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The Withered Crown
Not yet published
Expected 6 Apr 26In a world that punishes integrity, defiance becomes sacred.Magic still endures in the Blue Ridge Mountains, tucked behind the church bells and gossip of Briar Gap, North Carolina. Mara Hollis runs the local occult shop where spells are sold in mason jars and wrapped in brown paper. But when a protection spell meant to banish her obsessive ex goes wrong, it calls something ancient across the Veil, and a cursed fae guardian answers.
Eiranthiel is bound, beautiful and dangerous. He owes Mara protection until she’s “safe.” Trouble is, nothing in Briar Gap is safe anymore. Her ex refuses to let go, an authoritarian president has begun targeting those who don’t fit his vision of order, and the magic Mara used to defend herself begins to unravel the thin places around her home, drawing forgotten powers back into the world.
As zealotry spreads through the hills and old magic stirs in answer, Mara must decide who she is willing to become to survive. With her coven, her watchful cat, and the reluctant guardian she never meant to summon, she must choose whether to hide, fight, or reclaim the mountain’s memory before it devours its own.
A story of witches and weather, sovereignty and control, The Withered Crown is about the cost of safety, the defiance of remembrance, and the dangerous grace of being truly seen.
Eiranthiel is bound, beautiful and dangerous. He owes Mara protection until she’s “safe.” Trouble is, nothing in Briar Gap is safe anymore. Her ex refuses to let go, an authoritarian president has begun targeting those who don’t fit his vision of order, and the magic Mara used to defend herself begins to unravel the thin places around her home, drawing forgotten powers back into the world.
As zealotry spreads through the hills and old magic stirs in answer, Mara must decide who she is willing to become to survive. With her coven, her watchful cat, and the reluctant guardian she never meant to summon, she must choose whether to hide, fight, or reclaim the mountain’s memory before it devours its own.
A story of witches and weather, sovereignty and control, The Withered Crown is about the cost of safety, the defiance of remembrance, and the dangerous grace of being truly seen.
418 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication April 6, 2026
1 person is currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
Tegan Lleuad
2 books3 followersTegan Lleuad is an award-winning urban fantasy author with a passion for the paranormal, the poetic, and the deliciously haunted.
A lifelong witch with a master's degree in psychology, she explores the shadowlands in the mind, page, and astral realm. Tegan co-hosts the Hex & Harmony podcast, celebrating diversity in paganism. Step closer, but don’t expect to leave unchanged.
A lifelong witch with a master's degree in psychology, she explores the shadowlands in the mind, page, and astral realm. Tegan co-hosts the Hex & Harmony podcast, celebrating diversity in paganism. Step closer, but don’t expect to leave unchanged.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Review of advance copy
first things first. i believe this book was written with the heavy "assistance" of AI. i don't like to accuse authors of using AI willy nilly but here's the thing. nothing flowed, little conversations were repeated just pages later, and many of the repetitive little phrases and structure (see below) are strong indicators of AI because there's so many of them. the cover seems like some branches merge or disappear randomly. and most obvious to me: the author has AI art on her website and all of her "photos" are AI.
cool concept, absolutely disappointed we didn't actually see resolution for anything. it's all summary and recap and telling without any showing. the biggest plot point in the ENTIRE book was resolved off screen and we got like 2 pages telling us what happened. i might be more upset if i felt connected or invested in any character or plot but i just couldn't. the main characters were developed but their relationships felt fake. their personalities felt fake. despite knowing a romance was building, i couldn't tell you when or how. the plot didn't develop, the book cut to the next scene without any transition or exposition. the magic system isn't explained at all, which doesn't work here because there are spells and sigils and wards and actual fucking fae that we just don't learn anything about. we know they're there, we know magic is being done, so why explain anything? the authoritarian oppression plot felt like a caricature. like a white feminist girlboss fearmongering fantasy about being the next malala standing alone at the next tiananmen square.
the writing in this book almost sent me off the cliff. first, why in the hell is the author so afraid of paragraphs? why is every paragraph only a sentence or two? for emphasis? it didn't work. it just shows that you don't know how to show us what's happening. second. how many times can the world shift? or settle? how many times is it "not this, but that..." or "not this, but something else..." and "this, and something else..." just a bunch of jumbled space filling nonsense.
cool concept, absolutely disappointed we didn't actually see resolution for anything. it's all summary and recap and telling without any showing. the biggest plot point in the ENTIRE book was resolved off screen and we got like 2 pages telling us what happened. i might be more upset if i felt connected or invested in any character or plot but i just couldn't. the main characters were developed but their relationships felt fake. their personalities felt fake. despite knowing a romance was building, i couldn't tell you when or how. the plot didn't develop, the book cut to the next scene without any transition or exposition. the magic system isn't explained at all, which doesn't work here because there are spells and sigils and wards and actual fucking fae that we just don't learn anything about. we know they're there, we know magic is being done, so why explain anything? the authoritarian oppression plot felt like a caricature. like a white feminist girlboss fearmongering fantasy about being the next malala standing alone at the next tiananmen square.
the writing in this book almost sent me off the cliff. first, why in the hell is the author so afraid of paragraphs? why is every paragraph only a sentence or two? for emphasis? it didn't work. it just shows that you don't know how to show us what's happening. second. how many times can the world shift? or settle? how many times is it "not this, but that..." or "not this, but something else..." and "this, and something else..." just a bunch of jumbled space filling nonsense.
Review of advance copy
The Withered Crown by Tegan Lleuad is a stunning dark fantasy that completely captivated me from the first page. Lleuad crafts a richly detailed world filled with political intrigue, dangerous magic, and deeply complex characters. Every chapter is brimming with tension, suspense, and moments of heartbreak that keep you turning pages late into the night.
The characters are beautifully nuanced—flawed, courageous, and emotionally compelling. Their struggles and growth feel raw and real, making it impossible not to become invested in their journeys. The story masterfully blends dark fantasy with deep emotional stakes, weaving together themes of power, loyalty, and the personal cost of ambition.
The pacing is perfect, balancing high-stakes action with quiet, emotional moments that add real depth. Lleuad’s writing is immersive and lyrical, making the world and its inhabitants feel incredibly vivid.
The characters are beautifully nuanced—flawed, courageous, and emotionally compelling. Their struggles and growth feel raw and real, making it impossible not to become invested in their journeys. The story masterfully blends dark fantasy with deep emotional stakes, weaving together themes of power, loyalty, and the personal cost of ambition.
The pacing is perfect, balancing high-stakes action with quiet, emotional moments that add real depth. Lleuad’s writing is immersive and lyrical, making the world and its inhabitants feel incredibly vivid.
Review of advance copy
I enjoyed the lyrical fairytale narrative combined with the gritty realism of Homeland Harmony's oppression. The characters were engaging and the story threads interwove to a satisfying conclusion.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews