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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
"A woman made of fire, all the brighter to you because of what you have sacrificed for her."
The Gilded Crown reminded me a lot of Adalyn Grace's Belladonna but with way more politics and way less chemistry. I really wanted to like this book, and I know that the romance itself isn't a big part of it, but the plot relies so heavily on character dynamics, and I didn't see the chemistry between the lead characters.
Hellevir is a necromancer. She communes with Death and brings back those who have perished in "unnatural" ways in exchange for bits of life. The story begins when Hellevir raises Sullivain - the princess - after an attempted assassination. Most of the plot revolves around court maneuverings and Hellevir trying to escape with her family before she is forced to raise the princess a dozen more times. There are also some subplots with riddles assigned to Hellevir by the gatekeeper of death, and there are some romantic scenes as well. Overall, though, I felt it was very slow until the last 20%, and I would've liked to see some more variation in the plot.
I also didn't connect to most of the characters. Hellevir was fine as a protagonist; I didn't love her, but I didn't hate her. Calgir and Farvor were my favorites (they reminded me of Achilles and Patroclus), and I wish we saw more of them. The real issue for me was that I didn't like Sullivain. She is supposed to be the love interest, but Hellevir had way more chemistry with Death. Sulli was cruel at first, reckless even when she knew it would hurt Hellevir, and she didn't show interest in Hellevir until she was practically begging for attention. The relationship between Hellevir and Sullivain read as toxic to me.
While The Gilded Crown wasn't for me, I do think fans of folklore, complicated love stories, and riddles will enjoy this book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!
3.25/5
The Gilded Crown reminded me a lot of Adalyn Grace's Belladonna but with way more politics and way less chemistry. I really wanted to like this book, and I know that the romance itself isn't a big part of it, but the plot relies so heavily on character dynamics, and I didn't see the chemistry between the lead characters.
Hellevir is a necromancer. She communes with Death and brings back those who have perished in "unnatural" ways in exchange for bits of life. The story begins when Hellevir raises Sullivain - the princess - after an attempted assassination. Most of the plot revolves around court maneuverings and Hellevir trying to escape with her family before she is forced to raise the princess a dozen more times. There are also some subplots with riddles assigned to Hellevir by the gatekeeper of death, and there are some romantic scenes as well. Overall, though, I felt it was very slow until the last 20%, and I would've liked to see some more variation in the plot.
I also didn't connect to most of the characters. Hellevir was fine as a protagonist; I didn't love her, but I didn't hate her. Calgir and Farvor were my favorites (they reminded me of Achilles and Patroclus), and I wish we saw more of them. The real issue for me was that I didn't like Sullivain. She is supposed to be the love interest, but Hellevir had way more chemistry with Death. Sulli was cruel at first, reckless even when she knew it would hurt Hellevir, and she didn't show interest in Hellevir until she was practically begging for attention. The relationship between Hellevir and Sullivain read as toxic to me.
While The Gilded Crown wasn't for me, I do think fans of folklore, complicated love stories, and riddles will enjoy this book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!
3.25/5
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It was OK, the plot had a lot of potential at the beginning but it just fell flat in the middle.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Hellevir is only a young girl when she learns she can bring people back from the dead - for a price that Death demands. When the Princess Sullivain is murdered, the Queen demands that Hellevir bring her back, which she does. But Sullivain's life is always in danger, so Hellevir is kept alongside the princess so she's available the next time an attempt is made.
Honestly, I would have preferred for Hellevir to fall for Death but instead she falls for the princess and I just couldn't understand why. There is little chemistry, and Sullivain is just plain selfish.
Hellevir is such a doormat, considering she loses a body part with every resurrection, and is surrounding by people who don't really seem to care about her. There is a next book but I won't be reading it.
Honestly, I would have preferred for Hellevir to fall for Death but instead she falls for the princess and I just couldn't understand why. There is little chemistry, and Sullivain is just plain selfish.
Hellevir is such a doormat, considering she loses a body part with every resurrection, and is surrounding by people who don't really seem to care about her. There is a next book but I won't be reading it.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 stars rounded up.
This tale follows Hellevir, a woman endowed with a unique ability to traverse the realm of Death, a power that brings both blessings and burdens. Caught amidst the intrigues of nobility and the disdain of priests, she finds herself in a precarious position, torn between duty and personal desires. As she navigates her path, she forms complex relationships with her family, particularly her father and brother, Farvor, yet questions linger regarding their abrupt absence from her life for a decade.
Despite my reservations about some of Hellevir's choices, I found her character compelling and empathized with her motivations. The dynamics between her and Sullivan didn't resonate with me, as I struggled to find any redeeming qualities in Sullivan herself. However, I appreciated the character growth Hellevir experienced through her interactions with Sullivan, which added depth to her journey.
I particularly enjoyed the representation of LGBTQ+ relationships, especially the romance between Hellevir's brother, Farvor, and Calgir. However, the romantic entanglement between Hellevir and Sullivan failed to capture my interest, perhaps due to my inability to connect with Sullivan as a character.
Overall, the narrative captivated me with its original premise and the development of its diverse cast of characters.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. :)
This tale follows Hellevir, a woman endowed with a unique ability to traverse the realm of Death, a power that brings both blessings and burdens. Caught amidst the intrigues of nobility and the disdain of priests, she finds herself in a precarious position, torn between duty and personal desires. As she navigates her path, she forms complex relationships with her family, particularly her father and brother, Farvor, yet questions linger regarding their abrupt absence from her life for a decade.
Despite my reservations about some of Hellevir's choices, I found her character compelling and empathized with her motivations. The dynamics between her and Sullivan didn't resonate with me, as I struggled to find any redeeming qualities in Sullivan herself. However, I appreciated the character growth Hellevir experienced through her interactions with Sullivan, which added depth to her journey.
I particularly enjoyed the representation of LGBTQ+ relationships, especially the romance between Hellevir's brother, Farvor, and Calgir. However, the romantic entanglement between Hellevir and Sullivan failed to capture my interest, perhaps due to my inability to connect with Sullivan as a character.
Overall, the narrative captivated me with its original premise and the development of its diverse cast of characters.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. :)
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes