Reviews

The Amber Crown by Jacey Bedford

sheppardmf's review

2.0

DNF at 25%

I had been looking forward to reading this book. It sounded like an interesting historical inspired, political fantasy book. The book did deliver on a fascinating setting; 17th century Prussia/Eastern Europe isn't a common time period and region in fantasy books, so I did enjoy this aspect of the story. Unfortunately, I was unable to connect with the characters, and did not care to continue reading about them. Each one had their own characteristics and plot points that made me dislike their perspectives. There was also a lot of misogyny and it was unnecessary, regardless whether it was for the sake of "historical accuracy."

Thank you to NetGalley and DAW Books for sending me an ARC.

scientist_reading_world's review

2.0

@dnf 59%

Although the story seems interesting the pace is very slow! I would recommend a bit more editing and cutting off some parts because 60% into the book and no major events happen and it seems very a back and forth the same things. The MCs were interesting like the thief but Mirza and Valda were too much and the non-existing tension that ends up in sex was like why?

I ultimately decided to DNF due to casual and unchecked racism, sexism, unnecessarily crude scenes and a very slow pacing plot that drag the book for a long time without seeing moving into the story

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the gifted eARC.

ladybookdragon's review

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

4.0

hershey_13's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

w_xinnie's review

3.0

Ok, it was good. Maybe a bit long for me. I did skip few pages because I wasn't entirely in it.
Near the end, I was actually a bit more in the story.

But, I do think it's a personal preference because it's a good story with really diverse and
complex characters.

I would give it a 3/5 maybe a 3,5/5 thanks to the ending.

nodaybutoday05's review

adventurous challenging 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? Yes

4.0

ochoheido's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

I rarely leave reviews for books but I felt compelled for this one because I don't think it has as many good reviews as it deserves. The plot and adventures were complex while still being easy to read. The characterization was fantastic - very few stereotypes and even those characters that seem like they have a stereotype at the beginning prove to be more complex as you get to know them as the story progresses. It is a very sex-positive book which I rarely see in fantasy books like this one. 

The story had elements that reminded me a lot of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time

A woman witch/healer with a mentioned affinity for weather; silver chokers that stop magic; the big burly character who's actually soft on the inside and gets caught up in a caravan of traveling "gypsies"; the journey and many stays and meals in inns and whorehouses, to name a few

at least insomuch as I can tell by reading the first 4 1/2 books of that series. And yet I found this one to be better executed. Less wordy, more readable, just as exciting (albeit with a smaller plot, which is understandable as this is a standalone and not a series), and the women were written soooooo much better in so many ways including physical, emotional, and mental.

The stakes are there, the trauma is real, and the characters grow and learn from their experiences in a very true-to-life way as opposed to an almost magical ability to overcome any odds like chosen-one gods. A good story very well done.

bajablasthole's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Sexual violence, Blood, Death, Violence, Murder, Child abuse, Gore, and Rape

theclumsybookworm's review

4.0

Thank you to NetGalley and Daw Books for sending me an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I know the saying goes that we’re not supposed to judge books by their covers - but I have to admit it was the beautiful cover of this book that first caught my eye. Luckily, the story matched the cover.

The Amber Crown is a new adult fantasy novel that follows our three main characters/unlikely heroes as they attempt to fulfill the wishes of the ghost of their dead king and save the kingdom of Zanovia from falling into the hands of a tyrant.

The story is told from multiple POV’s and is full of political intrigue, magic, and interesting characters. I enjoyed reading about all of the characters and finding out their backstories. Mirza was definitely my favourite though - she’s a witch and a healer who can walk in the spirit world, and I loved how snarky she was.

I was definitely invested in and enjoyed the story. The only things I would mention is that this book does deal with some pretty dark subject matter - so don’t go into it expecting it to be light. I also occasionally struggled with the pacing and wanted a bit more from the ending. However neither of these things detracted from my overall enjoyment of the story.

_pearl_'s review

4.5

Did not expect this book to be so overwhelmingly sex-positive but I'm not against it