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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
I did not like the FMC Veyka. She used alcohol, drugs, sex and indifference to deal with the death of her brother. She lets others run the country she should be while she hides and plots. Nothing made me think she’d be redeemed by the end of this.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-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
The Arthurian legend told like never before; twisted, sensual, dark, and full of intrigue. The world building is so grand! I was literally envisioning scenes from Games of Thrones and Lord of the Rings (the kind of scenes that makes your jaws drop) and I for one really appreciated it! It allowed me to visualize what court life was like for Veyka.
Both MCs are wonderfully broken, but we are offered a glimpse into how both are able to overcome each other’s own prejudices against one another through the split POVs. This book takes you on a journey of seeing Veyka deal with grief, depression, and overcoming it and coming to terms with most of it through the support of Arran. The side characters also were able to shine through and given a backstory that helped strengthen the overall book.
The plot had so many twists and turns, and to be honest, I was not a fan of Veyka until page 280, but it was so worth it! Veyka’s court underestimated the scheming of their Queen.
Veyka and Arran’s relationship started off on a rocky foot, but as they are forced to be around each other, Veyka’s secrets are on the line, threatening to be revealed.
This book filled with spicy scenes, and it only intensifies throughout the book. So hold onto your goblet of aural.
At times I felt that the plot didn’t move fast enough and that the world building was overshadowing the dialogue and the character development, but I think Crown of Earth and Sky is setting up the rest of the book series, Secrets of the Fairie Crown. And I look forward to the next book in the series! I would definitely recommend this book to romantasy lovers, but make sure to read the content warning first before proceeding.
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and Emberly Ash for the ARC Read!
Both MCs are wonderfully broken, but we are offered a glimpse into how both are able to overcome each other’s own prejudices against one another through the split POVs. This book takes you on a journey of seeing Veyka deal with grief, depression, and overcoming it and coming to terms with most of it through the support of Arran. The side characters also were able to shine through and given a backstory that helped strengthen the overall book.
The plot had so many twists and turns, and to be honest, I was not a fan of Veyka until page 280, but it was so worth it! Veyka’s court underestimated the scheming of their Queen.
Veyka and Arran’s relationship started off on a rocky foot, but as they are forced to be around each other, Veyka’s secrets are on the line, threatening to be revealed.
This book filled with spicy scenes, and it only intensifies throughout the book. So hold onto your goblet of aural.
At times I felt that the plot didn’t move fast enough and that the world building was overshadowing the dialogue and the character development, but I think Crown of Earth and Sky is setting up the rest of the book series, Secrets of the Fairie Crown. And I look forward to the next book in the series! I would definitely recommend this book to romantasy lovers, but make sure to read the content warning first before proceeding.
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and Emberly Ash for the ARC Read!
Thank you tо Netgalley for providing me with an ARC copy оf this book. I was drawn tо the stunning cover photo and the intriguing title оf The book. It has a captivating plot and a mesmerizing world building. I enjoyed the chemistry between Veyka and Arran, who have an enemies-to-lovers romance. I understood Veyka's resentment towards Arran, as she suffered from PTSD and hated being crowned queen. I liked how they gradually opened up tо each other and overcame their differences. I thought the second round оf conflict was a bit rushed, but I also realized that they were mates and couldn't stay apart for long.
The author has a great writing style that kept me engaged throughout the book. I could easily imagine myself іn the fae world and feel the emotions оf the characters. I would highly recommend this book tо anyone who loves historical fantasy and romance. It іs a thrilling and satisfying read that you won't regret picking up.
#CrownofEarthandSkyARC #NetGalley
The author has a great writing style that kept me engaged throughout the book. I could easily imagine myself іn the fae world and feel the emotions оf the characters. I would highly recommend this book tо anyone who loves historical fantasy and romance. It іs a thrilling and satisfying read that you won't regret picking up.
#CrownofEarthandSkyARC #NetGalley
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Mind-blowing, truth-wielding power upon the page. There are so many facets to this story that I don’t know where to begin. This story held me in an inescapable death grip of pure, tortuous angst. The depth of anguish explored brings a clarity to the mental health represented in this book. Behind a story of mythology and fantasy is a powerful message of healing and self-worth. The darkness that inhabits Veyka is an important character in itself, showing the damage that can be wrought within one’s own mind. How well self-doubt can drag you under while you claw your way back to reality. Each and every character is written with such depth. Stunning layers that make it impossible to rightly know where loyalties lie and who is good vs. bad. There were moments I expected, but all the great shifts in the story caught me completely off guard. To me, this is a sign of a truly gifted storyteller. When you feel betrayal to the depth of your bone right alongside the protagonist. When your heart breaks at each loss, fighting to contain tears. (I failed at that! There were plenty of tears, making it difficult to even see the page.) I felt such a connection to these characters that it actually hurts to close the book,to say goodbye even temporarily to this group of dynamic, relatable and sensational characters. The evolution of the match between Arran & Veyka ran the gauntlet. I don’t think there was a single emotion that was missed along this journey. That expression is the perfect descriptor for Veyka & Arran, “ran the gauntlet”, it’s synonymous with “going through Fire and Water”, marching up to the cannons mouth”, “taking one’s life in one’s hand”… I don’t think I could find better words to describe their relationship. These two butt heads constantly but come together in a fiery passion when push comes to shove. I am on tenterhooks awaiting the next book. The conclusion has left me in mental coma which I fear I can’t shake, a perfect cliffhanger, hitting its mark dead-on. There is no way I will miss the next book for I must know what comes next.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op in exchange for an honest review, thank you!
I love both a well written retelling and an action packed read! You get both with The Crown of Earth and Sky. The first in a series, you'll enjoy the Fae/Spice'Action combo! Emberly's style of writing really grabs your attention and keeps you hooked all the way along.
No spoilers here but there is a cliffhangers of epic proportions! LOVE IT!
Get you the second book asap after you read this one.
I love both a well written retelling and an action packed read! You get both with The Crown of Earth and Sky. The first in a series, you'll enjoy the Fae/Spice'Action combo! Emberly's style of writing really grabs your attention and keeps you hooked all the way along.
No spoilers here but there is a cliffhangers of epic proportions! LOVE IT!
Get you the second book asap after you read this one.
LOVE!! But how dare you leave me on that big of a cliff hanger at the end!
Veyka’s physique, Arran’s beast, the enemy to lovers, the twist of betrayal… all of it was amazing. There were points when I was kind of like okay let’s get to the action but it was all well worth it. And in my opinion the perfect amount of spice
Veyka’s physique, Arran’s beast, the enemy to lovers, the twist of betrayal… all of it was amazing. There were points when I was kind of like okay let’s get to the action but it was all well worth it. And in my opinion the perfect amount of spice
Twins should not exist in the fae world. Yes, King Arthur and Veyka Pendragon defied those odds. Yet it left Veyka with a terrible secret and a horrible upbringing. After Veyka is forced to take the throne even if only as a farce, she's forced to marry. There are always two on the throne of Annwyn, an Elemental king or queen and a terrestrial heir proven to be the best and their counterpart. The Brutal Prince, Arron Earthborn, is the strongest fae in a thousand years, so he's chosen as the king to Veyka's queen.
The story is from both Veyka's and Arron's perspectives. We see Veyka struggle with grief and depression, while plotting her revenge. We see Arron, forced from the battlefield to the court, try to figure out what to do with his new queen, who has no care to rule.
The lust between the two jumps from the page, but can two such guarded people ever let their walls down, especially with secrets that could change the fate of Annwyn?
This is an adult twist of the Arthurian legends and a wonderful read. We're mostly in one area of the world, but so much more is alluded to that I expect to see in future books. I cannot wait to see more. There are still a few Arthurian legend characters missing that I can't wait to see, and I need to know if my hunches are right!
There are trigger warnings, so make sure you pay attention to those if you may have triggers.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The story is from both Veyka's and Arron's perspectives. We see Veyka struggle with grief and depression, while plotting her revenge. We see Arron, forced from the battlefield to the court, try to figure out what to do with his new queen, who has no care to rule.
The lust between the two jumps from the page, but can two such guarded people ever let their walls down, especially with secrets that could change the fate of Annwyn?
This is an adult twist of the Arthurian legends and a wonderful read. We're mostly in one area of the world, but so much more is alluded to that I expect to see in future books. I cannot wait to see more. There are still a few Arthurian legend characters missing that I can't wait to see, and I need to know if my hunches are right!
There are trigger warnings, so make sure you pay attention to those if you may have triggers.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
**Thank you Emberly Ash and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op for this eARC! All thoughts on this read are entirely my own!**
Posted to: NetGalley, Goodreads, and The Storygraph
Posted on: 12 January 2024
3 out of 5 stars.
So this was definitely A Read. It wasn’t bad, exactly, but I can definitely see how people either loved it or hated it- and I feel like I’m somewhere in between but leaning to liking it? I’m no stranger to DNFing ARCs, and clearly I didn’t do that, so I think part of me enjoyed this more than I thought??
Anyways, I digress. Let me actually review-
Crown of Earth and Sky is definitely a… love and smut first kind of book. The storyline kind of came second to the lust Arran and Veyka have for one another. It did get awkward in some places though, a little less than seamlessly sprinkled throughout the book in what feels like a way to appeal to romance readers. The descriptions also took away from the flow of the writing (Veyka’s breasts or her body are definitely mentioned a lot and it gets kind of overdone in some places) which already wasn’t too much my cup of tea, but it wasn’t terrible! There’s a few golden highlights that I have, a few choice quotes that snuck into my brain.
The storyline felt a little… odd though? The pacing is a little slow. The book focuses more on the relationship aspects. There wasn’t much going on during some points that I almost forgot what the overarching goal was (besides revenge- we never forget that, it’s also mentioned a lot). The plot just didn’t make too much sense to me at first, I think, because Veyka and Arran’s feelings for one another shadowed the plot points/interrupted moments too often for me to remember what just happened.
I think what saved this book for me was just all the strong women. I love a good angry character and Veyka wasn’t one of my favorites, but she has room to grow which is something that does slowly start to happen. There’s a little bit of sisterhood, a little bit of healing, and a lot of powerful women who can command a room with ease (Gwen is definitely one of my favorites). I’m just not a big fan of Veyka and Arran’s relationship until roughly the last 30-ish percent. It was borderline toxic how they just lusted over each other and hated each other when they weren’t having sex. It gets a bit better though, which is probably the other reason I stuck with it.
I will say though, Emberly Ash posts character portraits on her Instagram and I still can’t decide if these are AI or not? I’m still learning how to tell, but at least eye wise, they don’t look off or wonky how I’ve seen other AI creations look, which is the only reason I want to say they aren’t AI, but I’d love to know for sure if anybody else knows! I think it’s definitely an issue to bring up because we all should know by now how damaging AI art is to real artists- but this review isn’t meant to discuss that so I digress for now.
Overall, there’s nit picky bits that I really wish could’ve been done better. The characters are slowly growing a bit more, so I have a feeling this second book will have some redeeming qualities to it! I think it’s also a genre thing. I don’t read dark romance, just *barely* started reading spicy romance, so it’s all new territory I’m getting used to.
Maybe I’ll have some new thoughts come book two?
Posted to: NetGalley, Goodreads, and The Storygraph
Posted on: 12 January 2024
3 out of 5 stars.
So this was definitely A Read. It wasn’t bad, exactly, but I can definitely see how people either loved it or hated it- and I feel like I’m somewhere in between but leaning to liking it? I’m no stranger to DNFing ARCs, and clearly I didn’t do that, so I think part of me enjoyed this more than I thought??
Anyways, I digress. Let me actually review-
Crown of Earth and Sky is definitely a… love and smut first kind of book. The storyline kind of came second to the lust Arran and Veyka have for one another. It did get awkward in some places though, a little less than seamlessly sprinkled throughout the book in what feels like a way to appeal to romance readers. The descriptions also took away from the flow of the writing (Veyka’s breasts or her body are definitely mentioned a lot and it gets kind of overdone in some places) which already wasn’t too much my cup of tea, but it wasn’t terrible! There’s a few golden highlights that I have, a few choice quotes that snuck into my brain.
The storyline felt a little… odd though? The pacing is a little slow. The book focuses more on the relationship aspects. There wasn’t much going on during some points that I almost forgot what the overarching goal was (besides revenge- we never forget that, it’s also mentioned a lot). The plot just didn’t make too much sense to me at first, I think, because Veyka and Arran’s feelings for one another shadowed the plot points/interrupted moments too often for me to remember what just happened.
I think what saved this book for me was just all the strong women. I love a good angry character and Veyka wasn’t one of my favorites, but she has room to grow which is something that does slowly start to happen. There’s a little bit of sisterhood, a little bit of healing, and a lot of powerful women who can command a room with ease (Gwen is definitely one of my favorites). I’m just not a big fan of Veyka and Arran’s relationship until roughly the last 30-ish percent. It was borderline toxic how they just lusted over each other and hated each other when they weren’t having sex. It gets a bit better though, which is probably the other reason I stuck with it.
I will say though, Emberly Ash posts character portraits on her Instagram and I still can’t decide if these are AI or not? I’m still learning how to tell, but at least eye wise, they don’t look off or wonky how I’ve seen other AI creations look, which is the only reason I want to say they aren’t AI, but I’d love to know for sure if anybody else knows! I think it’s definitely an issue to bring up because we all should know by now how damaging AI art is to real artists- but this review isn’t meant to discuss that so I digress for now.
Overall, there’s nit picky bits that I really wish could’ve been done better. The characters are slowly growing a bit more, so I have a feeling this second book will have some redeeming qualities to it! I think it’s also a genre thing. I don’t read dark romance, just *barely* started reading spicy romance, so it’s all new territory I’m getting used to.
Maybe I’ll have some new thoughts come book two?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Sexual content, Blood, Alcohol
Moderate: Rape, Violence, Grief
Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia
I only mention the rape as moderate because it’s a light, on page scene that doesn’t go too into detail, but the reader does still know what happens. Not to mention it also happens to, I assume considering mentions later in the book, a minor.