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Crownchasers #1

Crownchasers

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A deadly competition for the throne will determine more than just the fate of the empire in this duology opener.

Alyssa Farshot has spent her whole life trying to outrun her family legacy. Her mother sacrificed everything to bring peace to the quadrant, and her uncle has successfully ruled as emperor for decades. But the last thing Alyssa wants is to follow in their footsteps as the next in line for the throne. Why would she choose to be trapped in a palace when she could be having wild adventures exploring a thousand-and-one planets in her own ship?

But when Alyssa’s uncle becomes gravely ill, his dying wish surprises the entire galaxy. Instead of naming her as his successor, he calls for a crownchase, the first in seven centuries. Representatives from each of the empire’s prime families—including Alyssa—are thrown into a race to find the royal seal, which has been hidden somewhere in the empire. The first to find the seal wins the throne.

Alyssa’s experience as an explorer makes her the favorite to win the crown she never wanted. And though she doesn’t want to be empress, her duty to her uncle compels her to participate in this one last epic adventure. But when the chase turns deadly, it’s clear that more than just the fate of the empire is at stake. Alyssa is on her most important quest yet—and only time will tell if she’ll survive it.

375 pages, Hardcover

First published September 29, 2020

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About the author

Rebecca Coffindaffer

3 books263 followers
Rebecca Coffindaffer (they/she) grew up on Star Wars, Star Trek, fantastical movies and even more fantastical books. They waited a long time for their secret elemental powers to develop, and in the interim, they started writing stories about magic and politics, spaceships, far-off worlds, and people walking away from explosions in slow motion. These days they live in Kansas with their family, surrounded by a lot of books and a lot of tabletop games and a very spoiled dog. They're the author of the YA space opera duology Crownchasers and Thronebreakers, out now from HarperTeen.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 537 reviews
Profile Image for Rebecca Coffindaffer.
Author 3 books263 followers
Read
June 14, 2020
Early reader copies are officially going out into the world, so I wanted to drop an author's note here for those interested!

First things first, content warnings (edited 6/14/20): alcohol use, blood/gore, death/loss of a loved one, emotional withholding from a parental figure, murder, guilt and trauma, science fiction-related violence (i.e., blasters, spaceship battles, etc.)

This is a planet-hopping space opera, starring Alyssa Farshot, who's basically:

mixed with


And her loyal engineer, who's equal parts:

and


Throw in a mix of old-friends-turned-competitors, some sneaky bastards pulling strings behind the scenes, and the throne of a whole empire on the line, and the result is some of this:


A little of this:


And a lot of this:


Stay safe, stay well, and happy reading!
Profile Image for Ashley.
800 reviews441 followers
November 19, 2020
Star Rating: —> 4 Stars

This was FAN-TAS-TIC! Definitely satisfied my space-themed book craving haha!

I am literally so happy rn! No cliffhanger (sort of... nothing too bad), & filled part of my need for things like aurora rising/burning, skyward/starsight, etc etc... and the heroine was amazing! Just snarky/ witty enough, and actually pretty funny! This novel was basically a follow the clue scavenger hunt type competition for the late emperor's crown. Super cute sorta slow burn, great female friendship, & quite the exciting adventure!

Def recommend! So so so good !
Profile Image for Laura Le.
260 reviews73 followers
June 7, 2021
Imagine Guardians of the Galaxy + Ready Player One but YA and more gay. That's basically Crownchasers.

- lots of LGBTQIA+ rep.
- relatable characters (some are cliche like HM, but I'll give him a pass).
- action-packed.
- plot twists.
- space adventures.
- romance that doesn't overshadow everything- i know i know, crazy right? in YA? I speak the truth!

I knew I would like this and it still exceeded my expectations (then again, my YA expectations aren't that high but my point still stands!).

My only complaints are that the MC read a bit older than her age (18), but it didn't draw away from the story too much. To be fair, she's always been fairly independent so I assume this forced her to grow up faster. The antagonist had a cliche backstory/motive, but it was well done and fit the story.

This is not a favorite of mine, but I must say that I'm impressed! YA Sci-Fi has is crawling its way onto my favorites list. . .
Profile Image for Carrie.
3,158 reviews1,517 followers
July 23, 2021
Crownchasers by Rebecca Coffindaffer is the first book in a new young adult science fiction fantasy series by the same name, Crownchasers, and is meant to be a duology. Of course as with most fantasy series this first book in the beginning of the story and it will continue into the next so it’s best to read the entire series from beginning to end and not as a standalone.

Crownchasers introduces readers to Alyssa Farshot who wants nothing to do with ruling the galaxy, she leaves that to her uncle who has been emperor for decades now after Alyssa’s mother helped bring peace. Despite the family legacy Alyssa only wants to be free, out exploring the galaxy and not trapped inside the family palace.

However, when Alyssa gets the news that her uncle is dying and he hasn’t named her as his successor but instead called for a crownchase to decide the next ruler she can’t help but wonder. Alyssa is expected to still represent her family in the crownchase along with those from other prominent families. Alyssa knows her uncle would want her to compete and she is favored to win but she never expects the race will turn deadly.

Crownchasers is a perfect example of why even though I feel I can sometimes be overly picky with the young adult fantasy genre I still continue to read them. This book was a lot of fun and moved at an excellent pace that kept my interest throughout reading even if it was a bit lengthy overall. While it did remind me a tad of other past fantasies I’d read it definitely had it’s own unique story that kept me compelled while reading and always had my interest. This is definitely a series that I would like to finish and will be on the lookout for book two.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Profile Image for MZ.
423 reviews102 followers
November 24, 2021
Fun and full of action. I liked the mains, but I am still not 100% convinced by the romance (m/f) (do I just want it to be f/f? 😂). I’m curious how they are going to tackle the villain in the next book.
Profile Image for Vicky Again.
595 reviews817 followers
October 18, 2020
This was absolutely delightful.

I was swept away into the story of our roguish and reluctant protagonist, Alyssa Faroshti, as she grudgingly competes in a high-stakes, galactic treasure hunt for the royal seal, which determines the next person on the throne of the empire. Despite being of one of seven "prime families," she's been off exploring the galaxy with her quick piloting skills and her engineer, Hell Monkey. But now she's been thrust into this competition she never wanted to win in the first place.

I read the first ~60 pages, getting right up to the start of the crownchase, and then I had to set it down because I had three midterms. When I picked it up last night, I had no idea that I was going to devour Crownchasers like it was the last bit of oxygen in a space suit. I sped through the story so quickly, and then woke up early to finish off the last 100 pages.

And wow. I might not have been completely sold in the beginning, but the actual crownchase was so entertaining. It really brought out Alyssa's voice (which is so unique) and this absolutely lovely arc of character growth.

Even though you don't know when the crownchase will end, what really makes you stick with the almost formulaic plot of it (race to interpret a clue, go to coordinates, get through task, repeat with new clue) is how we get to see Alyssa grow throughout the story.

We get to see so much of not only her working with grief, as her uncle (the emperor, who initiated the crownchase) had just died, but also struggling to manage the privilege she has of being in the crownchase and being of a "prime family" with her personal rejection of the system.

(Crownchasers doesn't focus very much on the politics of the world right now, but they are teased. I know the second novel is going to be much more politics-focused because the crownchase is over and Things Happened At The End, so I hope Coffindaffer pulls through with the critical yet entertaining sequel I'm hoping for!)

And then we also get to explore Alyssa's relationship with her engineer, Hell Monkey, who I was not sold on in the beginning (I mean...what kind of name is Hell Monkey), but was absolutely rooting for in the end. (You can't help but love a love interest who's the epitome of "pining & loving the person they like from afar without pressuring a relationship because their partner isn't ready.")

Alyssa herself is such an entertaining narrator—she's jaded, she's generally kind of hungover, very reckless and has absolutely no self-preservation instinct. Whip-smart and an incredible pilot, you can't help but love how bright she is, despite the recklessness. She's tough and guarded but not unkind, and that's ultimately why she, and her engaging narration, make Crownchasers really shine.

Without Alyssa, this book would have felt generic and formulaic. But Coffindaffer does such an incredible job of writing Alyssa and really tying the story to her character growth and voice, rather than the plot. It brings such a human aspect to the story, and it's truly what makes Crownchasers stand out.

I'd highly recommend if you want an entertaining space opera, steeped in voice and character. If you like roguish pansexual pilot girls, their engineering sidekicks, and high-speed intergalactic treasure hunts with high, high stakes, definitely check out Crownchasers.
Profile Image for Sarah Henning.
Author 14 books1,452 followers
October 18, 2019
I was lucky enough to read a *very* advanced reader copy and devoured it! With a voice that punches you straight between the eyes, CROWNCHASERS is a rip-roaring good time. Fun, fast, witty, and deep, this space opera takes classic tropes and puts them through an intergalactic spin cycle. A fresh take on the final frontier.
Profile Image for Mira Mio.
289 reviews51 followers
March 5, 2021
Цитируя laura likes lit (вольный перевод мой):
"Стражи Галактики" + "Первому игроку приготовиться", только YA и с геями. Че вам еще надо-то?!"

Конец рецензии.

☆ Жанр: дорога, квесты, экшн, экшн, экшн, кто-нибудь, остановите режиссера, у нас кончились пленка и каскадеры... Сценаристу плохо, выносите сценариста, импровизируем!

☆ Декорации: не успела рассмотреть, но что-то яркое и с геями. Надеюсь на следующую серию, а то как же мы без космических эльфов на космических медведях.

☆ Примадонна: Капитан Алиса Чертова Фаршот по прозвищу "Слабоумие и отвага".

Два восхитительных года капитан Фаршот таранила неизвестные планеты, но как веревочке не виться, а длинные руки бюрократии дотянулись и тащат Алису за ногу прямо на галактический трон.

Но капитан Фаршот не отчаивается, потому что у нее есть годовой запас сарказма, сексуальный механик, парочка бластеров, четыре бутылки радиоактивной водки и несколько заклятых друзей. И даже если на пути к свободе ей случайно попадется Межгалактическое Зло, она застебет его насмерть.

Моя девочка.

☆ Остальной каст: пытаются выхватить микрофон у Фаршот, но не всегда успешно. Больше всего везет злодеям: у них аж целые главы есть. Но это временно, пока до них радиоактивная водка не добралась.

☆ А как же без романтики: настоящие бро всегда спят в одной кровати, это вам любой космолетчик скажет. Так что оставьте свои грязные инсинуации при себе и до второй книги.

Конец рецензии. Я серьезно. Там дальше ничего нет.

ВИДИТЕ?
НЕТУ НИЧЕГО!

Рекомендуется: если вы любите космические корабли в космическом мыле, сарказм и бесконечный запас патронов.

Не рекомендуется: если вы любите медленный сюжет, красивый язык и твердую научную фантастику.

Жду вторую книгу в позе Хатико.
Profile Image for rachel, x.
1,718 reviews856 followers
April 11, 2021
this is so good?? please can everyone go & read it

Trigger warnings for .

BlogTrigger Warning DatabaseTwitterInstagram
Profile Image for Kimberly.
1,699 reviews2 followers
January 4, 2021
CROWNCHASERS is the debut novel of author Rebecca Coffindaffer. A Science-Fiction book with great characters, sarcastic banter, and a plot that you won't want to tear your eyes away from, this one definitely took me by surprise--in the best way possible.

Alyssa "Farshot" Faroshiti is the niece of the Emperor Atar Farsoshiti. After his sudden, early death, she is dismayed to find that she is the elected "Crown Chaser" representative from the Faroshiti family. Each of the Prime families nominates one member to represent them in what amounts to a "scavenger hunt" for the Throne. Together, with her space ship's Engineer, Hell Monkey, Alyssa soon finds that the contenders are all "acquaintances or friends" from her childhood.

". . . "I'm not gonna give Hell Monkey the satisfaction of telling him he's not wrong, but . . . he's not wrong . . ."

It soon becomes apparent to the reader that other "factors" are at work here, and things are not as fair as they were meant to be.

". . . just because you stopped paying attention to us doesn't mean we stopped paying attention to you."

The characters were simply phenomenal here. Even the ones we don't get to know as well bring something to the novel--often comedic moments, interspersed with more serious looks at each Prime Family's "home life" and ambitions.

We go between current happenings and past remembrances, of when the Crown Chasers knew each other as merely "friends". Each complex life left me wanting to know more about them, so it's fortuitous that this is the first of a projected series.

". . . You shall be codenamed: Humorless Killjoy."

I was completely swept away by the events and characters' relations here--if I had the time, it's a book I could have devoured in a single sitting. I'm greatly looking forward to the author's next book.

Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Celia.
Author 7 books487 followers
September 12, 2020
HOLY BALLS, YOU GUYS. This book was FIRE. I mean, I knew going in that I was in for a treat, but who knew that treat has rainbow jimmies and not one but TWO cherries. Gosh, now I'm hungry and excited and I cannot wait to hold this book in my grubby book hoarder hands that have now grown twice their size since finishing this here book. This masterpiece of YA sci-fi. This diamond in the rough.

Ok, review time.

I'll delve first into the voice of the novel, Alyssa Farshot. I love me some sassy protags who feel like I'm reading about myself. Alyssa's voice is what drew me into the novel before the story even ramped up. She's honest and fearless and sarcastic. She reminded me sooooo much of Malcolm Reynolds from Firefly. She doesn't want the crown that she's forced into fighting for nor does she want it to fall into the hands of someone who would not treat it right. She has this wall built up around her, but it comes down little by little and we get these glimpses of someone who just does not want to get hurt. She's our bisexual rep, which is so refreshing.

I loved that the romance does not take center stage. It's organic the way Alyssa interacts with her ex, Faye, and current, Hell Monkey (yes, that's his name and it's amazing). I know some people will be disappointed, but what do you expect when you're in a race involving dogfights and wormholes and whatnot?

The world-building was fun. The author has a way of letting your mind fill in the details without it being too scarce to visualize nothing. The different plants and people we meet along the way stand out on their own.

I adored this book. I will adore it forever and ever. I will dm the author on Instagram like the creep I am and tell her so.

Thank you Edelweiss and the publisher for the e-arc. :D

Follow me on Insta, yo: https://www.instagram.com/celiamcmaho...
Profile Image for Emma.
2,435 reviews828 followers
October 1, 2021
I feel like the story was a good one but not written to best advantage. For me the weakness was in the characterisation- particularly of Alyssa, the MC who seems to constantly pointing out what a badass she is. I liked the world building.
Profile Image for Leah Waters.
366 reviews57 followers
January 18, 2021
Yeah...I'm DNFing this. I don't think it's the book's fault, which is why I'm giving it 3.5 out of 5. Maybe I just don't feel like a sci fi adventure right now???

Who knows.
Profile Image for The Nerd Daily.
720 reviews345 followers
October 5, 2020
Originally published on The Nerd Daily | Review by Kibby Robinson

Sometimes a book comes along and reminds you of why you love a particular genre. Crownchasers by Rebecca Coffindaffer is that book for science fiction. Packed with action, snark, and a competition to claim the rule of the empire, Crownchasers is a love letter to all that is good in science fiction.

Alyssa Farshot is running. From her family’s legacy, from her emotions, from sobriety. But she can’t run from the royal call to join the crownchase, a hunt for the hidden royal seal where the winner becomes the next ruler. With the help of her trusty ship, a childhood friend, and her loyal engineer that she definitely does not have feelings for, Alyssa will have to navigate the royal politics she left behind and race to retrieve the royal seal before it’s too late.

For some reason, the publishing industry seems to think YA science fiction is a dying genre. I won’t go full soapbox on that here, but I will kindly direct every YA science fiction naysayer’s attention to the sheer perfection that is Crownchasers. It is is everything you want in a book: fast-paced but never lacking for emotion, rich with diversity and unique worlds, and characters that you can relate to, cheer for, and want to be drinking buddies with.

Read the FULL REVIEW on The Nerd Daily
Profile Image for Andy.
2,408 reviews190 followers
January 1, 2021
4.5/5

I feel like YA sci-fi is increasingly raising the bar. Like damn my heart hurts after this book! Captain Alyssa Farshot has been trying to outrun her family legacy for as long as she can. Her mother sacrificed everything to bring peace to the quadrant, and her uncle has successfully ruled as emperor for decades. Yet Alyssa has never has ambitions for the throne, her dreams lay with traveling and exploring the stars.

Sadly, her uncle is gravely ill and his dying wish is for a Crownchase. The first in seven centuries. All the sudden, Alyssa and all the representatives of the empire’s prime families are thrown into a race for the royal seal. The first to find the seal wins the throne. But this crownchase is like nothing before and when it turns deadly, Alyssa will have to question everything about her life and dreams.

Alyssa is a disaster pan and likes to shoot fingers guns when she's nervous, highly relatable. She also denies the existence of any feelings she might possibly have for her engineer, Hell Monkey. These two were so easy to love and their innate compatibility was perfect for the crownchase. Hell Monkey is just a soft boy who's past is a mystery but also tragic. I didn't think I'd love him as much as I did, but god my heart is soft. I loved that these two were such an amusing and quick-witted pair.

Then there's Alyssa's friendship with Coy. These two have been friends for a long time and Alyssa is quick to form an alliance with her in order to get Coy onto the throne. I loved their partnership so much. Coy was equal parts determination and vivacity. Her character was ready to do the dirty work, but also ready to party with Alyssa. I loved these two so much. I want more female friendships like this in all the books.

The ending was heart wrenching. Like how could Coffindaffer do this to me!? Though Alyssa is out for blood and will have her revenge and I am ready for this.
Profile Image for michelle (magical reads).
860 reviews219 followers
September 13, 2020
4.25 stars

read on my blog

rep: pansexual protagonist, gay side characters, wlw side characters
cw: alcohol use, blood/gore, death/loss of a loved one, emotional withholding from a parental figure, murder, guilt and trauma, science fiction-related violence (i.e., blasters, spaceship battles, etc.)

**I received an ARC from the author (thank you, Rebecca!). These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**

Alyssa Farshot, I name you crownchaser.


Frankly, the cover of this book caught my eye and I added it to my tbr list just because of that. And I’m so glad I did because this book was so great! Crownchasers was a fun romp through space as we follow a fast-paced competition for the crown.

Alyssa Farshot has been on the run from her responsibilities as the emperor’s niece. Instead of sitting through endless meetings and trying to fill expectations, she’s been exploring the galaxy with her friend and engineer, Hell Monkey, until one day, her uncle’s husband tracks her down to inform her that her uncle is gravely ill. She races back, only for her uncle to tell her that he’s not naming her heir, but rather, he’s calling a crownchase, a competition where all of the heirs of the prime families must compete, following clues to the royal seal.

This was such a fun book overall! I maintain that sometimes SFF books should simply be fun, and I really loved that this book was just that. Alyssa’s inner monologue is witty, adding a lot of humor to the story. This isn’t to say that there aren’t serious moments; her uncle has just died, and she’s faced with her grief as well as all of the buried emotions she’s held in favor of a lighthearted persona.

The plot takes a breathless pace. The crownchase is essentially a series of clues that leads the competitors throughout the galaxy in search of the royal seal. Coffindaffer has clearly given a lot of thought to the worldbuilding of this book; small aspects of the worlds and technology are well-established without ever being heavy handed or confusing.

Also, the writing is amazing: You really feel like you’re in Alyssa’s head. This allowed her characterization to grow as we’re revealed to so many different sides of her. She, along with the other characters, feel very fleshed out.

Be careful out there. You’ve been out of the politics game for a while. And just because you stopped paying attention to us doesn’t mean that we stopped paying attention to you.


The characters were perhaps my favorite part of this book. Again, I really loved Alyssa; she’s clever and sarcastic and entirely chaotic. I also really related to her desperate need to escape from absolutely any responsibility, ever. I loved Hell Monkey as well; yeah, I know what you’re thinking, can’t believe I like a character named HELL MONKEY! But really, he’s great and supporitve and a constant, reassuring presence at Alyssa’s side. The two of them also have a friends-with-benefits-ish relationship, a dynamic that I always love.

The other side characters were very developed as well. I really enjoyed reading about all of their ties to each other since they grew up together. There are numerous flashback chapters that give us more perspective on how we’ve gotten to where we are now.

This book also normalizes LGB relationships! Alyssa is pansexual, and it’s established that she’s had relationships with people of different genders. Of course, she has gay uncles, and no one bats an eye that the emperor is married to a man. There are also wlw side characters.

I will say that there was one character that I hated, and we get his point-of-view at times. Since I disliked him so much, I really hated whenever his narrative would come up. This put a damper on the other aspects of the plot, to me, but I also understand why his point-of-view is explored. His perspective add another layer to the story, as well as serves as means to further the plot.

Overall, Crownchasers was a standout debut. The writing was amazing, and the characters will stay with you. I really enjoyed the plot and the pacing as well. If you’re looking for a fun, fast-paced novel set in space, I can’t recommend Crownchasers enough!

original review:

broooooooooo that ending 😔 but this was so fun tho!!
Profile Image for USOM.
2,426 reviews199 followers
September 16, 2020
(Disclaimer: I received this book from Edelweiss. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)

I have been in such a SF mood and Crownchasers is a book that swept me away. Delightfully queer and full of fantastic spaceship races, blaster fire, and action, Crownchasers is an action packed ride. And while I loved the action, all the SF world building and goodness that I adore in SF, what I loved were the characters. Alyssa just got to me. I'm not sure if it was her humor defense mechanism, prickly friendships, or her past, but I love her character. What I loved is that she's clever, fierce, and incredibly talented, and she knows it.

She knows how awesome and amazing she is, how reckless and fearless her actions are, and how they are normally a bad idea that sometimes works out. But even more so, she's vulnerable. While she doesn't hide her insecurities from the readers, she also barely conceals them to her friends. And they see it, beyond her defenses, and it's just all sort of assumed and tender? Alyssa is strong and brave, but also acknowledges the loneliness of drifting amongst the stars.

full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
Profile Image for Tim.
881 reviews15 followers
February 26, 2023
To win, you need to be cagey, fearless, a brilliant pilot. Speaking two dozen languages wouldn't hurt. Neither would knowing the quadrant like the back of your hand or having friends in every dive, stall, and spaceport from here to the Outer Wastes.
To win the crownchase, basically, you'd have to be someone like me.


... Whew... I don't know where to start...

It's always good when you think that a book will turn out to be five stars, and then that it actually happens.

Maybe the most striking is the world - well, all the worlds. Crownchasers is set in a galaxy with hundreds of planets, and they are all so different! Every single one of them has other life forms, other cultures, other ecosystems. I don't think I've ever come across a science-fiction book that was so diverse and still so detailed. Coffindaffer has really thought about it (and probably has a document of several pages containing all the information she's come up with) and provides bits and pieces, sometimes bigger ones, other times smaller ones, of every place she makes you visit throughout the book. Her originality is truly, absolutely astounding. She's a miracle worker, and she describes a new miracle every chapter.

The main character is Alyssa, who is just as big a marvel as the world she inhabits. She's fearless, dauntless, funny, sassy, badass... I could go on and on. She's simply perfect, that's what it comes down to. Her way of life, what she makes of it and how she meets everything head-on (together with a necessary tea spoon of sarcasm - well, make that a bucket of sarcasm)... You can feel her energy radiating off the pages. And she's accompanied by other characters that are just as full-fledged as her, especially Coy and Hell Monkey (don't ask). Faye and Setter are less at the forefront, but still enormously interesting. The way everyone interacts with one another feels so natural. All the crownchasers know each other and have a history together, and it was very interesting to read about that too in Alyssa's flashbacks. Even so, I feel there's still much more being left unsaid. I'm not often saying this, but I would love a prequel to this book that explores their history. One small question: Am I the only one who thinks it's a bit weird that all the contestants are about the same age (and so young)? That's slightly odd, but, well, fine, I'll just ride with it. That's a detail.
However! Edgar. OMFG. Edgar. Alyssa wants to kill him - and so do I. Hell yes, and please let her do in the most gruesome way you can think of, Coffindaffer. He is so horrible. If I were to make a Top 5 of Most Hated Characters Ever, I'm almost sure he'd be on there. He's such a dirty, sneaky, evil, vicious rat - or whatever creature you can come up with. I'm just getting worked up thinking about him right now, so I'll stop now. But boy, I hope that whatever's coming for him will be an unimaginably terrible death. He deserves it. If you're reading this and you think so too, send me a message so we can virtually spit on him in our minds together.

*breathes out* Okay. Calm down, Tim, calm down, he's gone, for the moment.

The story is divided into the chapters told from Alyssa's point of view, flashbacks told from her point of view, newspaper headlines following the crownchase, and some chapters from Edgar's point of view (YES, I KNOW, DON'T GET ME STARTED). That makes for a very thrilling and original read. The story never loses its pace, and believe me, the pace is incredibly high. So much happens and all of it is as exciting as the bit before it. This is one of those books you just wish you could read in one sitting (don't forget to put some tranquiliser pills close to you for your - relatively speaking - peace of mind). There are some very small details in the story that don't seem to add up entirely, or where I had questions (like the one about the characters), like something regarding the background of the crownchase. But as I said: details. Don't worry about them. You might come across them, but they're gone just as swiftly. The story is one hell of a ride, filled with twists and turns in every possible direction. When you think you know the rules, Coffindaffer pulls something extra out of her sleeve and leaves you open-mouthed once again. There are also quite some emotional scenes in it, especially near the end. Make sure your heart doesn't come beating out your chest.

The cover seems a bit too orange-and-blue at first, but check out the details. Look at the little scene playing out on Alyssa's chest, it's so beautifully done! This is one of the reasons I first noticed the book. Also, Coffindaffer is such a cool name.

I can't wait to find out what happens next. I'm missing Alyssa, the others and their world already. I'm not saying there's nothing wrong with this book, because on some small levels, there are a few weird bits floating around - but hey, the rest of the story is just one big chunk of absolute awesomeness.

9.6/10
Profile Image for ♠ TABI⁷ ♠.
Author 15 books485 followers
Want to read
June 17, 2020
I think I'm wired to instantly love wisecrackers in space

hang on Lara Croft & Star Wars as the inspirations for this??

I NEED IT NOW
Profile Image for Skip.
3,288 reviews395 followers
October 27, 2021
Alyssa Farshot (a/k/a Faroshti) is the niece of the Emperor and his male consort. She wants nothing to do with ruling. She receives a spaceship as a gift and has been exploring the universe with her engineer, Hell Monkey. She is called back to discover that her uncle is dying and he announces a Crownchase, where each of the seven prime families send a member and sidekick to seek the royal seal to determine the successor to the realm. Alyssa and Hell Monkey are quite a pair, funny, irreverent, freedom loving, faithful, reckless, etc. The competition is fierce, and there is quite a bit of treachery as they follow clues and overcome some fierce obstacles. Interspersed in the developing drama, Coffindaffer provides a number of backstories of the seven families growing up together. Good space opera and a thrilling ride, and the sequel (Thronebreakers) is available for those of you who don’t like to wait.
Profile Image for Lisa (A Life Bound By Books).
1,107 reviews749 followers
January 17, 2021
Okay. I loved this book. Was exactly what I needed. I’m not sure if it’s a 4.5 star read or a 5 star, but I did love it loads. So many amazing characters. A race for the crown and all set in space. Epic!

This title has multiple POVs, however the story mainly is told from one character - Alyssa Farshot. And all the other characters, together share a history of growing up somewhat together. That they know each other is just a whole other layer to the other all plot.

It’s an adventurous thrill ride pretty much from the first page and doesn’t end until the turn of that last page.

I couldn’t have guessed exactly how things would turn out. It I had a bad feeling the whole time.

Also, a character who goes by the name Hell Monkey? Yes please!

I didn’t want the book to end. I took a couple of days to read it so I could savor it a bit longer. Because when I found myself at the last page, ugh. I hated there was nothing left for me to read.

And WHAT AN ENDING THAT WAS! I NEED the next book NOW! I HAVE to know what’s going to happen next.

So, yeah. Loved it. I highly recommend it. Can’t wait to see what you think, enjoy!
Profile Image for Christine Manzari.
Author 12 books1,111 followers
October 26, 2020
This was epic. Perfect for fans of Ashlords, Aurora Rising, and Nyxia. Hell Monkey is one of my new favorite characters.
Profile Image for Ashley Shuttleworth.
Author 6 books738 followers
December 17, 2020
This was the queer af sci-fi book i've been wanting to read ALL year and it did NOT disappoint!!! I lived for Alyssa's sarcasm all throughout this, and her relationship with Hell Monkey--and Hell Monkey himself! Plus all the heart-stopping action and competition, the intrigue, THE ENDING, and all the other Crownchasers, they all just had such a great dynamic and of course Rebecca used them to step all over my heart!! I can't wait for the sequel to this. I can wait for more gay space adventures to happen in 2021. Please.
Profile Image for Kat.
113 reviews86 followers
February 9, 2021
4.5 STARS

Reading this book was like making the Kessel Run in 12 parsecs; it was fast-paced, it was fists-clenched-white-knuckles-level intense, and it was one heck of a ride. All I can say is hold onto your butt, because Crownchasers is the YA space opera of your dreams and it will rattle your heart as much as a jump to hyperspace.
Profile Image for Alechia.
Author 6 books620 followers
May 8, 2021
I absolutely LOVED this book. It was fast-paced and adventurous and you will root for Alyssa and HM the entire time. I recommend this to anyone who loves fun, well-plotted, compelling scifi! READ THIS BOOK
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