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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was so so lucky to win this in one of the Goodreads giveaways!
There is no hate in this just my honest thoughts and opinions.
I absolutely love the idea and concept of this book and that’s why I didn’t DNF it. Getting into it was hard, but it did pick up and get easier to read. I think the execution just wasn’t it though. I don’t know the best terminology, but it didn’t feel like the whole story flowed together. That’s why I rated it so low. I feel like this concept had HUGE potential!! And the follow through wasn’t there.
I was so excited and had big hopes about the love interest, but I hated almost every interaction they had. I don’t get how our MC has these feelings for the love interest. It’s so toxic/abusive and made me angry every time they came up.
I think if it was re written I’d buy it and read it, but I don’t think I’ll buy the second one. However if I won book 2 too, I definitely would, because that feels right, and I’d be curious how book 2 goes.
There is no hate in this just my honest thoughts and opinions.
I absolutely love the idea and concept of this book and that’s why I didn’t DNF it. Getting into it was hard, but it did pick up and get easier to read. I think the execution just wasn’t it though. I don’t know the best terminology, but it didn’t feel like the whole story flowed together. That’s why I rated it so low. I feel like this concept had HUGE potential!! And the follow through wasn’t there.
I was so excited and had big hopes about the love interest, but I hated almost every interaction they had. I don’t get how our MC has these feelings for the love interest. It’s so toxic/abusive and made me angry every time they came up.
I think if it was re written I’d buy it and read it, but I don’t think I’ll buy the second one. However if I won book 2 too, I definitely would, because that feels right, and I’d be curious how book 2 goes.
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
"You've never had to grieve for anything," he said. He didn't say it with venom, or with an intent to hurt her. It was just a statement. "You've brought back anyone you'd have missed. What do you know about death?"
★★★★★
Long-ass review to come eventually, for I am SHOOK. This is without a doubt one of the best depictions of and engagement with necromancy and the afterlife in a fantasy book that I've come across. The only other book that even comes close is Erekos by A.M. Tuomala (also really good and incredibly underrated while somehow being cursed with a terrible cover as well).
Am just in awe at how skillfully this book paints various forms of toxic relationships and generational trauma. But also how it balances this out with its descriptions of genuine love as well. At the risk of sounding cheesy - there was just so much real light and beauty amidst the darkness here. The Gilded Crown feels very classic in that sense.
I hope more people discover this. It really is such a beautiful albeit tragic story about life and death, love and grief. Neither can exist without the other after all.
(And pls for the love of god do not like me almost pass up on this book because of its cover thinking it was a romantasy, would classify more as adult dark fantasy)
— ♩♫♩ ~ Flower Maiden
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i’m glad this took a different turn and didn’t remotely try to make hellevir and shadow daddy a thing but being unique isn’t enough. she was frustrating to read through largely due to her feelings for sullivan. also this was super boring and long idk how 400 pages feel like 800 because i dozed off several times. i’m interested in how things will play out in the sequel and hope the writing improves but i wish this were a standalone.
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indie cover artist: uncredited 👀
tradpub cover artist: uncredited 🤨
i'm noticing a pattern of white romantasies not crediting artists. makes me think was there ever one? sus af.
----
indie cover artist: uncredited 👀
tradpub cover artist: uncredited 🤨
i'm noticing a pattern of white romantasies not crediting artists. makes me think was there ever one? sus af.
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
this book started out so strong, but over time i found myself feeling more and more annoyed. hellevir is painfully naive and is constantly making stupid choices. she ruminates on the same things over and over again. and she’s got serious plot armor. the romance was underdeveloped. even when major Things happened, I found i didn’t care. i just… im irritated man.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated