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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
A solid debut with a fantastic premise and some truly beautiful prose. Multiple times I stopped to just appreciate a particularly evocative sentence. I appreciated the clear thought to the functions of the world, the rich detail, and some appropriately poignant depictions of grief. Hellevir's complex relationships with her family were also enjoyable, often feeling like pressing a bruise and wondering when it might heal.
Unfortunately, it flagged in the latter half, whenHellevir and Sullivain's relationship was supposedly deepening for reasons other than "because magic." This section was like treading water and weakened so much of Hellevir's character -- constantly saying she can't do anything, ignoring clear dangers to herself and others, fixating on and making excuses for the princess far past the point of reason. I'm not opposed to her being unable to stop thinking about her, but her focus and priorities felt disjointed from what was actually in the story.
Too many parts of their arcs felt underdeveloped or missing.Hellevir's desire for greatness in life isn't shown on page much, so Death's comment was a surprise. Sullivain's interiority is kept at a distance until nearly the very end, her wrongdoings justified with little more than "Hellevir can feel she's afraid." (Yes, it's clear her grandmother is abusive toward her. She is also a grown adult, the heir to the crown, and the most protected and capable person of affecting change.)
I almost wish their "romance" was cut from this book entirely -- tease it, maybe, for the second book, but spend that time speeding up their regaining their spines and establishing their goals, and then let their disastrous romance really start to burn if that's how it will go. As-is, the relationship is nondiegeticlly detrimental to both characters, and the greatest weak point of an otherwise engaging read.
All that said, I'm curious enough to check out the second book, if only for the lovely prose. I hope the author's gotten her feet with the characters, and the inevitable conflict makes for a satisfying conclusion.
Unfortunately, it flagged in the latter half, when
Too many parts of their arcs felt underdeveloped or missing.
I almost wish their "romance" was cut from this book entirely -- tease it, maybe, for the second book, but spend that time speeding up their regaining their spines and establishing their goals, and then let their disastrous romance really start to burn if that's how it will go. As-is, the relationship is nondiegeticlly detrimental to both characters, and the greatest weak point of an otherwise engaging read.
All that said, I'm curious enough to check out the second book, if only for the lovely prose. I hope the author's gotten her feet with the characters, and the inevitable conflict makes for a satisfying conclusion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry
Moderate: Animal death, Physical abuse, Torture, Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you only took the first 30% of this book and all of the scenes in Death this would easily be four stars. But the plot in between SUCKS. It is limp, useless and aggravating and never should have made it through edits.
dark
emotional
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 think my problems with this book start with the cover blurb. When you’re comparing yourself to The Priory of the Orange Tree, one of my favorite books of the last few years, you’re setting certain expectations. That was an epic fantasy in every sense of the word, beautifully told, and utterly compelling. It had a very mature exploration of romance between women, a relationship that felt natural and significant – a slow-burn that developed into fires-of-passion, and I loved it.
Sadly, The Gilded Crown lacks the depth, maturity, or significance of Priory. It’s a much thinner tale that, despite its categorization as Adult Fantasy, feels very much Young Adult. While it has emotion, it shies away from the visceral horror of death – a key aspect of the book – and that takes away from its impact. As for the central relationship, it’s a tentative thing that goes out of its way to suggest it may be more tied to the price of resurrection than any romance or passion, making it seem a forced sort of tease that’s structured so as to be easily dismissed. I won’t call it queer-baiting because there is another relationship that’s much more definitively accepted as queer, but the fact that it’s secondary lessens the impact.
Without the expectations of Priory, this is an okay read, but one that I likely would not have picked up otherwise. It has interesting roots, and plenty of opportunity to explore some very deep questions of faith and morality, of religion versus mythology, but it never does more than ask questions. There was a point halfway through where I thought it was beginning to turn, which is all that kept me going, but the exploration never goes any deeper. Ultimately, it’s a frustrating read that doesn’t quite seem to know where it’s headed or, more importantly, why.
https://sallybend.wordpress.com/2023/09/10/book-review-the-gilded-crown-by-marianne-gordon-fantasy/
Sadly, The Gilded Crown lacks the depth, maturity, or significance of Priory. It’s a much thinner tale that, despite its categorization as Adult Fantasy, feels very much Young Adult. While it has emotion, it shies away from the visceral horror of death – a key aspect of the book – and that takes away from its impact. As for the central relationship, it’s a tentative thing that goes out of its way to suggest it may be more tied to the price of resurrection than any romance or passion, making it seem a forced sort of tease that’s structured so as to be easily dismissed. I won’t call it queer-baiting because there is another relationship that’s much more definitively accepted as queer, but the fact that it’s secondary lessens the impact.
Without the expectations of Priory, this is an okay read, but one that I likely would not have picked up otherwise. It has interesting roots, and plenty of opportunity to explore some very deep questions of faith and morality, of religion versus mythology, but it never does more than ask questions. There was a point halfway through where I thought it was beginning to turn, which is all that kept me going, but the exploration never goes any deeper. Ultimately, it’s a frustrating read that doesn’t quite seem to know where it’s headed or, more importantly, why.
https://sallybend.wordpress.com/2023/09/10/book-review-the-gilded-crown-by-marianne-gordon-fantasy/