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A Crown of Talons

(A Throne of Swans #2)

Katharine Corr (Goodreads Author),

Elizabeth Corr (Goodreads Author)

4.24 · Rating details · 49 ratings · 23 reviews

Fight or flight . . . or both?

Three months after Aderyn's coronation the court is celebrating the Solstice, but Aderyn is preoccupied by Lucien's continuing hostility. The celebrations are interrupted by the arrival of nobles who have escaped from the neighbouring country of Celonia - the flightless have risen up and overthrown their rulers. The world is changing.

As people ...more

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Paperback, 352 pages

Published January 14th 2021 by Hot Key Books

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2021 UKYA & Irish YA Fantasy

24 books — 6 voters

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Average rating 4.24 ·

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· 49 ratings · 23 reviews

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Start your review of A Crown of Talons (A Throne of Swans, #2)

Dec 29, 2020 Bookphenomena (Micky) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ya-fantasy, duo-authors, 2020-december, bookstagram-tour

How did I not realise this was a duology and not a series? I’m pretty pleased I got the culmination in book two and this was a pleasant realisation towards the end. I didn’t have chance to re-read the first book before diving into A Crown of Talons but I needn’t have worried, these authors caught you back into the tale with ease and without repeating lots of info. I knew where I was within a few pages and I was totally wrapped up in the story in those first few pages too.

The world of A Throne of ...more

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Dec 28, 2020 Karen rated it really liked it

Shelves: arcs-direct-from-publisher

I really enjoyed reading the previous book, A Throne of Swans, and so I was delighted when I was given the opportunity to read and review this final book in the duology. The world is fascinating and easy to grasp and I loved the drama at court and the historical setting. There are some fabulous descriptions of the scenery, costumes and weaponry and the duo-authors manage to create a wonderful atmosphere in every scene, drawing the reader into the story. There is an obvious hierarchal system wher I really enjoyed reading the previous book, A Throne of Swans, and so I was delighted when I was given the opportunity to read and review this final book in the duology. The world is fascinating and easy to grasp and I loved the drama at court and the historical setting. There are some fabulous descriptions of the scenery, costumes and weaponry and the duo-authors manage to create a wonderful atmosphere in every scene, drawing the reader into the story. There is an obvious hierarchal system whereby the nobility can transform into birds representative of their particular house and those who cannot, called the ‘flightless’ and they are there to serve the nobility. The world had a wonderful magical feeling reminiscent of a fairytale.

It’s easy to read with it’s clear narrative and the storyline held my attention, more so after the halfway point where things really got exciting and the book is hard to put down. Some elements of the plot are a little predictable, whilst others took me completely by surprise. It is fast paced and action packed, with exciting battle scenes, betrayal and some plot twists along the way.

There is a wonderful cast of characters who have depth and interesting character traits. Initially I did have difficulty remembering some of them from the previous novel, but the addition of the family tree and map of Solanum in the front of the book is a really useful reference and helped a lot remembering who was who. Aderyn is a fabulous female lead, she is determined, fearless and clear and confident in her commands, she makes the perfect queen and slipped into this role really well. Lucien sadly is not one of my favourite characters I found him weak and easily lead and Aderyn forgave him far to readily for his misdemeanours. I also preferred the relationship Aderyn had with Aron, rather than Lucien, and although in this relationship they don’t have romantic feelings towards each other, they come across as supportive, caring and really devoted to one another despite the circumstances of their marriage.

A Crown of Talons is a wonderful finale to this captivating series. There is a great no nonsense ending, which wraps the duology up very satisfactorily. Highly recommended for anyone who likes fast-paced, action-packed YA fantasy/romance novels in an historical setting.

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this lovely book in exchange for an honest review.
...more

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Jan 04, 2021 Becca (Horners_book_corner) rated it really liked it

I absolutely adore the premise of a fantastical world with people who can transform into birds. A Throne of Swans was such a great read, I was keen to read the sequel, A Crown of Talons' as soon a possible.
The deception and betrayals are running rife in Solanum. Aderyn and Aron need to fight together in order to save it from the treacherous Tallis and get the ancient Crown of Talons back. But a marriage where you love each other as cousins has its pitfalls. With underlying currents of equality, ...more

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Jan 02, 2021 ThatBookGal rated it really liked it

Full review available on my blog.

Quick Review

A really satisfying end to the duology. This is certainly not a happy read, with lots of pain and suffering throughout the various twists and turns that the story takes. Lots of politics and scheming, and the second half in particular is crammed with action.

...more

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Jan 11, 2021 Joyfulbooklover rated it it was amazing

Shelves: caitlin-s-all-time-favourites

5 stars

This book did something I didn't believe was possible. It has pushed Supernova by Marrisa Meyer off the spot of favourite book.

Sister Katharine Elizabeth Corr never disappoint. This book was mind blowing and amazing.

It was such a good, interesting, fun book. There were moments(like the last few chapters)Where I couldn't stop yelling at the characters.

The ending was really thought out and I enjoyed it a lot. This will be a series I go back and read many more times.

And it's safe to say, the ...more

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Jan 04, 2021 Shannon (ridiculusreads) rated it it was amazing

It’s always a little bit scary and a little bit daunting picking up the finale in a duology when you adored the first book and rated it so highly.
Firstly, there’s the fear that you won’t like it. That it will disappoint you and that disappointment will taint the first book for you. There’s a fear that your favourite characters won’t get the revenge they deserve, that their story will end on an unhappy note, that the world in which you loved in book one will feel different or unbalanced in the fi ...more

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Jan 02, 2021 Jennifer Ayre rated it really liked it

This is the sequel to Throne of Swans, which I read as an ARC at the start of 2020, so it seems fitting to read Crown of Talons as an ARC at the end of the year.
A lot happens in this book, and honestly we got to about 80 pages from the end and I couldn't see how this would wrap up. I feel that it could have benefited from being a trilogy, as there is so much build up in this book that the actual battle for the Throne is very quick and takes place over just a couple chapters, I'd have loved to h ...more

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Jan 10, 2021 Hâf rated it it was amazing

One year ago I read Throne of Swans by Katharine and Elizabeth Corr. It's the story of a young woman desperate to discover who murdered her mother. After the death of her father at just seventeen she travels to the Citadel to uncover secret plots and brutal betrayals. I loved this unique and fascinating story about a world of shapeshifters who could become birds at will and I couldn't wait to read the sequel.
After the explosive ending of the first novel I wasn't sure what to expect from the sequ ...more

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Dec 30, 2020 Nikki rated it really liked it

Shelves: arcs-and-review-copies

I received this book from the publisher as part of a bookstagram tour. As always, my opinions are honest.

I found this a welcome return to the world of A Throne of Swans, which I also really enjoyed! I didn't reread it and luckily picked up what was going on very fast, which is always excellent.

I think this had a little bit more on the romance BS than I really wanted, but I loved Aderyn and Aron's relationship. Well more her relationship with him. I really didn't understand why he was sometimes ...more

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Jan 11, 2021 Marie rated it really liked it

I really enjoyed this book! I adore Aderyn so much, she has now become one of my favourite characters.

I love this magical world, I adore the magic of turning into Swans, it’s so beautiful. It was a great read, full of emotions, love, betrayal and devastation. That’s why it was bitter sweet, I loved it but one part was so shocking and sad, oh my heart. The ending was perfect and the story was finished nicely.

I am so pleased o found this duology, a new favourite of mine and will recommend to ever ...more

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Jan 04, 2021 Rachael Mills rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-owned

A Throne of Swans is a book I’m constantly recommending to fantasy fans. It’s full of political intrigue and deadly games and I’m pleased to say book two ups the ante even more. There’s a lot of suspicion in Aderyn’s court and she often seems not to know who she can trust. Betrayal is a main theme and one Aderyn soon finds herself confronting.

I still absolutely adore the shape-shifting element of the story and loved seeing it more regularly in this book. With Aderyn now ruling the kingdom alongs ...more

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Jan 14, 2021 The Bookish Faerie rated it really liked it

I loved the cover in a wing beat, the design represents the duology as a whole. So brutal, dark and cruel with a feather of pure white just as the sunlight hits it as though it was representing peace even in savage times.

"A Crown of Talons" is the sequel of "A Throne of Swans" written by the Corr Sisters. We are brought back straight into the festivities of the Celonia Court celebrating their new monarchs.

If you're looking for an easy series to read, this ain't it. It is filled with intricate I loved the cover in a wing beat, the design represents the duology as a whole. So brutal, dark and cruel with a feather of pure white just as the sunlight hits it as though it was representing peace even in savage times.

"A Crown of Talons" is the sequel of "A Throne of Swans" written by the Corr Sisters. We are brought back straight into the festivities of the Celonia Court celebrating their new monarchs.

If you're looking for an easy series to read, this ain't it. It is filled with intricate court politics and centries old decrees that are old fashion to the new world. It is a short story (two books) but it seems very long in terms of the drama, intensity, violence. The Corr sisters wrote what could had been a series as long as Game of Thrones into a duology, which I thank them daily for. I don't think I'll have the energy to read ALL the books. Here's a simple run down for you, imagine Game of Thrones (the bloodiness) and The White Queen series (rich abundance history), ok got that? Now, the nobles in the land have the magic to transform into Birds of their Houses, the others in the Kingdom who aren't noble are called the flightless, they are the minority of the Kingdom. Flightless can only be touched by the nobles wearing thick leather gloves or else they will be burnt. If you love master schemes and brutal twists, this duology is for you.

In "A Crown of Talons", the flightless are sick of the empty promises and the inequality of the Kingdom. New to the crown, Aderyn and her husband Aron must tactically evade civil war and introduce change to the old fashion nobles set on protecting the double standards luxuries and advantages their House has for centuries.

Aderyn has once again captured my heart with her fearlessness and her selflessness. As Queen, she acknowledges the double standards of the Kingdom and the privilege she has been given since birth, knowing all that, she sets out to rewrite the Kingdom with her ideals hopping to make Solanum fairer to all. In this thrilling sequel, we read on as the young rulers set to shape a new world for all. Those who do not agree, can either die in their old world or live in the new one. (see what I did there? GOT)

Thank you so much to @definitely.books for sending me an ARC! Happy book birthday to A Crown of Talons. I can't wait to see what the Corr sisters stir up next! ...more

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Jan 14, 2021 Sifa Poulton rated it it was amazing

A CROWN OF TALONS was one of my most anticipated reads this year, and now I have to try and write a coherent review, rather than just screaming about how I loved it (and also, how dare the Corr sisters do that?!) I also have to try and do this without spoilers, which is the other very tricky bit.

The long and short is that I loved this book. This series is easily one of my favourite fantasy duologies. While I am sad that it is now finished and there's no more time to be spent with Aderyn and Aron ...more

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Jan 03, 2021 Amy rated it liked it

Thank you so much to Kaleidoscope Tours & Hot Key Books YA for sending me a copy of A Crown of Talons! A Throne of Swans was one of my favourite reads of 2020 so I had high expectations for A Crown of Talons and sadly I think that my expectations were perhaps too high...

Let me start by saying I love the cover of this book and I love the fact that it's a duology because there really aren't enough duology books in the fantasy world. This book starts off exactly where the first book left off and ...more

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Jan 11, 2021 Miss Sabine rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, 2021, creatures, fairy-tales, kindle, loved-it, magic

My thoughts on it...well I started reading it almost directly after I'd finished A Throne of Swans so I had no difficulties with the world (or the telling of the story in the present tense). Actually it was kind of easier to read. For the first 30 or so pages I was a bit bored cause nothing really happened. Ofc I made a wish like: Duh I hope something is happening soon or... Well sometimes wishes obviously get granted. At 3/4 of the story I had killing urge for almost everyone (except Valentin p ...more

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Jan 14, 2021 Steven Willmott rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy

As in the first book, the characters are really well crafted and likable. The story moves along quickly and there are plenty of twists and turns along the way. The authors do a great job of keeping the premise of the strange world alive and making this support the story.

Having a strong set of female protagonists who are both complex and nuanced is also great to see!

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Jan 12, 2021 Lifeinbookland rated it liked it

I LOVED THE MIDDLE OF THE BOOK and was going towards 4 stars but the ending was... safe?

This book is full of court drama and politics which I really enjoyed.

If you are looking for a twisty read this one is definitely it and I would recommend it

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Jan 14, 2021 Natalie rated it liked it

The concluding book in a duology. A great read, easy to get lost in, so it's a perfect mental escape from everything that is currently going on. I would definitely recommend this and the first book in this series. ...more

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Jan 06, 2021 Rachel Louise rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-i-own

Rated: 4.5/5 Stars (rounded up to 5)

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Jan 15, 2021 Gary Collins rated it it was amazing

A perfect end to an incredible series
I absolutely loved this book it made me cry and smile
Can’t wait to read more from Katharine and Elizabeth
❤️💙💚💛🧡

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Jan 10, 2021 Beth Knight rated it it was amazing

A stunning rollercoaster, heart-shredding finale that had my heart in my mouth and almost made me cry, which given I don't cry at fiction is IMPRESSIVE.

I adore Katherine and Liz. ...more

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