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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Toxic relationship, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit
Way more interesting than the terrible stereotypical romantasy cover would lead you to believe.
Filled with wild folklore, death magic, and a sapphic romance that will keep you wanting more, this book feels like a spiritual successor to The Bear and the Nightingale.
We follow our main character, Hellevir, a woman who can speak to animals and see spirits in nature that others are blind to, as she discovers she has the power to enter Death and bargain to bring the newly deceased back to life. Every toll has its price, however, and soon she is trapped with a bargain with Death itself to keep from cutting herself into smaller and smaller pieces to save those around her. When she saves the princess herself from Death, knowledge of her skills go far beyond her and force her into serving the Crown - no matter the cost to her, or those around her.
The imagery in this book is beautiful, as we travel with Hellevir as she speaks with spirits in the trees in lakes, to the strange place she goes when she enters Death. Everything evokes a kind of wonder in the reader as they can see the beauty in the world through the main character’s eyes. However, not everything is wonderful, as the more and more she travels into and bargains with Death, the tighter the binds around her begin to close in as she becomes entangled in a political mess where no one will leave unscathed.
The romance in this book - mild as it is - I felt really strongly added to the tension and the stakes present. Hellevir is forced to contend with what she believes she knows about Sullivan with what Sullivan (and her grandmother) are actually doing. With parts of her soul given up each time she resurrects Sullivan giving them a connection neither can break or understand, she has no choice but to follow both her heart - and the threats - even when she wants nothing more than to escape back to the small village she left.
Perfect for fans of Katherine Arden, Ava Reid and Naomi Novik, The Gilded Crown will captivate you from the first page and keep you wanting more even after you finish reading.
A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing this e-ARC.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Blood, Religious bigotry
Moderate: Torture, Grief
adventurous
dark
slow-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:
Yes
I could only handle this girl getting mistreated and her simply TAKING IT because she's falling in wuv with the pwincess SO MANY TIMES. This is a more political novel than I was expecting. It promised some sapphic romance and it was so toxic. The love interest was so irredeemable and what little time the MC spent with her didn't warrant her self sacrifice. No self preservation. Death had more chemistry with her and she's a lesbian. Come on.
I don't know how to feel about this book. I found I was constantly pissed off at the FMC, like girl STAND UP! 🤦♀️ I feel like this book had so much promise and it fell so short for me with the FMC. A girl makes a deal with Death to be able to bring people back to life at the cost of parts of herself, like how perfect 😍 I found supporting characters more interesting than the FMC. The last 50 pages redeemed it a bit for me and I was glad I finished it but unsure if I'll read book 2.
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When I say I devoured this book, I don't think you fully understand. I did not want it to end, nor was I reading fast enough to get all the answers I wanted!
The book focuses on a young women who possesses the ability to bring back the dead by making deals with Death himself. It was delicious and amazing. But, everything went bad when the Queen demanded that the healers from her FMC's village bring back her daughter, the only living heir of the throne. When the elder healer denied the request, Hellevir (FMC) offered herself to try.
Following that first interaction, Hellevir was doomed. She was forced out of her little village to live in the Capital, and act as the puppet for the Princess to bring her back to life everytime she died - regardless of the cost to Hellevir.
But, to say the least, I loved the plot and the character development. Even through love, Hellevir finally put herself first and made a new deal with Death.
I can't wait to read Book #2!!!
The book focuses on a young women who possesses the ability to bring back the dead by making deals with Death himself. It was delicious and amazing. But, everything went bad when the Queen demanded that the healers from her FMC's village bring back her daughter, the only living heir of the throne. When the elder healer denied the request, Hellevir (FMC) offered herself to try.
Following that first interaction, Hellevir was doomed. She was forced out of her little village to live in the Capital, and act as the puppet for the Princess to bring her back to life everytime she died - regardless of the cost to Hellevir.
But, to say the least, I loved the plot and the character development. Even through love, Hellevir finally put herself first and made a new deal with Death.
I can't wait to read Book #2!!!
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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:
Yes