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Crown of Wrath
Maeve Arden’s life has been manipulated since before she was born, but never again.
Draenyth burns as the Houses of Flame and Steel war within its walls. Cole’s father is imprisoned, and the lesser fae are being enslaved daily.
Maeve doesn’t care. The Nothing took her cousin, and this queen only has vengeance in her heart. At least until a shadowed friend takes her down a dark and twisted road.
She’s alone in the world, and there’s only one man she can trust. Cole constantly lied to her, but the Shade never did, and as the world crumbles around her, she needs someone to lean on.
Her heart and soul are breaking, one piece of trauma at a time, and there are many hidden plots left that even Cole doesn’t know. Many of which were put in place before any of them were born…
If the Shade can’t force Maeve to put the pieces of herself back together, the house of cards that was stacked so perfectly will topple just as the last card was placed.
Crown of Wrath is the conclusion of the Shadowed Debts duet. Full of heartbreak, action, angst, and secrets, it will test the characters to the breaking point, but there will be an HEA.
Draenyth burns as the Houses of Flame and Steel war within its walls. Cole’s father is imprisoned, and the lesser fae are being enslaved daily.
Maeve doesn’t care. The Nothing took her cousin, and this queen only has vengeance in her heart. At least until a shadowed friend takes her down a dark and twisted road.
She’s alone in the world, and there’s only one man she can trust. Cole constantly lied to her, but the Shade never did, and as the world crumbles around her, she needs someone to lean on.
Her heart and soul are breaking, one piece of trauma at a time, and there are many hidden plots left that even Cole doesn’t know. Many of which were put in place before any of them were born…
If the Shade can’t force Maeve to put the pieces of herself back together, the house of cards that was stacked so perfectly will topple just as the last card was placed.
Crown of Wrath is the conclusion of the Shadowed Debts duet. Full of heartbreak, action, angst, and secrets, it will test the characters to the breaking point, but there will be an HEA.
727 pages, Paperback
Published April 8, 2025
306 people are currently reading
196 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
May 3, 2025
✨spoiler-free✨arc review
my rating: TBD
aesthetic: 🌫️🪨🔥⚔️🌲👑🐉🧚🏼♂️🖤⛓️💥🛡️
First and foremost, thank you to Evelyn Hart for the advanced reader copy of Crown of Wrath, the second installment in the Shadowed Debts series. While I was truly looking forward to diving back into this richly crafted world, I found myself struggling to stay engaged throughout much of the story.
This book leans heavily into the emotional journey of the two main characters, and while their internal battles are undoubtedly important to their development, the repetition of these themes at times slowed the pace. The connection between them, though intense, often circled around the same emotional conflict without much forward momentum, making it difficult for me as a reader to fully immerse myself in the narrative.
That said, the ending of Crown of Wrath was a saving grace—tense, dramatic, and packed with the kind of stakes and momentum I had hoped for throughout. It offered just enough resolution while teasing a future filled with potential, leaving me intrigued to see where the series might go next.
Though this second book didn’t hit the same mark for me as the first, Crown of Wrath still shows promise for the greater arc of the Shadowed Debts series. Sometimes the middle of a story is where characters must sit with their pain, and while this installment lingered there longer than I’d hoped, I remain curious to see how it all unfolds in the books to come.
my rating: TBD
aesthetic: 🌫️🪨🔥⚔️🌲👑🐉🧚🏼♂️🖤⛓️💥🛡️
First and foremost, thank you to Evelyn Hart for the advanced reader copy of Crown of Wrath, the second installment in the Shadowed Debts series. While I was truly looking forward to diving back into this richly crafted world, I found myself struggling to stay engaged throughout much of the story.
This book leans heavily into the emotional journey of the two main characters, and while their internal battles are undoubtedly important to their development, the repetition of these themes at times slowed the pace. The connection between them, though intense, often circled around the same emotional conflict without much forward momentum, making it difficult for me as a reader to fully immerse myself in the narrative.
That said, the ending of Crown of Wrath was a saving grace—tense, dramatic, and packed with the kind of stakes and momentum I had hoped for throughout. It offered just enough resolution while teasing a future filled with potential, leaving me intrigued to see where the series might go next.
Though this second book didn’t hit the same mark for me as the first, Crown of Wrath still shows promise for the greater arc of the Shadowed Debts series. Sometimes the middle of a story is where characters must sit with their pain, and while this installment lingered there longer than I’d hoped, I remain curious to see how it all unfolds in the books to come.
May 12, 2025
I just wasn’t into this book and found a lot of the storyline boring. I was heartbroken towards the end at what happened to Cole, but the ending made up for it. I can’t help but think that Maeve brought on herself and her son a terrible price that a child shouldn’t have to pay, but I guess that is for another book. I am glad I finally finished this so I can move onto something that will hold my interest a little better.
May 21, 2025
I really enjoyed the first book… but Maeve had a personality transplant at the end of book one and it went downhill from there:
-The book spent way too much time in the character’s heads, literally. The rebuilding of their minds and souls was too esoteric and over the top for me.
-Cole went from an interesting, brooding warrior in book one to a puppy that obeyed Maeve in book two.
-The author is great with plot ideas but the writing was rough.
-Without spoiling anything, I was ready to throw the book out the window at the 90% mark… and the closure to the plot twist didn’t feel complete or explained.
-The book spent way too much time in the character’s heads, literally. The rebuilding of their minds and souls was too esoteric and over the top for me.
-Cole went from an interesting, brooding warrior in book one to a puppy that obeyed Maeve in book two.
-The author is great with plot ideas but the writing was rough.
-Without spoiling anything, I was ready to throw the book out the window at the 90% mark… and the closure to the plot twist didn’t feel complete or explained.
April 14, 2025
I fell in love with this storyline in book 1 and have been chomping at the bit for this one!
Book 2 picks up pretty much where book 1 leaves off as Maeve, Cole, Darian and Lee are still battling against The Nothing.
Maeve is still reeling and broken from the loss of Hazel, and let me just say that I would never want to be on Maeve’s bad side!
The PTSD rep in these books is so well written. The trauma that our FMC is facing and fighting through in this book is very intense.
After finally beginning to heal with the assistance of The Shade and a surprising discovery in the void, Maeve is faced with yet another earth shattering loss. We’re then taken on a journey into Maeve’s mind as she attempts to hide in the void while facing all of her traumatic memories and battling to overcome the urge to stay hidden forever in the safety that the void provides her.
Cole must find a way to save Maeve from herself and show her the way back to him and to herself. The Shade is paramount in keeping Maeve grounded in the painful reality she wishes to escape as Maeve still sees the Shade as a separation from Cole.
Book 2 is slightly spicier than Book 1 and I honestly can’t get enough of Cole and The Shade (I mean… THOSE SHADOWS THOUGH 🥵). The way he is so passionate and devoted to Maeve will absolutely pull at all your heart strings. It’s beautiful. 🥹
Y’all! I can’t say much more without spoiling it. Go read it!
Definitely a must read for fans of dark fantasy romance.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️.5
Book 2 picks up pretty much where book 1 leaves off as Maeve, Cole, Darian and Lee are still battling against The Nothing.
Maeve is still reeling and broken from the loss of Hazel, and let me just say that I would never want to be on Maeve’s bad side!
The PTSD rep in these books is so well written. The trauma that our FMC is facing and fighting through in this book is very intense.
After finally beginning to heal with the assistance of The Shade and a surprising discovery in the void, Maeve is faced with yet another earth shattering loss. We’re then taken on a journey into Maeve’s mind as she attempts to hide in the void while facing all of her traumatic memories and battling to overcome the urge to stay hidden forever in the safety that the void provides her.
Cole must find a way to save Maeve from herself and show her the way back to him and to herself. The Shade is paramount in keeping Maeve grounded in the painful reality she wishes to escape as Maeve still sees the Shade as a separation from Cole.
Book 2 is slightly spicier than Book 1 and I honestly can’t get enough of Cole and The Shade (I mean… THOSE SHADOWS THOUGH 🥵). The way he is so passionate and devoted to Maeve will absolutely pull at all your heart strings. It’s beautiful. 🥹
Y’all! I can’t say much more without spoiling it. Go read it!
Definitely a must read for fans of dark fantasy romance.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️.5
July 1, 2025
Sigh....
It was so close. Sooooo close. And then... well, all the good stuff was undone. Deliberately. And everything now means nothing.
That's a shame.
I really wish authors wouldn't call this dark fantasy. It's grey, I suppose... but it's not dark. I want my genre back, please. I want actual consequences. I want real pain, not pretend, like what's common with these "dark fantasy" imposters.
This book is long. But it's not quite long enough for everything Hart tried to stuff in here.
Particularly Maeve's transformations. I understood the intent, but it was much too rushed.
And also the very disjointed ending that didn't even begin to wrap things up, let alone unwrap new things.
Why can't dead be dead? This isn't even a spoiler. I think I'll actually be surprised if people stayed dead in books anymore.
Speaking of spoilers, though, there's a difference between foreshadowing and spoiling the plot. A great many of the chapter quotes were spoilers. It made reading this book so tedious waiting to get to what I knew was coming.
And the Old God's kinda fell really flat... I don't know anything about them except Lysara. The dragons and the Darkness, too, for that matter. This book had so many valleys of missing information, which ruined it quite a bit. It dragged a lot, too. So many repetitive emotions between the two perspectives that didn't add to the reading experience.
I'm sad, though. The world had so much potential. So did the story. Wasted a bit with Maeve and unfinished tellings, but this could have been incredible.
It was so close. Sooooo close. And then... well, all the good stuff was undone. Deliberately. And everything now means nothing.
That's a shame.
I really wish authors wouldn't call this dark fantasy. It's grey, I suppose... but it's not dark. I want my genre back, please. I want actual consequences. I want real pain, not pretend, like what's common with these "dark fantasy" imposters.
This book is long. But it's not quite long enough for everything Hart tried to stuff in here.
Particularly Maeve's transformations. I understood the intent, but it was much too rushed.
And also the very disjointed ending that didn't even begin to wrap things up, let alone unwrap new things.
Why can't dead be dead? This isn't even a spoiler. I think I'll actually be surprised if people stayed dead in books anymore.
Speaking of spoilers, though, there's a difference between foreshadowing and spoiling the plot. A great many of the chapter quotes were spoilers. It made reading this book so tedious waiting to get to what I knew was coming.
And the Old God's kinda fell really flat... I don't know anything about them except Lysara. The dragons and the Darkness, too, for that matter. This book had so many valleys of missing information, which ruined it quite a bit. It dragged a lot, too. So many repetitive emotions between the two perspectives that didn't add to the reading experience.
I'm sad, though. The world had so much potential. So did the story. Wasted a bit with Maeve and unfinished tellings, but this could have been incredible.
April 15, 2025
What do you get when you combine a badass heroine on the edge, a broody shadow-wielding love interest, dragons, grief, healing, and spice? A duet that will absolutely wreck you in the best way possible.
Book two doesn’t just pick up where book one left off. It dives straight into the storm. Maeve is raw, broken, and teetering on the edge of oblivion after a loved one's death, and the emotional fallout is gut-wrenching. The way her trauma is explored feels honest, messy, and real. Hiding in the void becomes a comfort, and a cage.
Enter Cole and the Shade. Their devotion? Unshakable. Their chemistry? Off the charts. The way they anchor Maeve, even when she’s slipping through her own fingers, is breathtaking. There’s this aching beauty to how love, shadows, and pain intertwine in their story.
And just when you think you've got it figured out... boom. Plot twists. Emotional gut punches. Revelations that change everything.
Book two dials up the spice and doesn't let go of your heart until the final page. If you're into slow burns with teeth, layered magic, dragons, and deeply human characters fighting their demons, literally, go devour this duet.
Maeve’s power is terrifying. Her pain is palpable. Her story? Unforgettable.
Book two doesn’t just pick up where book one left off. It dives straight into the storm. Maeve is raw, broken, and teetering on the edge of oblivion after a loved one's death, and the emotional fallout is gut-wrenching. The way her trauma is explored feels honest, messy, and real. Hiding in the void becomes a comfort, and a cage.
Enter Cole and the Shade. Their devotion? Unshakable. Their chemistry? Off the charts. The way they anchor Maeve, even when she’s slipping through her own fingers, is breathtaking. There’s this aching beauty to how love, shadows, and pain intertwine in their story.
And just when you think you've got it figured out... boom. Plot twists. Emotional gut punches. Revelations that change everything.
Book two dials up the spice and doesn't let go of your heart until the final page. If you're into slow burns with teeth, layered magic, dragons, and deeply human characters fighting their demons, literally, go devour this duet.
Maeve’s power is terrifying. Her pain is palpable. Her story? Unforgettable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2025
This book crushed me in all the right ways. From page one, the trauma hits hard—Maeve and Cole are barely holding on, and you feel every second of that unraveling. It’s dark. It’s desperate. And the looming threat of the Nothing makes it impossible to breathe easy.
But just when you think you can’t take any more heartbreak, the pace kicks into high gear. Action on action, tension climbing like a heartbeat you can’t calm. Maeve gets a glimpse of happiness—finally—and then it gets ripped away in true Evelyn Hart fashion. 💥 The stress. I was out here leaving running commentary in my notes like I was live-texting the author.
Maeve’s growth in this book? Amazing. She becomes something fierce, something full of power and purpose—and the way the million questions from the start get wrapped up by the end? Satisfying.
And don’t even get me started on chapter 63 and that interlude. Tears. Actual tears.
The question that will haunt you: Can Maeve and Cole stop the Nothing and take down Gethin before he shatters everything they love?
If you want emotional destruction wrapped in epic storytelling—this is it.
But just when you think you can’t take any more heartbreak, the pace kicks into high gear. Action on action, tension climbing like a heartbeat you can’t calm. Maeve gets a glimpse of happiness—finally—and then it gets ripped away in true Evelyn Hart fashion. 💥 The stress. I was out here leaving running commentary in my notes like I was live-texting the author.
Maeve’s growth in this book? Amazing. She becomes something fierce, something full of power and purpose—and the way the million questions from the start get wrapped up by the end? Satisfying.
And don’t even get me started on chapter 63 and that interlude. Tears. Actual tears.
The question that will haunt you: Can Maeve and Cole stop the Nothing and take down Gethin before he shatters everything they love?
If you want emotional destruction wrapped in epic storytelling—this is it.
September 16, 2025
Still not over this book!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5/5 | 🌶️🌶️ 2.5/5 What. A. Ride.
Crown of Wrath absolutely wrecked me. Evelyn Hart delivers a stunning conclusion to the Shadowed Debts duology that had me turning pages like my life depended on it. The emotions? Off the charts. At one point, I was so gutted I couldn’t stop the tears. No exaggeration.
There were so many twists and turns, I honestly had no clue where the story was going next—and I loved every second of it. The worldbuilding is rich with magic, magical artifacts, humans, Fae, dragons, and gods, and it all blends beautifully with a cast of strong, complex FMC/MMC characters I couldn’t help but root for.
If you’re into high-stakes fantasy with heart, heat, and some serious emotional punches, this is a must-read. Now excuse me while I go lie down and process everything I just read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5/5 | 🌶️🌶️ 2.5/5 What. A. Ride.
Crown of Wrath absolutely wrecked me. Evelyn Hart delivers a stunning conclusion to the Shadowed Debts duology that had me turning pages like my life depended on it. The emotions? Off the charts. At one point, I was so gutted I couldn’t stop the tears. No exaggeration.
There were so many twists and turns, I honestly had no clue where the story was going next—and I loved every second of it. The worldbuilding is rich with magic, magical artifacts, humans, Fae, dragons, and gods, and it all blends beautifully with a cast of strong, complex FMC/MMC characters I couldn’t help but root for.
If you’re into high-stakes fantasy with heart, heat, and some serious emotional punches, this is a must-read. Now excuse me while I go lie down and process everything I just read.
April 15, 2025
okay let me just start with WTH!!! LOL listen I hyped up book 1 so much. But omg this book is like bam in your face from the first page to the last. I was pissed. Happy. Annoyed. Sad. Literally tearing up reading some parts. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions. This is one of the best series I’ve ever read. The way Evelyn just brings this world to life is absolutely astonishing. I’m am honestly completely shocked there isn’t more hype on this series because it’s absolutely freaking incredible. All of the characters and I mean all of them are so well written not just the main ones. Like the plot and storyline and world building you literally feel everything that’s these characters feel. Round of applause. DO NOT SLEEP ON THIS SERIES!!! -Kerin
May 27, 2025
What an ending to a seriously addicting duo!
I love Cole and Maeve. I love their story. I love their love. I need more!
The beginning of the book was a bit difficult to get through, a little slower than I had anticipated but it did a very good job of letting the reader know the mental state of each main character. It was necessary to understand the events that take place later and boy what a whirlwind of events that take place.
I will say, I have yet to read a book that makes me cry, and this one had tears rolling down my cheeks!
Tropes
🗡️ Mental Health Rep - Depression
🗡️ Bonded Love
🗡️ Spice
🗡️ Shadow Daddy
🗡️ Badass FMC
🗡️ Unique Magical System
🗡️ Dragons
I love Cole and Maeve. I love their story. I love their love. I need more!
The beginning of the book was a bit difficult to get through, a little slower than I had anticipated but it did a very good job of letting the reader know the mental state of each main character. It was necessary to understand the events that take place later and boy what a whirlwind of events that take place.
I will say, I have yet to read a book that makes me cry, and this one had tears rolling down my cheeks!
Tropes
🗡️ Mental Health Rep - Depression
🗡️ Bonded Love
🗡️ Spice
🗡️ Shadow Daddy
🗡️ Badass FMC
🗡️ Unique Magical System
🗡️ Dragons
October 19, 2025
Something this book does so well... there is NO miscommunication trope. And boy is it refreshing!!!! Talking to the people around you is not hard, even if its a 5 second update while walking between building A and B. I loved that the communication in this book was realistic, not perfect, but not stupidly hidden because *reasons*
Also, cried like a baby!!! Evelyn Hart writes loss, depression and heartache so beautifully! The last time I cried this much in one chapter was Kingdom of Ash.
And the Epilogue. *chefs kiss*!!
Was an absolute pleasure to read!
Also, cried like a baby!!! Evelyn Hart writes loss, depression and heartache so beautifully! The last time I cried this much in one chapter was Kingdom of Ash.
And the Epilogue. *chefs kiss*!!
Was an absolute pleasure to read!
November 21, 2025
It was good. I appreciated how the author tackled the concept of grief and loss and internal landscapes. This book was heavier than the first. The ending was the only thing I took some issue with (not how the antagonist was defeated; that was well done), though I see how it set up the next book in the world (different series, I assume, since it would follow a new MC). Still, the last 10-15% had a plot device that I'm not a fan of.
May 16, 2025
This is such a great book!!! I had a very hard time putting this one down. I love the story & character development, the found family, the romance, the banter, the tension. It’s all sooo good!! The ending both wrecked me and patched me back together all at the same time.
I cannot wait for Lee’s novella in October, and I’ll be eagerly waiting until we are blessed with the sequel story 😌
I cannot wait for Lee’s novella in October, and I’ll be eagerly waiting until we are blessed with the sequel story 😌
May 28, 2025
Great follow up to the first book. Evelyn Hart does an amazing job continuing Maeve and Coles story. The world building is incredible. Dragons, immortals and magic it has something for every fantasy reader. I can't wait to read more from this world.
June 20, 2025
not a fan
I did finish reading both books but just couldn’t get into it. The last bit, not including the epilogue was interesting but overall I just didn’t like it. The epilogue was even worse.
I did finish reading both books but just couldn’t get into it. The last bit, not including the epilogue was interesting but overall I just didn’t like it. The epilogue was even worse.
January 3, 2026
Ok this book was a lot! Left me thinking WTF just happened numerous times. Lee’s romance felt so under delivered (and then I realized her story is book three but parallel. Feel like I ought to have tandem read it! )
April 29, 2025
1st half of the book is slow. Very very slow. But it had me feeling feels and I’m looking forward to more in the series.
May 6, 2025
I did not enjoy this book as much as the first.
May 15, 2025
This book took me on such an emotional rollercoaster and I’m so excited for the next one, cannot come soon enough
May 18, 2025
Big fan
May 19, 2025
prefect set up for another series.
Love the entire premise, and the story outruns the power creep in a refreshing way. Mild and slow describes the romance but it suits the story.
Love the entire premise, and the story outruns the power creep in a refreshing way. Mild and slow describes the romance but it suits the story.
October 23, 2025
incredible
Absolutely loved this story. It has so many twists and turns that you can’t predict what is going to happen next
Absolutely loved this story. It has so many twists and turns that you can’t predict what is going to happen next
April 22, 2025
crown of Wrath
Evelyn Hart
rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
I screamed so loud and cried so much. book one was my favorite read of 2024 and this is so far my favorite of 2025. I am telling you the rollercoaster of emotion is worth it.
it's...... so good.
I hurt for our group through so much of it. begging Evelyn in my head (and maybe on IG DM) to give me my loves back in one piece.....
the tears I cried.
best fantasy duet I have ever devoured.
Evelyn Hart
rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
I screamed so loud and cried so much. book one was my favorite read of 2024 and this is so far my favorite of 2025. I am telling you the rollercoaster of emotion is worth it.
it's...... so good.
I hurt for our group through so much of it. begging Evelyn in my head (and maybe on IG DM) to give me my loves back in one piece.....
the tears I cried.
best fantasy duet I have ever devoured.
June 23, 2025
The first book should have been made a standalone. This one felt like a raw draft, disjointed chapters loosely tied together. It was a total stream of consciousness for 200 pages then I abandoned it. Shame, the first book was 5 stars for me.
January 13, 2026
4.5⭐️!
The tension in this between Cole/The Shade/Maeve is palpable. I love that this book had a little more spice and the way Maeve embraces her strength and power and goes total badass boss lady!
I am especially intrigued by the ending...I need to know more about Azric and his future immediately...and I'm begging for a novella on a certain couple, I wont say who so I don't spoil but man I can just imagine the rollercoaster they went through <3
The tension in this between Cole/The Shade/Maeve is palpable. I love that this book had a little more spice and the way Maeve embraces her strength and power and goes total badass boss lady!
I am especially intrigued by the ending...I need to know more about Azric and his future immediately...and I'm begging for a novella on a certain couple, I wont say who so I don't spoil but man I can just imagine the rollercoaster they went through <3
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews