED the turn the story took.
I will be anxiously awaiting the conclusion to this duology and can't wait to scream about this book to everyone I know. If you're in the mood for a gothic fairytale retelling/villian origin story with sapphic romance and witches, this is your book!
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