katharinajoha 's review for:

The Rivaled Crown by Holly Renee

3.0

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i wanted to love this. this was supposed to be the epic conclusion, the grand finale, the book that would make everything worth it. 

but this had the most confusing pacing in the world, like the story was sprinting to the finish line without ever taking the time to build tension or depth. and verena… she's in power because she's the heir, but there's nothing special about her. no sharp mind, no natural leadership, no meaningful presence. just vibes and a crown. 

& i still don’t understand how the magic system in this world works. the concept of the vessel, something that should be pivotal, is vague and confusing. and aside from verena's magic, which is only vaguely explained, the magic used by anyone other than her father has no explanation whatsoever. it's just shadows, energy, and feelings. 

overall, while i didn't love this book as much as i had hoped, the world remains intriguing. i wanted to see the HEA, and there were still aspects that kept me entertained.