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The Narrow Gate #1
The Broken Crown
Princess Emilia Aurelius was only seven when she watched her mother die at the hands of her father—martyred for believing in the God of the Atlas Empire’s Insurgo rebels. At seventeen, exiled to a military outpost where no one knows her true identity, she’s vowed to leave her royalty behind and explore the truth of the Insurgo rebels her mother loved.
When the Emperor of Atlas summons the princesses from each of the provinces to the imperial city to choose a wife for the crown prince, Emilia must leave her military life behind to join a royal court rife with cunning and intrigue. Navigating the waters of court politics and budding love are treacherous on their own, but Emilia fears for her life should anyone learn of her Insurgo sympathies.
With an unlikely ally in the captain of the emperor's guard, Emilia must uncover the truth of the Insurgos, start a revolution, and learn to become the princess she’s vowed never to be, all while protecting her heart from a prince who could sign her death warrant.
When the Emperor of Atlas summons the princesses from each of the provinces to the imperial city to choose a wife for the crown prince, Emilia must leave her military life behind to join a royal court rife with cunning and intrigue. Navigating the waters of court politics and budding love are treacherous on their own, but Emilia fears for her life should anyone learn of her Insurgo sympathies.
With an unlikely ally in the captain of the emperor's guard, Emilia must uncover the truth of the Insurgos, start a revolution, and learn to become the princess she’s vowed never to be, all while protecting her heart from a prince who could sign her death warrant.
340 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 23, 2016
21 people are currently reading
158 people want to read
About the author
Amory Cannon
9 books19 followersAmory Cannon is an author of Young Adult and Romantic Suspense novels. Her favorite things include autumn (anything pumpkin spice), Harry Potter (proud Ravenclaw), and Sherlock Holmes. She published her first book under the name Amryn Cross while working as a forensic scientist. Her non-writing time is filled with running, crafting, and snuggling her two dogs–Luna and Argo. She currently resides in Tennessee.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
December 11, 2022
I don’t read a lot of young adult fiction, but the spiritual aspect of this series intrigued me. Most YA is fantastical and focuses on magic and such, but this one is more motivated by belief systems and political powers. Oh – and there’s a love triangle.
In The Broken Crown Emilia’s story reminded me of Esther in the Bible. She is easy to like, and I enjoyed getting in her head. I enjoyed her growth throughout the story.
Ronan and Felix are interesting in their own way, both very different from the other. Initially, I couldn’t decide which man I wanted for Emilia, which made the romance elements even more appealing.
It took me a chapter or two to get used to the first-person present narration, just because it’s not my usual narration, but it’s prominence soon faded away. With themes of faith, sacrifice, love, this is a great adventure.
First Line: The man must die.
Series: The Narrow Gate book 1
Genre: YA, Christian Fiction
Author: Amory Cannon
Page Count: 349
Reading Age: 10-18
#CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are 100% mine
In The Broken Crown Emilia’s story reminded me of Esther in the Bible. She is easy to like, and I enjoyed getting in her head. I enjoyed her growth throughout the story.
Ronan and Felix are interesting in their own way, both very different from the other. Initially, I couldn’t decide which man I wanted for Emilia, which made the romance elements even more appealing.
It took me a chapter or two to get used to the first-person present narration, just because it’s not my usual narration, but it’s prominence soon faded away. With themes of faith, sacrifice, love, this is a great adventure.
First Line: The man must die.
Series: The Narrow Gate book 1
Genre: YA, Christian Fiction
Author: Amory Cannon
Page Count: 349
Reading Age: 10-18
#CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are 100% mine
June 3, 2016
You can see this and other reviews on my blog: Book Nerd Paradise
Actual rating: 3.5/5
In The Broken Crown we have the story of religious persecution by the Emperor and those who serve him, reminding me a lot of the early days of Christianity. Anyone caught practicing the religion of the Insurgos is put to death. One girl will try to change it all and fight to allow everyone to worship their own God.
Emilia is my kind of heroine princess. She's strong in so many ways; physically, mentally and in spirit. She can kick butt just as well as any many, but as she enters the court to vie for the prince's affections, she finds she knows so little of court politics and how to be a lady. The stakes are high in this game she plays, yet she doesn't know all the rules.
I enjoyed watching Emilia grow as a person. She's comfortable in her role at the military outpost her father exiled her to, but as soon as it's disrupted she puts on her big girl pants and makes the best of a new situation. She knows she's meant for something greater, she just doesn't know how or what yet.
As to the romance in The Broken Crown we have two contenders, the commander and the prince, Felix and Ronan. There's no insta-love in this book, thankfully, and I spent most of my time going between wanting one, then the other, to win her heart. But you'll have to read to find out what happens. Felix and Ronan have a great bromance that I enjoyed reading about.
My only complaint, and why I rated it 3.5 stars, is that this book is highly religious; more so than the blurb would lead you to believe. Sometimes, I felt I was back in religion class being preached at. In my opinion there are too many prayers and too many discussions along the same lines. I found myself skipping over those parts pretty early on in the novel. I would have been happy with a quick sentence that said she sent up a quick prayer before XX happens, rather than having to read the entire prayer as she said it in her head. As I said, I felt I was being preached at a lot. However, take that with a grain of salt. I spent my entire life being preached at, so I'm at odds with religion on most days.
With being said, The Broken Crown was well-written; I'd be hard pressed to find more than a few errors in this novel. The characters at interesting and in-depth, and the world building was great. Overall, it's definitely worth the read and I'll be waiting for the next book in the series to see what happens.
** I was provided a copy of this book in return for an honest review
Actual rating: 3.5/5
In The Broken Crown we have the story of religious persecution by the Emperor and those who serve him, reminding me a lot of the early days of Christianity. Anyone caught practicing the religion of the Insurgos is put to death. One girl will try to change it all and fight to allow everyone to worship their own God.
Emilia is my kind of heroine princess. She's strong in so many ways; physically, mentally and in spirit. She can kick butt just as well as any many, but as she enters the court to vie for the prince's affections, she finds she knows so little of court politics and how to be a lady. The stakes are high in this game she plays, yet she doesn't know all the rules.
I enjoyed watching Emilia grow as a person. She's comfortable in her role at the military outpost her father exiled her to, but as soon as it's disrupted she puts on her big girl pants and makes the best of a new situation. She knows she's meant for something greater, she just doesn't know how or what yet.
As to the romance in The Broken Crown we have two contenders, the commander and the prince, Felix and Ronan. There's no insta-love in this book, thankfully, and I spent most of my time going between wanting one, then the other, to win her heart. But you'll have to read to find out what happens. Felix and Ronan have a great bromance that I enjoyed reading about.
My only complaint, and why I rated it 3.5 stars, is that this book is highly religious; more so than the blurb would lead you to believe. Sometimes, I felt I was back in religion class being preached at. In my opinion there are too many prayers and too many discussions along the same lines. I found myself skipping over those parts pretty early on in the novel. I would have been happy with a quick sentence that said she sent up a quick prayer before XX happens, rather than having to read the entire prayer as she said it in her head. As I said, I felt I was being preached at a lot. However, take that with a grain of salt. I spent my entire life being preached at, so I'm at odds with religion on most days.
With being said, The Broken Crown was well-written; I'd be hard pressed to find more than a few errors in this novel. The characters at interesting and in-depth, and the world building was great. Overall, it's definitely worth the read and I'll be waiting for the next book in the series to see what happens.
** I was provided a copy of this book in return for an honest review
June 2, 2016
4.5 “I will go down with this ship” STARS
For you, dear friend, who is old enough to remember “White Flag” by Dido, I bet that song is playing in your head right now. Well, it played in mine repeatedly while I was reading all about my new fave YA Fantasy ship, Emelix, or is it Femilia? Ship names, here I come.
So, in case you’re wondering, no... “The Broken Crown” isn’t a YA Romance, but that didn’t keep me from falling down that hole when I met Felix!
Anyway…
It might not seem like it from the way this review started, but “The Broken Crown” is a story about faith, a beautiful one. While I fell in love with the romance subplot, it was just that, a subplot. The main conflict in this novel revolves around faith.
Emilia, the MC, is a princess in a world where Insurgos (Christians) are hunted and killed because of their faith.
As a young girl, Emilia had to watch her mother’s execution because, despite being a queen, her mom was considered a threat to the Empire due to her belief. Emilia got the message loud and clear: no matter how powerful you were, if you were caught praying or talking about/to God, you’d die. Her father understood that, too. Fearing the queen’s influence, he sent Emilia away to a military outpost where she lived for years, hiding her true identity and learning how to become a warrior.
During those years, Emilia met an Insurgo man who taught her what he knew about the Aletheia (the Bible). The Insurgos’ sacred book had been burned by all the kings throughout the years, so all the Insurgos had were words they had memorized and passed from one person to the next.
When we meet Emilia again after the opening chapter with her mother’s execution, this Insurgo friend is risking his life to deliver a message. Before she’s forced to kill him by her military peers, Emilia is told God has big plans for her and their people. Not long after, she’s summoned by the Emperor (and here is where we meet Felix) along with the other princesses to take part in a “The Selection” type of thing – they’ll all compete to win the crown prince’s heart. Emilia sees this as the perfect opportunity to put God’s plan to work. If she marries the crown prince, she’ll have the influence she needs to stop the executions and allow her people to have their faith.
I don’t know how good of a plan that is since it doesn’t look like women had a lot of influence in that world, but desperate times calls for desperate measures. And Emilia was desperate. Desperate enough to risk everything, including her life, so she could put an end to her people’s misery and gain them their freedom back. Well, that’s a plan I can get behind.
I mean, how could I not? A girl willing to fight for freedom is always a friend of mine.
Plus, Emilia was super easy to like and root for. Maybe it was because I could relate to her faith; or because despite being a princess, she had endured life in a military base with no comfort or luxury and didn’t seem to mind it all; or because she didn’t depend on other people to get things done, she did it herself; or because she gave her crown to free a slave; or many of the other things she did throughout the story that proved she was not a shallow, selfish MC. She cared. She believed. She acted. She was badass and I loved it.
Emilia made it easy to like her.
You know who else was easy to love? Felix. Yeah, here I go again, but I have to. Felix was the dark and brooding love interest without being the typical dark and brooding love interest. I loved him from the start. I loved everything about him. How he respected Emilia. How he clearly cared for the crown prince. How he fought his feelings for Emilia out of respect for his friend. How he was tortured by what he called his cowardice not to fight as openly for his faith as Emilia did. How he ended up fighting after all.
Felix and Emilia were great as individuals. Amazing as friends. Perfect as my OTP.
I went on an emotional rollercoaster watching Emilia and Felix go from strangers to allies to friends to something more. This is pretty much how it went:
20% – Kindle note: Shipping them so hard and ready for the heartbreak
26% – Kindle note: My heart can barely take this.
41% - Kindle note: Nooooo. This isn’t my baby Felix. Noooo.
47% – Kindle note: My heart!!! Why can’t she see him the way I do? *cries*
55% – Kindle note: Finally, Emilia. Finally.
68% – Kindle note: Stop breaking my heart.
72% – Kindle note: I will go down with this ship.
82% – Kindle note: Is this about Felix? OMG, OMG. Stop playing with my heart.
89% – Kindle note: Yesssss. OMG OMG OMG. YESSSSS.
95% – Kindle note: My ship!! *proud mamma feelings*
97% – Kindle note: What? No. Shut up. You don’t mean it. Shut up. *cries*
98% – Kindle note: My babbbyyyyyy *holds him*
99% – Kindle note: My OTP! But why must you make me suffer this much?
You know what didn’t help? The writer making Ronan, the crown prince, so hard to hate. Why did he have to be a decent person? Ugh. So frustrating. Just kidding (not really). I wanted to hate Ronan – trust me, I didn’t want anyone threatening my OTP --, but Ronan didn’t make it easy on me. He wasn’t perfect, but even his imperfection worked in his favor. So, yeah, this love triangle will be the end of me.
Something else I really enjoyed about this book was the writing.
“All the things they said are true, and truth is sharper than any lie and cutes twice as deep.”
So beautiful, huh?
Unlike what happened recently when I was reading a bestseller, I didn’t catch myself editing this story in my head and wishing it had gone through another round before publication. The writing kept me engaged, the first person POV was well done, the pacing was on and the characters were extremely likable.
Whether you normally read religion-focused books or not, I’d give “The Broken Crown” a chance. It has everything and a little more (*coughs* Emelix *coughs*) to keep you entertained from the start and wishing for more in the end. I’m still not over the fact that I’ll have to wait until 2017 to have more of my OTP. Why, Amryn Cross, why?
December 11, 2022
Emilia steps into the spotlight in The Broken Crown and takes the reader on a whirlwind adventure not unlike The Selection. She's among several other princesses all competing to win the hand of the Emperor's son. The difference is, Emilia is used to living life as a soldier. She's nearly forgotten her castle etiquette and struggles to make friends, except for a guard, who she manages to impress along the journey. I thought the plot was engaging, with the story being that essentially God is outlawed and those who serve Him are under constant persecution and risk of death. It read a bit like end times but in a historical setting.
I received a copy of this book from the author through JustReadTours. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
I received a copy of this book from the author through JustReadTours. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
June 1, 2016
--Read my full review of the book at seriesousbookreviews.com! Spoiler Free!
**I received a copy of this book from YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
WOW! This book was great! It was exactly what I wanted it to be! Take the bachelorette premise of The Selection but add to it the political intrigue and amazingly strong heroine of Snow Like Ashes, and you've got a great historical-fantasy story!
What I really loved about this world is the use of religion as the main political source for tension. Most High YA Fantasy novels use magic/powers or a caste system to entice conflict; but here, it all stems from religion. How realistic is that? Very if you ask me. I enjoyed reading about a world that wasn't flowing with magic but instead looked at something we have in our own world and something everyone has had a brush with at one point or another.
The balance between Emilia's character development, romance and the political world was perfect. The plot moves at a fast, but constant pace throughout the story. I never got bored thanks to the various twists that happen and the way it shifted seamless from one plot aspect to the next. Amryn Cross has a great talent for writing and it shines in this novel.
One of my favourites this year!
Check out more spoiler-free book and series reviews on my blog SERIESousBookReviews.com as well as read book series recaps!
Full Review: http://wp.me/p7hLUw-1sK
Actual Rating: 5/5
**I received a copy of this book from YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
WOW! This book was great! It was exactly what I wanted it to be! Take the bachelorette premise of The Selection but add to it the political intrigue and amazingly strong heroine of Snow Like Ashes, and you've got a great historical-fantasy story!
What I really loved about this world is the use of religion as the main political source for tension. Most High YA Fantasy novels use magic/powers or a caste system to entice conflict; but here, it all stems from religion. How realistic is that? Very if you ask me. I enjoyed reading about a world that wasn't flowing with magic but instead looked at something we have in our own world and something everyone has had a brush with at one point or another.
The balance between Emilia's character development, romance and the political world was perfect. The plot moves at a fast, but constant pace throughout the story. I never got bored thanks to the various twists that happen and the way it shifted seamless from one plot aspect to the next. Amryn Cross has a great talent for writing and it shines in this novel.
One of my favourites this year!
Check out more spoiler-free book and series reviews on my blog SERIESousBookReviews.com as well as read book series recaps!
Full Review: http://wp.me/p7hLUw-1sK
Actual Rating: 5/5
March 28, 2024
I love to see Felix and Hannah's friendship with Emilia and their deep love for her that goes beyond the heart. Their friendship exudes the unity we have in Christ as believers. We see Emilia wrestling with God and the plan He has for her. How do other believers know what path she's supposed to walk when she doesn't see it herself?
I felt like some of the scenes were rushed, which affected some of the relationships. There was one tragedy in particular that didn't affect Emilia at all like you would expect, and it just seemed odd that it was skipped over so quickly. I also wish we would see more of the Empress.
Normally, I don't mind love triangles and would even go so far as to say that if done in the right way, I like them. However, this one was right on the line of too much for me personally.
Overall, I liked the book okay, but didn't love it. It was a comforting read and had a good mix of action, court, and romance. It reminded me a little of The Selection series by Kiera Cass and I loved those novels. I liked the overall plot, but some details were missing and relationships could have been developed more.
3 ⭐: This simply wasn't for me, but I can still see and appreciate the value.
I felt like some of the scenes were rushed, which affected some of the relationships. There was one tragedy in particular that didn't affect Emilia at all like you would expect, and it just seemed odd that it was skipped over so quickly. I also wish we would see more of the Empress.
Normally, I don't mind love triangles and would even go so far as to say that if done in the right way, I like them. However, this one was right on the line of too much for me personally.
Overall, I liked the book okay, but didn't love it. It was a comforting read and had a good mix of action, court, and romance. It reminded me a little of The Selection series by Kiera Cass and I loved those novels. I liked the overall plot, but some details were missing and relationships could have been developed more.
3 ⭐: This simply wasn't for me, but I can still see and appreciate the value.
December 16, 2022
Will she lose herself as she competes for a prince?
Over the last few years I have been discovering all of the wonderful YA fiction that I wish had been available to me back when I was teen. Now that it is available I am enjoying it anyway as an adult. The Broken Crown is the first book in a series that is part princess story, part fantasy adventure, a possible touch of dystopian, and a dash of what seemed like allegory.
While this first The Narrow Gate novel got off to a touch of a slow start for me, it didn't stay that way for very long at all. Oh no, it didn't take long before I was totally immersed in Emilia's first person world of danger and palace intrigue. Who knew a competition of princesses could be so hostile and volatile?!
I was pleasantly surprised as read by the detailed world with its peoples and customs that Amory Cannon brought so vividly to life. The mix of fantasy and familiar made it all the more fascinating.
The Broken Crown was an excellent read whether you are YA or old enough to be the mother of one. The Narrow Gate series has started well with this first book from Amory Cannon and it bodes well for the forthcoming titles...
(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
Over the last few years I have been discovering all of the wonderful YA fiction that I wish had been available to me back when I was teen. Now that it is available I am enjoying it anyway as an adult. The Broken Crown is the first book in a series that is part princess story, part fantasy adventure, a possible touch of dystopian, and a dash of what seemed like allegory.
While this first The Narrow Gate novel got off to a touch of a slow start for me, it didn't stay that way for very long at all. Oh no, it didn't take long before I was totally immersed in Emilia's first person world of danger and palace intrigue. Who knew a competition of princesses could be so hostile and volatile?!
I was pleasantly surprised as read by the detailed world with its peoples and customs that Amory Cannon brought so vividly to life. The mix of fantasy and familiar made it all the more fascinating.
The Broken Crown was an excellent read whether you are YA or old enough to be the mother of one. The Narrow Gate series has started well with this first book from Amory Cannon and it bodes well for the forthcoming titles...
(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
December 12, 2022
What a wonderful read! Emilia has been raised away from the royal court; after her mother was put to death by her own father, the king, she was sent to a military outpost. For ten years, she's fought and trained, becoming a deadly foe. Until the moment that she's summoned by the Emperor to come and basically compete with princesses from other provinces for his son's hand in marriage. (Needless to say, she hasn't spent 10 years learning royal graces or dancing.) But she has been told of the one true God, of His written Word, and that she is called to a higher purpose.
Emilia's story has elements of the Bible's book of Esther; of the Hunger Games; of the Narnia and Tolkien books, all wrapped up in the calling of a young woman by the true God, not the false god the Empire worships. Emilia is learning the walk of faith while trying to embrace a high calling, keep enemies at bay, and shield her faith from the emperor, who's set on putting to death all the "Insurgos" who worship God. But she has several unexpected allies--one of them the very commander who was sent to get her. Can she hear God's voice, stay alive in the bridal competition, and understand what she needs to do? And is there love ahead for her after all?
Wonderful story. Don't miss this lovely book. You'll be both inspired and encouraged while reading an incredible story.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Emilia's story has elements of the Bible's book of Esther; of the Hunger Games; of the Narnia and Tolkien books, all wrapped up in the calling of a young woman by the true God, not the false god the Empire worships. Emilia is learning the walk of faith while trying to embrace a high calling, keep enemies at bay, and shield her faith from the emperor, who's set on putting to death all the "Insurgos" who worship God. But she has several unexpected allies--one of them the very commander who was sent to get her. Can she hear God's voice, stay alive in the bridal competition, and understand what she needs to do? And is there love ahead for her after all?
Wonderful story. Don't miss this lovely book. You'll be both inspired and encouraged while reading an incredible story.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
June 3, 2016
I want Felix to win emilia I think?? So here’s the deal there: I am torn. I didn’t appreciate what Ronan did by not doing anything. But to his defense it would have accomplished nothing but being put in a box. He did though arrange for Emilia to get away so that gives him points. Ronan does love her in his own way and will make a great King the question is is he right for Emilia? Now I like Ronan he reminds me of Maxon in the selection. In fact at first I was reminded of The Selection. We have 12 girls-noble and royalty-in a contest for the Prince’s hand. We even see that Cyrus has control over the proceedings and not the Prince himself. Ronan-the prince-does fight it and is tolerant of the views of Emilia and wants her even though his dad wants her gone in more ways than one I think. Felix is the guard-the sweet, passionate amazing guard who likes Emilia and believes in her. Sound similar but wait Emilia does save a woman from a life of beatings by giving her crown to her for lack of a better term owner. this puts her in good light with the Empress and shows she thinks for herself and has compassion, she even tries to save people from death. She likes Ronan but also likes Felix. We have discontent towards the Emperor and fighting as well. So in these ways we have a similarity in The Selection. This is where it ends though.
Emilia is a princess who was sent away and I think it was for her own safety. Her dad was protecting her even if it didn’t seem that way. He wasn’t as bad as he seemed at least to me and in the end we see this when he admits truths to Emilia. Truths that help cement Emilia in her beliefs and what she needs to do. She is stubborn, smart and funny at times. She has compassion and is passionate in what she believes in. She is not concerned about appearances but on being fair and honest. She is grabs the attention of many and some not in a good way. To me the Emperor sees her as a threat and a danger to his power.
Felix is the soldier of soldiers. Strong sense of right and wrong and a belief system that guides him and who he is. He feels guilt over things in the past but what those are we aren’t privy to. Leaving him in an air of mystery. He is passionate and kind even though he is one tough cookie of a soldier.
Ronan still trying to figure him out. He has a strong sense of duty and I felt for him when truths came out to him. Poor guy. He is kind and honest or as honest as he can be. He is understanding as well. What I don’t understand is how he can keep quiet. that makes him stoic to me.
Than there is the Emperor whom I despice with the passion of a thousand suns. He is just cruel and power hungry. His wife though is cunning and more than she appears. Makes me wonder.
The writing is strong and alluring. The story is full of action, danger, some romance that is clean and sweet, and some intrigue. The characters bring out emotions as you watch Emilia fight off the pettiness of some of the girls, form friendships and gain trust and loyalty while trying to stay alive. The story is interesting and keeps you on your toes. We have murders, assassinations, love interests, and seeing characters find their footing and grow. to me the story is really on the growth and survival of Emilia. She grows in her beliefs and as a princess. She learns to listen and support. See what is around her and how to be royal even when it goes against your inner self. She learns about friendship, love and kinship. She shows compassion and gets loyalty from this and her kindness. It is the story of how she is put in a emotional upheaval about her father and what is happening in the country. An emotional upheaval on who she likes and how she should go about fighting for others. It is the story of how she learns more about the two men who have her heart. How they belief and act and where they stand on things. It is about the fight that is coming and how to fight it.
Emilia is a princess who was sent away and I think it was for her own safety. Her dad was protecting her even if it didn’t seem that way. He wasn’t as bad as he seemed at least to me and in the end we see this when he admits truths to Emilia. Truths that help cement Emilia in her beliefs and what she needs to do. She is stubborn, smart and funny at times. She has compassion and is passionate in what she believes in. She is not concerned about appearances but on being fair and honest. She is grabs the attention of many and some not in a good way. To me the Emperor sees her as a threat and a danger to his power.
Felix is the soldier of soldiers. Strong sense of right and wrong and a belief system that guides him and who he is. He feels guilt over things in the past but what those are we aren’t privy to. Leaving him in an air of mystery. He is passionate and kind even though he is one tough cookie of a soldier.
Ronan still trying to figure him out. He has a strong sense of duty and I felt for him when truths came out to him. Poor guy. He is kind and honest or as honest as he can be. He is understanding as well. What I don’t understand is how he can keep quiet. that makes him stoic to me.
Than there is the Emperor whom I despice with the passion of a thousand suns. He is just cruel and power hungry. His wife though is cunning and more than she appears. Makes me wonder.
The writing is strong and alluring. The story is full of action, danger, some romance that is clean and sweet, and some intrigue. The characters bring out emotions as you watch Emilia fight off the pettiness of some of the girls, form friendships and gain trust and loyalty while trying to stay alive. The story is interesting and keeps you on your toes. We have murders, assassinations, love interests, and seeing characters find their footing and grow. to me the story is really on the growth and survival of Emilia. She grows in her beliefs and as a princess. She learns to listen and support. See what is around her and how to be royal even when it goes against your inner self. She learns about friendship, love and kinship. She shows compassion and gets loyalty from this and her kindness. It is the story of how she is put in a emotional upheaval about her father and what is happening in the country. An emotional upheaval on who she likes and how she should go about fighting for others. It is the story of how she learns more about the two men who have her heart. How they belief and act and where they stand on things. It is about the fight that is coming and how to fight it.
April 3, 2024
The Broken Crown is the first book of the Narrow Gate Trilogy and anyone familiar with Christian terms knows this is an important image for how Christians should choose a path for their lives.
The blurb talks about the Insurgo God and the gods who are officially worshiped in the Empire of Atlas, so it’s pretty obvious this book includes a great deal of faith and religion.
However, I read a few reviews mentioning they were surprised by the strong Christian messages and many prayers and I get that it’s not absolutely clear only by reading the blurb.
So: This is a Christian book with Christian prayers, with Christian values and Christian concepts. The persecuted Insurgos are quite obviously Christians, the Aletheia, a book that was destroyed through the Crusades and now seems to be lost, is also obviously the Bible. I read the book because of this background and I absolutely loved it because of it.
But I probably would have hated it while I was still an atheist just because any mention of God and religion personally offended me. So if you’re not at least open to Christian values, you probably won’t enjoy this book. If you are, I absolutely recommend it because it contains so many valuable truths!
In the first book we follow Emilia who lived as a soldier sort of incognito since her father exiled her after her mother died as a martyr, believing in the God of the Insurgos. She has to leave her military life when the son of the Emperor is looking for a wife and every kingdom has to send a princess. Arriving in Atlas, she not only learns to know the commander Felix but also the crown prince Ronan, who might be her solution for helping the Insurgos. She is thrown into politics and a life as a princess she never really knew, figuring out who she can trust and how she can be faithful to her God without risking her life and the life of the people who support her.
I loved Emilia as a character. She is definitely “not like the other princesses”, but it’s not like she feels superior because of it, she just had a very different life. She is genuinely caring, brave and strong willed but also sensitive and empathetic. She sometimes acts very impulsively, which isn’t always very wise. I didn’t always understand her actions, feelings or motives, but I had to remind myself that she is for one a teenager and for another thrown into an impossible situation, with no allies sharing her faith, knowing next to nothing of the (current) political situation. Considering that, she actually acts quite maturely in a lot of respects. When I try to picture myself in her shoes, I’m pretty sure I would just have run away…
— Very mild Spoiler for Felix and Ronan as characters and the love triangle —-
— End spoiler, if you can even consider it one… —
I have to mention one side character because she was just so amazing. Hannah is a girl that Emilia rescues very early on in the book and I love her very much. She is quite the opposite from Emilia, but has such a big heart, is so quiet, caring and modest. She is a great role model for Emilia and her faith, especially because I’m sure she doesn’t see herself this way. Okay maybe she is also my favorite character, I’m really not good at picking favorites…
(I would love a spinoff for Hannah so much, just saying…)
(Emilia about Hannah, a feeling that I think every Christian can empathize with. However strong my friendships are, I feel a very special connection to other believers that is missing in my relationships with nonbelievers.)
As said at the beginning, the faith messages in this book are very strong. We read about the one and only true God in contrast to the many gods worshiped in Atlas. How everyone who believes in Him gets killed if caught praying or voicing his beliefs. We read Emilia’s prayers, how she struggles with her mother’s death, who was a firm believer in the Insurgo God, how Emilia isn’t by far perfect, but has problems, flaws and doubts as every other Christian - without doubting God Himself. I felt very seen by or better through her. To me the book was full of prayer and Christian morals, but didn’t feel preachy at all. The opposite is true. We see that Emilia makes the same mistakes most of us do at some point - acting first, praying (and thinking) later, trusting our own feelings more than God.
I could say a lot more about this aspect of the book because it is very prominent. But I marked SO MANY passages, I think I will share just a few of these quotes because they speak for themselves.
If it wasn’t obvious - I absolutely loved this book. It is a faith filled and captivating YA Fantasy novel and a great series starter.
* Thank you to the author for letting me read an advanced copy of this book. I leave this review voluntarily and the expressed opinions are my own.
The blurb talks about the Insurgo God and the gods who are officially worshiped in the Empire of Atlas, so it’s pretty obvious this book includes a great deal of faith and religion.
However, I read a few reviews mentioning they were surprised by the strong Christian messages and many prayers and I get that it’s not absolutely clear only by reading the blurb.
So: This is a Christian book with Christian prayers, with Christian values and Christian concepts. The persecuted Insurgos are quite obviously Christians, the Aletheia, a book that was destroyed through the Crusades and now seems to be lost, is also obviously the Bible. I read the book because of this background and I absolutely loved it because of it.
But I probably would have hated it while I was still an atheist just because any mention of God and religion personally offended me. So if you’re not at least open to Christian values, you probably won’t enjoy this book. If you are, I absolutely recommend it because it contains so many valuable truths!
In the first book we follow Emilia who lived as a soldier sort of incognito since her father exiled her after her mother died as a martyr, believing in the God of the Insurgos. She has to leave her military life when the son of the Emperor is looking for a wife and every kingdom has to send a princess. Arriving in Atlas, she not only learns to know the commander Felix but also the crown prince Ronan, who might be her solution for helping the Insurgos. She is thrown into politics and a life as a princess she never really knew, figuring out who she can trust and how she can be faithful to her God without risking her life and the life of the people who support her.
I loved Emilia as a character. She is definitely “not like the other princesses”, but it’s not like she feels superior because of it, she just had a very different life. She is genuinely caring, brave and strong willed but also sensitive and empathetic. She sometimes acts very impulsively, which isn’t always very wise. I didn’t always understand her actions, feelings or motives, but I had to remind myself that she is for one a teenager and for another thrown into an impossible situation, with no allies sharing her faith, knowing next to nothing of the (current) political situation. Considering that, she actually acts quite maturely in a lot of respects. When I try to picture myself in her shoes, I’m pretty sure I would just have run away…
— Very mild Spoiler for Felix and Ronan as characters and the love triangle —-
— End spoiler, if you can even consider it one… —
I have to mention one side character because she was just so amazing. Hannah is a girl that Emilia rescues very early on in the book and I love her very much. She is quite the opposite from Emilia, but has such a big heart, is so quiet, caring and modest. She is a great role model for Emilia and her faith, especially because I’m sure she doesn’t see herself this way. Okay maybe she is also my favorite character, I’m really not good at picking favorites…
(I would love a spinoff for Hannah so much, just saying…)
“All ceremony and formality between us is strangled by the strange spirit that dances between us.”
(Emilia about Hannah, a feeling that I think every Christian can empathize with. However strong my friendships are, I feel a very special connection to other believers that is missing in my relationships with nonbelievers.)
As said at the beginning, the faith messages in this book are very strong. We read about the one and only true God in contrast to the many gods worshiped in Atlas. How everyone who believes in Him gets killed if caught praying or voicing his beliefs. We read Emilia’s prayers, how she struggles with her mother’s death, who was a firm believer in the Insurgo God, how Emilia isn’t by far perfect, but has problems, flaws and doubts as every other Christian - without doubting God Himself. I felt very seen by or better through her. To me the book was full of prayer and Christian morals, but didn’t feel preachy at all. The opposite is true. We see that Emilia makes the same mistakes most of us do at some point - acting first, praying (and thinking) later, trusting our own feelings more than God.
I could say a lot more about this aspect of the book because it is very prominent. But I marked SO MANY passages, I think I will share just a few of these quotes because they speak for themselves.
“Fighting, sparring, has always been natural for me, but it took training to harness my skill and hours of prayer to temper my rage.”
“As I follow Felix from the stables through the palace’s winding passages, I pray. Though it calms me, it still feels like my words go no further than the space above my head. [...] Levi said this would happen. And so I do as he says and keep praying though my emotional connection has waned.”
“God, forgive me. I know you are the only true God, and you never demand that kind of sacrifice. But why didn’t you save my mother?”
“This is a God who, rather than demand a sacrifice of the people, became the sacrifice. I don’t completely understand it, haven’t reconciled it with why my mother had to die, but I believe it.”
“This is love: when we could not love God, He became a sacrifice to atone for our iniquities. By his wounds, our souls are healed.”
“Shamefully, on the second day, I begin to pray. God, I should have come to you first.”
“God’s strength made perfect in my weakness, and I’ve certainly never bee weaker. But if my faith impacts one person the way my mother’s impacted me, then it will be worth it.”
If it wasn’t obvious - I absolutely loved this book. It is a faith filled and captivating YA Fantasy novel and a great series starter.
* Thank you to the author for letting me read an advanced copy of this book. I leave this review voluntarily and the expressed opinions are my own.
May 31, 2016
-ARC kindly offered by YA Book Tours and the author in exchange for an honest review -
Despite the plot that reminded me a bit Selection - series that I did not appreciate especially as you know from my reviews on it - I wanted to try to read this story from the traits a little dramatic. political intrigue, religious conflicts, love and war are mixed to create The Broken Crown following the events of princess Emilia Aurelius. I saw die, through her eyes innocent of child, the mother to her father's orders. Apparently the queen prayed to the same God worshiped by the rebels of the kingdom and it is an extremely serious offense.
In the realm of Atlas the people has several Gods of their religion while that of the rebels, the Insurgos, follow a creed similar to Christianity with only God.
From the cruel event, the small Emilia has remained deeply marked and she swore that never would die without a fight. In a kingdom where the law is hard but still the law, she knows it's wrong. Grew up in a military camp, she has become a warrior with a strong and determined heart. But one day, the Imperial Guard arrives to bring her into the glittering court life made of luxury and power. But behind this splendor, it hides more darkness than you think.
Emilia will be called by the Emperor to take part in a friendly challenge between princesses to decide the future wife of the crown prince and she will have to relearn how to be a princess. But beyond that, the conflict with the rebels is always present and the girl will have to make very difficult decisions.
The characters are well made and I really liked the story itself. There's a love triangle rather complex which makes me hard to decide who to support - I live on the ship. Despite I love Prince Ronan, I had more feeling with the commander of the Imperial Guard, Felix, and I think the latter would be better suited for the heroine, but also Ronan has him why :P
An intriguing story that will leave you breathless and make you want to immediately the sequel.
My review in italian here:
http://angeltany.blogspot.it/2016/05/...
Despite the plot that reminded me a bit Selection - series that I did not appreciate especially as you know from my reviews on it - I wanted to try to read this story from the traits a little dramatic. political intrigue, religious conflicts, love and war are mixed to create The Broken Crown following the events of princess Emilia Aurelius. I saw die, through her eyes innocent of child, the mother to her father's orders. Apparently the queen prayed to the same God worshiped by the rebels of the kingdom and it is an extremely serious offense.
In the realm of Atlas the people has several Gods of their religion while that of the rebels, the Insurgos, follow a creed similar to Christianity with only God.
From the cruel event, the small Emilia has remained deeply marked and she swore that never would die without a fight. In a kingdom where the law is hard but still the law, she knows it's wrong. Grew up in a military camp, she has become a warrior with a strong and determined heart. But one day, the Imperial Guard arrives to bring her into the glittering court life made of luxury and power. But behind this splendor, it hides more darkness than you think.
Emilia will be called by the Emperor to take part in a friendly challenge between princesses to decide the future wife of the crown prince and she will have to relearn how to be a princess. But beyond that, the conflict with the rebels is always present and the girl will have to make very difficult decisions.
The characters are well made and I really liked the story itself. There's a love triangle rather complex which makes me hard to decide who to support - I live on the ship. Despite I love Prince Ronan, I had more feeling with the commander of the Imperial Guard, Felix, and I think the latter would be better suited for the heroine, but also Ronan has him why :P
An intriguing story that will leave you breathless and make you want to immediately the sequel.
My review in italian here:
http://angeltany.blogspot.it/2016/05/...
November 14, 2016
3.7 stars.
i. LOVE. felix
"Yes, I want to scream, I am the tainted princess with the broken crown and the broken heart. Nothing to see here. Just move along."
i. LOVE. felix
"Yes, I want to scream, I am the tainted princess with the broken crown and the broken heart. Nothing to see here. Just move along."
October 30, 2022
‘Harsh is the law, but it is the law’
I find it interesting that the Crusades in this book are actually against the monotheists rather than by them. Especially in light of history – the Roman Empire didn’t care if its inhabitants weren’t polytheists…as long as they worshipped the Roman Emperor. This book is the first instance (in my recollection) of reading of a polytheistic religion’s being so against a monotheistic one. The author provided a different perspective on this topic.
What DOES it mean to be a princess?
‘I have the crown. I’m not sure that makes me a princess.’
‘The crown doesn’t make the princess.’
It’s an inherited title, so being a princess means being the daughter of the king (or wife of the heir apparent). Perhaps, Emilia is thinking of being worthy of the role as opposed to the title. As the next-in-line at her father’s death, is she ready to rule a kingdom? After having been exiled for so long, what could she possibly know of diplomacy, palace politics, etiquette, etc. I, for one, do not want to be a princess…
Fave quote:
‘We are pawns, all of us, in our fathers’ games.’
And it’s worse for the females who do not have a father’s or brother’s protection. And the women are more vicious than the men (even IRL and other books, so this isn’t a spoiler).
Just after the Empress tells the princess candidates that they need to prove to her “that you possess something worthy of being a queen”, she says:
‘Well go on, girl. Drink your tea. A queen doesn’t go anywhere until she’s had her tea.’
I like a woman who knows her regal priorities. And she gets respect ‘cause she sees the bigger picture and does what needs to be done. But she’s not ruthless, rather she reminds me a wee bit of the mom in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” (‘the husband might be the head of the household, but the wife is the neck’). She’s a proper role model and would make a wonderful mother-in-law to any princess who is worthy to marry her son.
What will become of the Insurgos, Cyrus, and Borealis? And let's not forget about the Gate...
Let’s find out in ‘The Desolate Reign’ then in ‘The Ancient Heir’ (coming soon!).
I find it interesting that the Crusades in this book are actually against the monotheists rather than by them. Especially in light of history – the Roman Empire didn’t care if its inhabitants weren’t polytheists…as long as they worshipped the Roman Emperor. This book is the first instance (in my recollection) of reading of a polytheistic religion’s being so against a monotheistic one. The author provided a different perspective on this topic.
What DOES it mean to be a princess?
‘I have the crown. I’m not sure that makes me a princess.’
‘The crown doesn’t make the princess.’
It’s an inherited title, so being a princess means being the daughter of the king (or wife of the heir apparent). Perhaps, Emilia is thinking of being worthy of the role as opposed to the title. As the next-in-line at her father’s death, is she ready to rule a kingdom? After having been exiled for so long, what could she possibly know of diplomacy, palace politics, etiquette, etc. I, for one, do not want to be a princess…
Fave quote:
‘We are pawns, all of us, in our fathers’ games.’
And it’s worse for the females who do not have a father’s or brother’s protection. And the women are more vicious than the men (even IRL and other books, so this isn’t a spoiler).
Just after the Empress tells the princess candidates that they need to prove to her “that you possess something worthy of being a queen”, she says:
‘Well go on, girl. Drink your tea. A queen doesn’t go anywhere until she’s had her tea.’
I like a woman who knows her regal priorities. And she gets respect ‘cause she sees the bigger picture and does what needs to be done. But she’s not ruthless, rather she reminds me a wee bit of the mom in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” (‘the husband might be the head of the household, but the wife is the neck’). She’s a proper role model and would make a wonderful mother-in-law to any princess who is worthy to marry her son.
What will become of the Insurgos, Cyrus, and Borealis? And let's not forget about the Gate...
Let’s find out in ‘The Desolate Reign’ then in ‘The Ancient Heir’ (coming soon!).
December 5, 2022
The Broken Crown
The Narrow Gate #1
By Amory Cannon
Emilia Aurelius has been forgotten by her father since the day her mother died as a traitor - for believing in a single God, a God that the Empire's rebels worship. But having served in a military outpost for most of the time since has made her strong and capable. As her father's only heir, her upbringing has ill-prepared her when she is summoned to the imperial city to vie for the crown prince's hand.
Yup, she is in major trouble. Not only does she not know how to act like a proper princess, she secretly follows the same God that her mother did. Fortunately, the crown prince has entrusted her safety to his most trusted personal guard, Felix.
The Broken Crown is the first book in The Narrow Gate series, and it is packed full of drama as Emilia tries to determine just what she is supposed to do. Does she keep her beliefs secret? Is it her destiny to marry the future Emperor and then reveal her allegiances? It is a lot for a seventeen-year-old girl to figure out while surviving the political perils that are closing in around her.
I found this book to be engaging, and it held my interest from the first sentence. This is written for the YA audience, but it should appeal to older readers too. Readers of Jill Williamson (Blood of Kings series), Melanie Dickerson, Melanie Cellier, and Jennifer Neisen (False King series) should enjoy this book/series.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations, but that I offer my honest opinion, all thoughts expressed are my own.
The Narrow Gate #1
By Amory Cannon
Emilia Aurelius has been forgotten by her father since the day her mother died as a traitor - for believing in a single God, a God that the Empire's rebels worship. But having served in a military outpost for most of the time since has made her strong and capable. As her father's only heir, her upbringing has ill-prepared her when she is summoned to the imperial city to vie for the crown prince's hand.
Yup, she is in major trouble. Not only does she not know how to act like a proper princess, she secretly follows the same God that her mother did. Fortunately, the crown prince has entrusted her safety to his most trusted personal guard, Felix.
The Broken Crown is the first book in The Narrow Gate series, and it is packed full of drama as Emilia tries to determine just what she is supposed to do. Does she keep her beliefs secret? Is it her destiny to marry the future Emperor and then reveal her allegiances? It is a lot for a seventeen-year-old girl to figure out while surviving the political perils that are closing in around her.
I found this book to be engaging, and it held my interest from the first sentence. This is written for the YA audience, but it should appeal to older readers too. Readers of Jill Williamson (Blood of Kings series), Melanie Dickerson, Melanie Cellier, and Jennifer Neisen (False King series) should enjoy this book/series.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations, but that I offer my honest opinion, all thoughts expressed are my own.
March 7, 2024
I am an avid reader and to be honest this was one of the best novels that I have ever had the pleasure to adventure through. When picking up the novel I found the cover details to be intriguing. The story line was very well developed and I enjoyed the plot. I had a very difficult time putting the book down to complete every day tasks. I also enjoyed biblical references and I could find some similarities to the book of Esther. There were twists and turns in the plot that I did not expect. I also am enjoying that the book is clean and I plan on adding it to our home school lesson plans for next year. There is a very low spice level (very light kissing/it's very sweet) and I feel comfortable with my preteens reading it with me. I am looking forward to the next book in the series. I will be quite honest, I am really rooting for the heroine to choose Felix. She does have a love triangle and he is my favorite because he is quite genuine with his affection and loyalty. The book is very appropriate for preteens/teens and also is an intriguing read for adults. I did not feel that the book felt too young for an adult reader. The author developed the world, characters, and vocabulary very well. There are not phrases that are repeated frequently like I have seen in other novels. All in all this series will be one that I will re-read quite a lot. I am looking forward to sharing it with my family.
December 7, 2022
Amory Cannon is a “new to me” author, and this will not be the only time I read one of her books. The Broken Crown is the first book in the Narrow Gate series.
The Broken Crown is a well-written fantasy. There are not any mythical creatures but there are princes and princesses and a quest as well as conflict between good and evil. It is also the story of persecution of followers of one God by those who believe in multiple gods. The writings of the followers of the one God are very similar to the Bible.
The plot includes mystery, intrigue, romance (is royalty really allowed romance), forgiveness and sacrifice. I’m sure most readers will find at least one life lesson in the pages of this story.
To me The Broken Crown had hints of the Biblical story of Esther - being brought to the capital for a competition to become the next Empress and the attitude of “for such a time as this.”
I enjoyed reading The Broken Crown and struggled to put the book down. I just wanted to keep reading. I look forward to reading future books in this series.
The Broken Crown would be a great addition to the fantasy section of a k-12 Christian school library. It is appropriate for middle school and up. Some advanced elementary readers may also be able to handle the content.
I received a complimentary copy of The Broken Crown. This is my honest review.
The Broken Crown is a well-written fantasy. There are not any mythical creatures but there are princes and princesses and a quest as well as conflict between good and evil. It is also the story of persecution of followers of one God by those who believe in multiple gods. The writings of the followers of the one God are very similar to the Bible.
The plot includes mystery, intrigue, romance (is royalty really allowed romance), forgiveness and sacrifice. I’m sure most readers will find at least one life lesson in the pages of this story.
To me The Broken Crown had hints of the Biblical story of Esther - being brought to the capital for a competition to become the next Empress and the attitude of “for such a time as this.”
I enjoyed reading The Broken Crown and struggled to put the book down. I just wanted to keep reading. I look forward to reading future books in this series.
The Broken Crown would be a great addition to the fantasy section of a k-12 Christian school library. It is appropriate for middle school and up. Some advanced elementary readers may also be able to handle the content.
I received a complimentary copy of The Broken Crown. This is my honest review.
December 9, 2022
It's been a while since I read a fantasy style novel, and The Broken Crown was an excellent foray back into the genre.
I loved that it was written in first person as I felt that it gave me a more personal grasp into the story, and I was easily immersed inside the pages.
The characters were strong and well written, and each had relatable aspects. Told solely from the perspective of Emilia, we as the reader get to meet various characters and see the dynamics play out.
The Broken Crown reminds me a bit of the Selection Series by Kiera Cass, only with higher stakes and more intrigue and danger, as well as a faith strand.
And speaking of the faith strand, I appreciated how that was woven through the story in a way that felt authentic to the setting, and gave the story a great meaning and depth.
The cover is stunning as well, I might add.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, and am excited to read the next one!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
I loved that it was written in first person as I felt that it gave me a more personal grasp into the story, and I was easily immersed inside the pages.
The characters were strong and well written, and each had relatable aspects. Told solely from the perspective of Emilia, we as the reader get to meet various characters and see the dynamics play out.
The Broken Crown reminds me a bit of the Selection Series by Kiera Cass, only with higher stakes and more intrigue and danger, as well as a faith strand.
And speaking of the faith strand, I appreciated how that was woven through the story in a way that felt authentic to the setting, and gave the story a great meaning and depth.
The cover is stunning as well, I might add.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, and am excited to read the next one!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
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May 23, 2024I detest love triangles, and I didn’t realize this book had one. The only love triangles I can stand are ones that aren’t really love triangles because one point of the love triangle is a dufus and you know they aren’t really an option. DNF at no fault of the book, just personal preference.
I was enjoying the setup of the world building, and writing flowed well. FMC was very likable. I didn’t quite understand Emilia’s father’s logic for sending his only heir away, but maybe that was explained later on. Both male leads also seemed very likeable (unfortunate for me!). Overall if you don’t mind love triangles I bet this book would be very enjoyable.
As for the allegorical portion, I can’t say if I like it or not since I won’t be finishing the book or series to know if it stays biblical. It felt a bit heavy on faith only in the beginning, but I didn’t read very far so I can’t tell where it was going.
Content of what I read (30%): no swearing, some violence
I was enjoying the setup of the world building, and writing flowed well. FMC was very likable. I didn’t quite understand Emilia’s father’s logic for sending his only heir away, but maybe that was explained later on. Both male leads also seemed very likeable (unfortunate for me!). Overall if you don’t mind love triangles I bet this book would be very enjoyable.
As for the allegorical portion, I can’t say if I like it or not since I won’t be finishing the book or series to know if it stays biblical. It felt a bit heavy on faith only in the beginning, but I didn’t read very far so I can’t tell where it was going.
Content of what I read (30%): no swearing, some violence
March 15, 2024
Absolutely loved this book! Amelia is tough, resilient, and a fighter, which you can't help but love in a heroine. The high-stakes, fantasy version of The Bachelor was a fresh and addictive theme. And the love triangle leaves you constantly going back and forth with who will win her heart in the end. I loved the elements of danger, romantic tension, and faith in this beautiful story that was hard to put down!
April 13, 2024
What a Great Story
This is a Christian based fantasy where the story is sweet, clean, has warfare bouts and quotes biblical verses on occasion. It has a conclusion but suggests a follow-up story. The plot is inventive and the first half is a take off of Survivor with a Process twist and this evolves into a mystery action. So, the novel has movement that makes the reader want more. Good writing for any age.
This is a Christian based fantasy where the story is sweet, clean, has warfare bouts and quotes biblical verses on occasion. It has a conclusion but suggests a follow-up story. The plot is inventive and the first half is a take off of Survivor with a Process twist and this evolves into a mystery action. So, the novel has movement that makes the reader want more. Good writing for any age.
February 7, 2020
Very Good Book
This book kept me interested all the way through. It has a strong female character with a faith in God and Jesus, even though the names are different. It was nice to read a book with no sex, no curse words and with Biblical scriptures. It lagged at times, but not often. There are enough action scenes to keep you reading.
This book kept me interested all the way through. It has a strong female character with a faith in God and Jesus, even though the names are different. It was nice to read a book with no sex, no curse words and with Biblical scriptures. It lagged at times, but not often. There are enough action scenes to keep you reading.
April 13, 2024
DNF'd after a couple of chapters. This is Cinderella crossed with Esther and the plot beats are being telegraphed miles away. Also, it's weird to me how all these persecuted people pray to this God who doesn't do anything. Why are they persecuted when they have literally no power? Also, how can she name her horse Athena without getting punished? Seems inconsistent.
September 14, 2020
This book brought back so many memories for me! Anyone else grow up reading The Princess Academy and absolutely wished they could be part of that? The Broken Crown follows Princess Emilia who watched her mother get executed for worshipping the rebels' God rather than following the religious cult that dominates the other kingdoms. She was exiled by her father to grow up in a military camp where she is trained and grows the believe in the faith that killed her mother. Then she is summoned by the Emperor of Atlas to arrive at the imperial city in order to join a "friendly competition" to become the wife for the crown prince. Life in the imperial city is more dangerous than the frivolous balls and she has to learn to become a princess again while keeping her faith a secret.
Okay, I don't know how I should begin but this book gave me major Princess Academy vibes. Emilia is thrust back into the world of royalty and there is a lot of scheming, rumors of rebellion, and jealous princesses. As if relearning all the rules of etiquette isn't enough, someone is planning on overthrowing the king and the rebellious Insurgos might be behind the plot. I absolutely adored following Emilia as she navigates her way through court and tries to figure out where her loyalties lie.
I'll admit, there were some moments that made me want to face-palm myself. Emilia is such a kickbutt character but she only gets a couple of moments to really show off her skills. Also, whenever she comes in contact with the prince, she kind of loses her mind just a bit. She is definitely less ditsy than some of the other girls there but she loses the "strength of a soldier" that she has which sets her apart from the rest. Regardless, I still really loved her character.
We can't talk about this book without mentioning the "competition" itself. To be honest, it's not even close to a competition but rather it's an opportunity for the Emperor to pick a girl that will be submissive and provide the best alliance for the future. Prince Ronan doesn't really have a voice in the final decision. On the topic of the prince, he was a decent guy but my ship for this book puts Emilia with a certain Captain of the guard (Felix). I don't dislike Ronan, but I just love the relationship that she has with Felix and how they share more common interests.
The big issue of this novel centers around religion and politics which I found really fascinating. The Empire worships a group of gods while the rebellion called the Insurgos worship one god in a religion that resembles Christianity. It addresses the issue of a theocratic government and the lengths people will go to for power.
There were moments that just broke my heart and made me want to throw something but that just shows how much I enjoyed this book. I will definitely be keeping my eye on the sequel when it comes out because I need to know what happens next!
Originally Posted on Forever Obsession
Okay, I don't know how I should begin but this book gave me major Princess Academy vibes. Emilia is thrust back into the world of royalty and there is a lot of scheming, rumors of rebellion, and jealous princesses. As if relearning all the rules of etiquette isn't enough, someone is planning on overthrowing the king and the rebellious Insurgos might be behind the plot. I absolutely adored following Emilia as she navigates her way through court and tries to figure out where her loyalties lie.
I'll admit, there were some moments that made me want to face-palm myself. Emilia is such a kickbutt character but she only gets a couple of moments to really show off her skills. Also, whenever she comes in contact with the prince, she kind of loses her mind just a bit. She is definitely less ditsy than some of the other girls there but she loses the "strength of a soldier" that she has which sets her apart from the rest. Regardless, I still really loved her character.
We can't talk about this book without mentioning the "competition" itself. To be honest, it's not even close to a competition but rather it's an opportunity for the Emperor to pick a girl that will be submissive and provide the best alliance for the future. Prince Ronan doesn't really have a voice in the final decision. On the topic of the prince, he was a decent guy but my ship for this book puts Emilia with a certain Captain of the guard (Felix). I don't dislike Ronan, but I just love the relationship that she has with Felix and how they share more common interests.
The big issue of this novel centers around religion and politics which I found really fascinating. The Empire worships a group of gods while the rebellion called the Insurgos worship one god in a religion that resembles Christianity. It addresses the issue of a theocratic government and the lengths people will go to for power.
There were moments that just broke my heart and made me want to throw something but that just shows how much I enjoyed this book. I will definitely be keeping my eye on the sequel when it comes out because I need to know what happens next!
Originally Posted on Forever Obsession
February 22, 2017
When Princess Emilia was only seven years old, her mother was executed for being an Insurgo, a believer in the Christian God. At ten, Emilia was sent away to be a soldier at some far-flung outpost because she was suspected of following in her mother’s footsteps. And now, after living as a soldier rather than a princess for seven years, her father expects her to enter this “princess contest” to win the heart of the emperor’s son? It’s ludicrous! She will never fit in!
The Broken Crown by Amryn Cross was nothing other than a hidden jewel. I had forgotten the synopsis when I picked up the book to read for the review and did not know what to expect. I was immediately captivated. I read it cover to cover in one day and long for book two!
One of the things I discovered that I was not expecting is that the book is Christian. It takes place in some alternate version of medieval or renaissance Europe. The history before the beginning of this Atlas Empire, which is portrayed by the existence of the exact Bible in the real world, is accurate up until the end of the Roman Empire. Who knows what happened to the history books after that. The Biblical aspects and the persecution of the Christians The Broken Crown were fantastic and definitely added to the story.
I would compare this book to the story of Esther and The Selection Series because it has a pretty similar concept – a group of young ladies trying to impress the king/prince to marry them while contenting with assassination attempts and nation-wide struggles. Because it is so similar to those books, The Broken Crown got a little repetitive sometimes. I mean, there are only so many ways to write a multi-romantic story on a national level. However, I love stories like this even if they are somewhat repetitive. And this one had the added drama of the main character trying not to let anyone know she is a traitor, an Insurgo.
Overall, I loved The Broken Crown! I would recommend it to readers of YA Romances like The Selection Series.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Broken Crown by Amryn Cross was nothing other than a hidden jewel. I had forgotten the synopsis when I picked up the book to read for the review and did not know what to expect. I was immediately captivated. I read it cover to cover in one day and long for book two!
One of the things I discovered that I was not expecting is that the book is Christian. It takes place in some alternate version of medieval or renaissance Europe. The history before the beginning of this Atlas Empire, which is portrayed by the existence of the exact Bible in the real world, is accurate up until the end of the Roman Empire. Who knows what happened to the history books after that. The Biblical aspects and the persecution of the Christians The Broken Crown were fantastic and definitely added to the story.
I would compare this book to the story of Esther and The Selection Series because it has a pretty similar concept – a group of young ladies trying to impress the king/prince to marry them while contenting with assassination attempts and nation-wide struggles. Because it is so similar to those books, The Broken Crown got a little repetitive sometimes. I mean, there are only so many ways to write a multi-romantic story on a national level. However, I love stories like this even if they are somewhat repetitive. And this one had the added drama of the main character trying not to let anyone know she is a traitor, an Insurgo.
Overall, I loved The Broken Crown! I would recommend it to readers of YA Romances like The Selection Series.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 2, 2016
Princess Emilia is not a typical princess and her life is not as charmed as one would expect. After witnessing her mother’s execution for believing in a forbidden God, Emilia is exiled and lives among common men where she learns to fight as a soldier. Struggling with her own devotion in the God of her mother, she wishes to aid the cause of the Insurgos who are ruthlessly killed for simply worshipping Him. Soon enough princesses are called to the Emperor’s palace in order to find a wife for his son. Emilia believes this is her chance to change the laws for the people she’s come to claim as her own. Things in the palace, however, are not quite as they seem. Emilia, Prince Ronan, and the guard Felix are embroiled in a plot much bigger than they imagined.
The Broken Crown was a very interesting story. It’s a mashup of The Selection and the story of Queen Esther with a little of Rachelle Dekker’s The Choosing in the mix. I don’t know about you, but that equals perfection to me. I’m really excited to see what else is going to happen in the story since the ending is really suspenseful.
Emilia is my favorite princess and I adored her so much. She is a prime example of how a young woman can be both strong and emotional without being a block of ice with a sword. I’m also pretty amazed that I actually liked both potential love interests. It’s a shocker since I usually hate one or the other, but I just want both to be happy and loved. That said, romance isn’t the main focus and the plot is most important. I want book two right now, I’m anxious to see what’s going to happen next (and hopefully nothing too tragic). 2017 can’t come soon enough.
The Broken Crown was a very interesting story. It’s a mashup of The Selection and the story of Queen Esther with a little of Rachelle Dekker’s The Choosing in the mix. I don’t know about you, but that equals perfection to me. I’m really excited to see what else is going to happen in the story since the ending is really suspenseful.
Emilia is my favorite princess and I adored her so much. She is a prime example of how a young woman can be both strong and emotional without being a block of ice with a sword. I’m also pretty amazed that I actually liked both potential love interests. It’s a shocker since I usually hate one or the other, but I just want both to be happy and loved. That said, romance isn’t the main focus and the plot is most important. I want book two right now, I’m anxious to see what’s going to happen next (and hopefully nothing too tragic). 2017 can’t come soon enough.
June 2, 2016
I received a free copy in exchange for an unbiased review. This in no way impacts my musings.
I was pleasantly surprised when I started the book. I was expecting the usual trope of magic wielders and action scenes but this book was a refreshing change with its emphasis on religion. On hindsight, if I had known beforehand that it was focused on religious fantasy, I don't think I would have opted to read it. This definitely shows that I have to be more open minded when choosing books.
The characters were impressive with their backgrounds and their behaviour. They were definitely more mature than their age. I loved Emilia with her inner strength and her determination. Ronan was very complex with his two sided character, that of a prince and a good guy. Felix was the one who really caught my attention with his sensitivity and his tough exterior.
The romantic entanglement among the three main characters had me a tad dissatisfied and that's because I am more likely to pick Felix for Emilia than Ronan. Emilia was torn between them and I kind of understand her dilemma because both of them are worthy because of their characters.
The world building was seriously good with the importance of politics and religion in the book. I loved the new take and I can't wait to see how the author develops the plot and story line in the sequels. The pace was steady throughout the book and the author was able to keep my attention till the end except for a few scenes in between. The only thing I didn't like was that there weren't enough action scenes in it.
I recommend this to fantasy lovers wholeheartedly.
My rating : 4.5/5
I was pleasantly surprised when I started the book. I was expecting the usual trope of magic wielders and action scenes but this book was a refreshing change with its emphasis on religion. On hindsight, if I had known beforehand that it was focused on religious fantasy, I don't think I would have opted to read it. This definitely shows that I have to be more open minded when choosing books.
The characters were impressive with their backgrounds and their behaviour. They were definitely more mature than their age. I loved Emilia with her inner strength and her determination. Ronan was very complex with his two sided character, that of a prince and a good guy. Felix was the one who really caught my attention with his sensitivity and his tough exterior.
The romantic entanglement among the three main characters had me a tad dissatisfied and that's because I am more likely to pick Felix for Emilia than Ronan. Emilia was torn between them and I kind of understand her dilemma because both of them are worthy because of their characters.
The world building was seriously good with the importance of politics and religion in the book. I loved the new take and I can't wait to see how the author develops the plot and story line in the sequels. The pace was steady throughout the book and the author was able to keep my attention till the end except for a few scenes in between. The only thing I didn't like was that there weren't enough action scenes in it.
I recommend this to fantasy lovers wholeheartedly.
My rating : 4.5/5
June 6, 2016
First of all, I want to mention that this is Christian-based fiction in the sense of the Insurgos are Christians. It does not, however, shy away from a little romance and violence. I wanted to throw that out there at the top because while I didn’t mind it, I was still surprised when I got into it. That was not completely clear to me in the description.
This book reminds me a lot of “The Selection”, which has some pros and cons. Emilia has to compete with other girls in the castle to try to win over the prince. She has many advantageous as it turns out, but she’s distracted by another guy creating quite the love triangle. I got a bit frustrated with the love triangle because I never had the sense of where Emilia’s heart really lay. She would get annoyed with Ronan, but I wouldn’t always follow why that had to be the end-all, be-all. Essentially she ran hot and cold and if I were Ronan, I’d be annoyed as well.
There were definitely some differences between “The Selection” and “The Broken Crown”, but it wasn’t quite unique enough to knock my socks off. That being said, the book was certainly enjoyable and I would not hesitate to recommend it!
Warning: Contains violence.
Who should read it? Fans of “The Selection” style books who don’t mind a Christian twist.
Please note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review courtesy of YA Bound Book Tours.
See all my reviews and more at www.ReadingToDistraction.com or @Read2Distract
This book reminds me a lot of “The Selection”, which has some pros and cons. Emilia has to compete with other girls in the castle to try to win over the prince. She has many advantageous as it turns out, but she’s distracted by another guy creating quite the love triangle. I got a bit frustrated with the love triangle because I never had the sense of where Emilia’s heart really lay. She would get annoyed with Ronan, but I wouldn’t always follow why that had to be the end-all, be-all. Essentially she ran hot and cold and if I were Ronan, I’d be annoyed as well.
There were definitely some differences between “The Selection” and “The Broken Crown”, but it wasn’t quite unique enough to knock my socks off. That being said, the book was certainly enjoyable and I would not hesitate to recommend it!
Warning: Contains violence.
Who should read it? Fans of “The Selection” style books who don’t mind a Christian twist.
Please note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review courtesy of YA Bound Book Tours.
See all my reviews and more at www.ReadingToDistraction.com or @Read2Distract
December 7, 2022
A warrior princess must compete for the hand of the emperor's son against the fairest maidens from the surrounding kingdoms, but more than a marriage is at stake.
Emilia has fought for the last 10 years to prove herself a capable soldier. Now in the emperor's court she must use her skills to stay alive, as she uncovers a plot to wipe out the followers of a faith that her mother was willing to die for. A well put together plot, filled with intrigue, romance, and faith. I had a hard time putting this one down, as I was drawn into Emilia's plight. She is a strong and likable heroine, capable, yet vulnerable and impulsive, with a compassionate heart for others.
The first in what is sure to be a fantastic series, I didn't know what to expect going into this series, but it blew me away, and left me more than ready to dive into book two. Ronan and Felix are two very different men, and both are mysterious in their own ways. I loved the intrigue and action packed nature of the plot, with a strong heroine in a fantasy realm (no magic).
This book was just what I needed, and I would highly recommend to fans of fantasy adventure, with a strong faith core. A well written adventure, with a riveting plot. So glad I picked this up!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Emilia has fought for the last 10 years to prove herself a capable soldier. Now in the emperor's court she must use her skills to stay alive, as she uncovers a plot to wipe out the followers of a faith that her mother was willing to die for. A well put together plot, filled with intrigue, romance, and faith. I had a hard time putting this one down, as I was drawn into Emilia's plight. She is a strong and likable heroine, capable, yet vulnerable and impulsive, with a compassionate heart for others.
The first in what is sure to be a fantastic series, I didn't know what to expect going into this series, but it blew me away, and left me more than ready to dive into book two. Ronan and Felix are two very different men, and both are mysterious in their own ways. I loved the intrigue and action packed nature of the plot, with a strong heroine in a fantasy realm (no magic).
This book was just what I needed, and I would highly recommend to fans of fantasy adventure, with a strong faith core. A well written adventure, with a riveting plot. So glad I picked this up!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
August 12, 2016
The Broken Crown is spiritual, magical and wonderful. I enjoyed myself immensely reading this, I had so much fun. It might not have magic in it but the words are magical, This fantasy book touched my heart and I felt a bond with it. I love Emilia, She's kind, strong, thoughtful and the fact the she depends on God in most things in her life inspires me. I evaluated myself after reading this book and I have been trying my best to have the honorable characters portrayed by Emilia. Her strength both physically and mentally is enviable.The Broken Crown is also romantic in a way that makes me nostalgic. Filled with action, adventure and mystery, This book is an all in one package. Seeing Emilia with Felix and Ronan is captivating, there is not a moment of boredom. Her relationship with her maids and her willingness to sacrifice for the sake of others is also very admirable. Emilia is a kind of heroine that I would love to keep seeing in books. Not only is it inspiring, The Broken Crown is definitely one of the best Christian fiction out there. Amryn Cross is one author I am definitely looking out for.
August 12, 2016
Novels about faith and sacrifice for religious belief (esp Christian faith) are rare in YA fictional world. We have enough Greek & Irish mythology, fairies and daeities, magic and urban legends to satisfy our imagination that i think this is something different to give the series a chance.
I hope the author won't let the heroin and heroes in this novel lose their soul and their wonderful characters in the books to come nor its strong and rich world and its conflict...rather give it an exciting journey to give us readers a happy and realistic ending. And give enough balance so it won't appear too preachy to dismay or intimidate the readers.
And I like the cover...it's what caught my attention in the first place.
I give this three and a half stars because although i find this book intriguing and better than the other book it is being compared to, i still feel that something's still lacking though i can't pinpoit what yet. or maybe i am still too disappointed with the conclusion of the last series that i just finished that i feel too reserve to give a higher rating to this one. Anyways, i still recommend this especially to those who has no qualms reading about religion whatsoever.
I hope the author won't let the heroin and heroes in this novel lose their soul and their wonderful characters in the books to come nor its strong and rich world and its conflict...rather give it an exciting journey to give us readers a happy and realistic ending. And give enough balance so it won't appear too preachy to dismay or intimidate the readers.
And I like the cover...it's what caught my attention in the first place.
I give this three and a half stars because although i find this book intriguing and better than the other book it is being compared to, i still feel that something's still lacking though i can't pinpoit what yet. or maybe i am still too disappointed with the conclusion of the last series that i just finished that i feel too reserve to give a higher rating to this one. Anyways, i still recommend this especially to those who has no qualms reading about religion whatsoever.
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