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Crown of Crowns
In a kingdom where the ruling and lower classes live and die apart by law, a noblewoman and a commoner make a fatal they fall in love. Kaelyn, a young noblewoman, feels smothered under the harsh constraints of the Decens-Lenitas, the legal and moral code that governs the people of the Geniverd Kingdom. When she meets Roki, a handsome young man from the city with knowledge and aspirations beyond his status, Kaelyn realizes she’s not the only person trapped. She starts to question everything she thought she knew, including about the Gurnots, a group of rebels set on overthrowing the laws—people who the nobles have labeled as terrorists. When her parents find out that she’s spending more time with a lowborn citizen, they forbid her to meet Roki ever again. He’s common. She could be queen. Kaelyn tries to move on. Her future as a potential leader depends on it. But she can’t forget Roki, or the ominous signs his lessons now make the death of an obedient follower of Decens-Lenitas, the unrest that follows … and the whispers of conspiracy. With the lives of all free people at stake, Kaelyn must uncover the truth—even if she risks her heart at every turn.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2020
77 people are currently reading
336 people want to read
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August 6, 2024
“Death takes everything and gives nothing.”
Crown of Crowns was a confusing read. The reason I could only give one star is because there were too many things happening in 236 pages. Now you might think that's a good thing. But no, it wasn't for me. The plot was all over the place, characters flat and unlikeable, and most importantly the story was unbelievable. It felt at times ridiculous to read.
Some of the topics covered in this book are a dystopian society, royalty, the fight for power, romance, science-fiction elements such as robots, astral travel, spirits, other spiritual concepts, betrayal, friendship, murder, death, war, a global pandemic, survival, hunger and poverty, and politics. See now, why that could be a bit too many concepts in one book?
The only thing I enjoyed was that this book was at least short and easy to get through.
Edit: After reflecting about this story for a few days, I realised I can only give 1 star, as I did not like it overall, and Goodreads' 1 star rating states "did not like it".
Crown of Crowns was a confusing read. The reason I could only give one star is because there were too many things happening in 236 pages. Now you might think that's a good thing. But no, it wasn't for me. The plot was all over the place, characters flat and unlikeable, and most importantly the story was unbelievable. It felt at times ridiculous to read.
Some of the topics covered in this book are a dystopian society, royalty, the fight for power, romance, science-fiction elements such as robots, astral travel, spirits, other spiritual concepts, betrayal, friendship, murder, death, war, a global pandemic, survival, hunger and poverty, and politics. See now, why that could be a bit too many concepts in one book?
The only thing I enjoyed was that this book was at least short and easy to get through.
Edit: After reflecting about this story for a few days, I realised I can only give 1 star, as I did not like it overall, and Goodreads' 1 star rating states "did not like it".
August 6, 2020
Crown of crowns did something great to me, that doesn't happen all the time : it COMPLETELY drew me in, and had me reading at the speed of sound, leading me to finish it in a little over a day. I had expected to enjoy this book, but not that much !
Sure, some things aren't perfect. I didn't like the way the characters are all so overly in love with their SO ; I was disappointed to see Kaelyn's friend are basically tools, with a tiny bit of a personnality, but honestly, those little things didn't matter much to me in the end.
The first thing that I liked in the book is how it kind of is a dystopia, without really showing it too much. I love dystopias, and when they're well written like this, it's even better.
The world-building is crucial in a book, and here I got a great world, a great environment, divided in several parts.
The story follows Kaelyn, daughter of a noble family, who never really fit in the lifestyle that was imposed to her. She dates Roki, common man, until her parents force her to stop seeing him. From then on, everything goes downhill for Kaelyn. Death follows, Roki disappears, and a rebellion is brewing among the people.
I loved reading about Kaelyn developping herself, following her instincts instead of accepting the dogma of nobility. She tries to do what's best for everyone, while remaining utterly obsessed with Roki even though he has been gone for years. The only thing I thought was a shame about her is the way she treats her friends ! She calls them at all hours of the day, asks them for something, and that's it. She NEVER is a supportive friend for Nnatti and Tissa, no matter that they just keep on giving and giving to her. Poor friends ! I would have loved to see a more healthy relationship between them.
Still, the pace of the book and all the events unraveling through it got me all excited and fascinated me enought to keep me glued to the pages. I also enjoyed the fact that I didn't see half the plot twists coming. I like being surprised like this when I read, and Crown of Crowns delivered. It's a debut book, but I have a feeling it's definitely not the last we'll hear from Clara Loveman.
Sure, some things aren't perfect. I didn't like the way the characters are all so overly in love with their SO ; I was disappointed to see Kaelyn's friend are basically tools, with a tiny bit of a personnality, but honestly, those little things didn't matter much to me in the end.
The first thing that I liked in the book is how it kind of is a dystopia, without really showing it too much. I love dystopias, and when they're well written like this, it's even better.
The world-building is crucial in a book, and here I got a great world, a great environment, divided in several parts.
The story follows Kaelyn, daughter of a noble family, who never really fit in the lifestyle that was imposed to her. She dates Roki, common man, until her parents force her to stop seeing him. From then on, everything goes downhill for Kaelyn. Death follows, Roki disappears, and a rebellion is brewing among the people.
I loved reading about Kaelyn developping herself, following her instincts instead of accepting the dogma of nobility. She tries to do what's best for everyone, while remaining utterly obsessed with Roki even though he has been gone for years. The only thing I thought was a shame about her is the way she treats her friends ! She calls them at all hours of the day, asks them for something, and that's it. She NEVER is a supportive friend for Nnatti and Tissa, no matter that they just keep on giving and giving to her. Poor friends ! I would have loved to see a more healthy relationship between them.
Still, the pace of the book and all the events unraveling through it got me all excited and fascinated me enought to keep me glued to the pages. I also enjoyed the fact that I didn't see half the plot twists coming. I like being surprised like this when I read, and Crown of Crowns delivered. It's a debut book, but I have a feeling it's definitely not the last we'll hear from Clara Loveman.
August 11, 2020
I had no clue what to expect, but omg I loved this?? I felt like I needed something else then I had waiting on me on my to be read list and felt very pulled towards the blurb of this book. I finished this in one sitting and loved every second of it. There is major character growth, a beautifull created world with scifi aspects, the romance and fantasy aspects are well filled too, and she really leaves no loose ends to get confused over. There’s alot of stuff to like about this book, but I think I like the relationships that Clara Loveman created in the story most. Everyone is very loveydovey tho, and you have to get over it. There’s solid build up towards multiple climaxes without dissapointing or getting boring in between. One of my favorite books I’ve read this year!
*I voluntarily reviewed this book after receiving a free copy. All opinions are my own and true to myself.
*I voluntarily reviewed this book after receiving a free copy. All opinions are my own and true to myself.
August 7, 2020
Crown of Crowns
Clara Loveman
Pub Date Aug 11 2020
Romance
Kaelyn is a young woman who in love with roki only that she knows it must not happen she going two become queen one day and her mum and dad forbid the romance they say roki is a lowborn and she must marry into the high clan two protect the people of geniverd t kingdom he country is owned by protecters they guard the house she lives in. Roki takes her two the market reenactment day her parents permit the market the people of geniverd set up markets of goods such has fruit vegetables fish stalls clothes home deco kaelyn loved it here she felt alive her roki was full of surprises he knew allot of everything she loved it. she knew it was time for roki two take her back home that night she argued with her mother over roki and her mother wanted her two go two her brother ceremony he passed two become a warrior he done his training kaolin didn't want two go two the ceremony she wanted two be with roki and she told her mother no her mother said you chose romance over your brother ceremony who going two be annoyed. Kaeyln made her mind up she wasn't going she invited roki round two the house he named as soon as they all left she was a nice dress for him dressed up well and they'd walk into the garden for hours unto the fish pond they talked about coming king and queen them selves and what it would be liked they'd talked for hours then kaelyn walked him into the bedroom and they kissed she loved that she wanted more of him but then her brother was coming up the stairs panicking in is voice they mother been killed kaolin fainted couldn't believe what was happening that month was the worst of her life she spent allot of time greeting the people with flowers and cards they left the city was in deeply sorrow she spent that month working on her charity that lording left her before she died she was going two marry zawne but someone killed her now she takes her the charity of helping others. Then her brother get married and it was a beautiful wedding she spent allot of time with her brother after her mother died he wanted her two marry zawne and she except the offer they got engaged and just before the wedding the three weeks she went two shoil were she discovered another universe the crown of crown they granted her queen and king only if zawne expected the offer she was ordered two tell him and he did they both went two shiol most night uphill the wedding. The wedding was amazing then she moved into the place the place was something two die for the only problem she was tired after going two shoil overnight she had two by the crown of crown order. She had two run the city how they wanted it two run in shiol she saw roki and lording there they were min she learnt everything about becoming a min she kew that she ha two die two become a min and she learnt that roki was a sprit and she could see him she was shocked she learnt that a min could take over a human body any time and do talk for them they dount know anything about it.
One night the pope of tori was starting fires and a war would be going ahead they were fighting causing fires in the city and town they weren't happy over the marriage of her and zawne she could wait zawne he was in shiol
The next Moment a disease like a virus flu was sweeping across Geniverd she fought only she could stop the virus she phoned her brother Reid told him the lab wouldn't produced the cure he said I sort it he got hold of the lab but they were no good.She went two the crown of crown for help but they were useless they said maybe lording is behind it she knew the only way she find out was two become a min she knew she had two die and she tole every one she loved then and she was strangled and shot and she was a min she went two lordin she knew she was behind it she wanted power over love she wanted two become queen but wanted the power of it instead she brought on the virus that was killing people she had two tell Reid her brother that lording was behind it he arrested the lab and demanded they gave the cure two them they did and people were saved she felt hero after he know she was a min she new now that her and roki could be together. She apologised two him and fought they could be together and in the end he showed her his kingdom and life he made underwater of geniverd and the crown of crown was retiring and asked them both if they were up for the task of crown of crown kaelyn knew she loved roki and that was that.She loved the fought of being with him for the ext hundreds of years and in charge together. Kaelyn is free now even know she knows the truth about her kingdom of the gurnots and min and shill.
Clara Loveman
Pub Date Aug 11 2020
Romance
Kaelyn is a young woman who in love with roki only that she knows it must not happen she going two become queen one day and her mum and dad forbid the romance they say roki is a lowborn and she must marry into the high clan two protect the people of geniverd t kingdom he country is owned by protecters they guard the house she lives in. Roki takes her two the market reenactment day her parents permit the market the people of geniverd set up markets of goods such has fruit vegetables fish stalls clothes home deco kaelyn loved it here she felt alive her roki was full of surprises he knew allot of everything she loved it. she knew it was time for roki two take her back home that night she argued with her mother over roki and her mother wanted her two go two her brother ceremony he passed two become a warrior he done his training kaolin didn't want two go two the ceremony she wanted two be with roki and she told her mother no her mother said you chose romance over your brother ceremony who going two be annoyed. Kaeyln made her mind up she wasn't going she invited roki round two the house he named as soon as they all left she was a nice dress for him dressed up well and they'd walk into the garden for hours unto the fish pond they talked about coming king and queen them selves and what it would be liked they'd talked for hours then kaelyn walked him into the bedroom and they kissed she loved that she wanted more of him but then her brother was coming up the stairs panicking in is voice they mother been killed kaolin fainted couldn't believe what was happening that month was the worst of her life she spent allot of time greeting the people with flowers and cards they left the city was in deeply sorrow she spent that month working on her charity that lording left her before she died she was going two marry zawne but someone killed her now she takes her the charity of helping others. Then her brother get married and it was a beautiful wedding she spent allot of time with her brother after her mother died he wanted her two marry zawne and she except the offer they got engaged and just before the wedding the three weeks she went two shoil were she discovered another universe the crown of crown they granted her queen and king only if zawne expected the offer she was ordered two tell him and he did they both went two shiol most night uphill the wedding. The wedding was amazing then she moved into the place the place was something two die for the only problem she was tired after going two shoil overnight she had two by the crown of crown order. She had two run the city how they wanted it two run in shiol she saw roki and lording there they were min she learnt everything about becoming a min she kew that she ha two die two become a min and she learnt that roki was a sprit and she could see him she was shocked she learnt that a min could take over a human body any time and do talk for them they dount know anything about it.
One night the pope of tori was starting fires and a war would be going ahead they were fighting causing fires in the city and town they weren't happy over the marriage of her and zawne she could wait zawne he was in shiol
The next Moment a disease like a virus flu was sweeping across Geniverd she fought only she could stop the virus she phoned her brother Reid told him the lab wouldn't produced the cure he said I sort it he got hold of the lab but they were no good.She went two the crown of crown for help but they were useless they said maybe lording is behind it she knew the only way she find out was two become a min she knew she had two die and she tole every one she loved then and she was strangled and shot and she was a min she went two lordin she knew she was behind it she wanted power over love she wanted two become queen but wanted the power of it instead she brought on the virus that was killing people she had two tell Reid her brother that lording was behind it he arrested the lab and demanded they gave the cure two them they did and people were saved she felt hero after he know she was a min she new now that her and roki could be together. She apologised two him and fought they could be together and in the end he showed her his kingdom and life he made underwater of geniverd and the crown of crown was retiring and asked them both if they were up for the task of crown of crown kaelyn knew she loved roki and that was that.She loved the fought of being with him for the ext hundreds of years and in charge together. Kaelyn is free now even know she knows the truth about her kingdom of the gurnots and min and shill.
June 2, 2023
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
(This review is NOT spoiler-free)
In the first pages, we were thrown into the midst of Kaelyn and Roki's getaway in the city, and they were described as madly in love with each other. This was one of the things that irked me the most about "Crown of Crows," though it might be just a personal preference problem because I loved reading the buildup of a relationship instead of an established one like what happened in this book. Their first meeting was briefly mentioned, but that's it. There was no further explanation about how their relationship progressed, even though both of them seemed smitten with each other (to the point that Kaelyn was willing to throw away all her highborn upbringing for Roki, whom she had just met not long ago). As someone who disliked insta-love, their relationship was not believable enough for me, and I simply couldn't be invested in them.
Another big issue was the worldbuilding, or rather, the lack thereof. There was no setup whatsoever about the kingdom and the all-important moral code of Decens-Lenitas. It was a vital part of the society and was brought up many times throughout the book, but it was never fully explained.
I also couldn't feel emotionally attached to the main character or any other characters, to be honest. Kaelyn felt like a Mary Sue, and while her naivety in the first few chapters could be excused because she was only fifteen years old, it didn't get better as she grew up. The relationships (both platonic and romantic) between the characters also felt flat because there wasn't any buildup at all. I really couldn't care less about any of them.
All in all, "Crown of Crows" was a disappointing read for me. It's too bad because at first, I was quite intrigued by the synopsis.
(This review is NOT spoiler-free)
In the first pages, we were thrown into the midst of Kaelyn and Roki's getaway in the city, and they were described as madly in love with each other. This was one of the things that irked me the most about "Crown of Crows," though it might be just a personal preference problem because I loved reading the buildup of a relationship instead of an established one like what happened in this book. Their first meeting was briefly mentioned, but that's it. There was no further explanation about how their relationship progressed, even though both of them seemed smitten with each other (to the point that Kaelyn was willing to throw away all her highborn upbringing for Roki, whom she had just met not long ago). As someone who disliked insta-love, their relationship was not believable enough for me, and I simply couldn't be invested in them.
Another big issue was the worldbuilding, or rather, the lack thereof. There was no setup whatsoever about the kingdom and the all-important moral code of Decens-Lenitas. It was a vital part of the society and was brought up many times throughout the book, but it was never fully explained.
I also couldn't feel emotionally attached to the main character or any other characters, to be honest. Kaelyn felt like a Mary Sue, and while her naivety in the first few chapters could be excused because she was only fifteen years old, it didn't get better as she grew up. The relationships (both platonic and romantic) between the characters also felt flat because there wasn't any buildup at all. I really couldn't care less about any of them.
All in all, "Crown of Crows" was a disappointing read for me. It's too bad because at first, I was quite intrigued by the synopsis.
March 16, 2021
I got this eARC from Netgalley in exhange for a honest review
It was very interesting, parts of it espesially the end felt rushed. But the red threads came together and i did like how it ended.
It was very interesting, parts of it espesially the end felt rushed. But the red threads came together and i did like how it ended.
August 10, 2020
I'd like to start by thanking the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I give this book 2.5 stars. I thought the idea for this plot was original and promising, but I had some issues with the execution of the story.
The plot:
The story follows Kaelyn, an heir from a noble family, as she falls in love with Roki, a commoner. Kaelyn's parents are not happy about her relationship with Roki, because they feel it would lower Kaelyn's chances of being picked by the Crown of Crowns to become the next queen. Meanwhile, Kaelyn feels smothered under the rules that her parents set for her and she longs to break free and make a change in the world for the common people.
What I liked:
As said before, I liked the idea of the plot. The way the Crown of Crowns is portrayed is interesting, and I don't think I've come across any other book with a similar plot. In that sense, it felt like it could be a very interesting, original story.
Even though I really had to get used to the time skips in the first part of this book and was SUPER annoyed by the way that 15-year old Kaelyn was behaving, I later on realized that it was necessary to show how much Kaelyn grew as a person. All in all I feel like her growth from a naive girl to a sensible young woman, evolving into someone with leadership qualities, was well portrayed.
Lastly, there were some interesting plot twists that kept the story fast-paced.
What I didn't like:
After finishing the book, I felt like I had just read an entire trilogy crammed into one book. A lot of things felt rushed, causing a lack of depth in certain storylines and leaving me with many questions. Especially in the second half of the book, a LOT happened. All hell breaks loose and it feels like the problems are resolved in 10 minutes? Another thing that bothered me: near the end of the story, all of a sudden an entire backstory of the Aska training was given (again: rushed!) And I wondered: how exactly is this relevant for the remainder of the story...? Such a backstory could be very interesting as a novella or short story, and then dive in on what happened during all those months. That could have been an exciting read, now it just felt a little out of place in my opinion.
I also feel like Kaelyn's relationship with Roki could use some more depth, as I feel that no matter what Roki does or says, Kaelyn will be drooling anyway.
All in all, this was an okay read. The plot was original and fast-paced. I hope that the sequel will feel a little less rushed.
I give this book 2.5 stars. I thought the idea for this plot was original and promising, but I had some issues with the execution of the story.
The plot:
The story follows Kaelyn, an heir from a noble family, as she falls in love with Roki, a commoner. Kaelyn's parents are not happy about her relationship with Roki, because they feel it would lower Kaelyn's chances of being picked by the Crown of Crowns to become the next queen. Meanwhile, Kaelyn feels smothered under the rules that her parents set for her and she longs to break free and make a change in the world for the common people.
What I liked:
As said before, I liked the idea of the plot. The way the Crown of Crowns is portrayed is interesting, and I don't think I've come across any other book with a similar plot. In that sense, it felt like it could be a very interesting, original story.
Even though I really had to get used to the time skips in the first part of this book and was SUPER annoyed by the way that 15-year old Kaelyn was behaving, I later on realized that it was necessary to show how much Kaelyn grew as a person. All in all I feel like her growth from a naive girl to a sensible young woman, evolving into someone with leadership qualities, was well portrayed.
Lastly, there were some interesting plot twists that kept the story fast-paced.
What I didn't like:
After finishing the book, I felt like I had just read an entire trilogy crammed into one book. A lot of things felt rushed, causing a lack of depth in certain storylines and leaving me with many questions. Especially in the second half of the book, a LOT happened. All hell breaks loose and it feels like the problems are resolved in 10 minutes? Another thing that bothered me: near the end of the story, all of a sudden an entire backstory of the Aska training was given (again: rushed!) And I wondered: how exactly is this relevant for the remainder of the story...? Such a backstory could be very interesting as a novella or short story, and then dive in on what happened during all those months. That could have been an exciting read, now it just felt a little out of place in my opinion.
I also feel like Kaelyn's relationship with Roki could use some more depth, as I feel that no matter what Roki does or says, Kaelyn will be drooling anyway.
All in all, this was an okay read. The plot was original and fast-paced. I hope that the sequel will feel a little less rushed.
August 9, 2020
I would like to thank #IngramSpark for providing me with an #arc of #CrownofCrowns by #ClaraLoveman via #NetGalley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Crown of Crowns by Clara Loveman is the first book in her Crown of Crowns series, which is about Kaelyn, a young woman of noble birth, who has hopes of one day being picked by the "Crown of Crowns" to be Queen, and change some of the rules set forth by her kingdoms moral code, for the betterment of the people.
Honesty time. I didn't like this book. High Fantasy books are incredibly difficult to write. I have a vast background in reading both "low" fantasy and "high" fantasy. So I was really hoping Crown of Crowns would be one of the good ones. The description and the cover drew me in initially, but I was left disappointed in the story. There are kernels of a good story here, but it's very erratic. There are a couple time jumps, made unclear to the reader until you get to a sentence mentioning her age, or how long an event you just read about happened. A lot of things went unexplained. Specifically, with Decens-Lenitas, and the kingdom in general. There was virtually no set up, which is ESSENTIAL in a high fantasy book. What are all the specifics of the laws and morals of this kingdom? We know how it affects the people, but without knowing the cause to what is going on, how can the reader be empathetic?
I was hoping to at least connect with the characters in this story, but unfortunately, that wasn't the case. I found myself more annoyed with the main character than anything. Her young and naive thought processes at the first of the book, at 15 years old, seemed believable, but as she got older, her thought process was still very much like her fifteen year old self. Her bonds with those around her felt non-existent. There was no building up of these characters. Nothing to tie them together. Not even with her main love interest!
Crown of Crowns was a bit of a disappoint for me. The story and characters fell flat, in my opinion. Points are given for a very original, unique plot, but that's about it. If you would like to give it a shot, Preorder links are below, and it comes out August 11th, 2020.
Crown of Crowns by Clara Loveman is the first book in her Crown of Crowns series, which is about Kaelyn, a young woman of noble birth, who has hopes of one day being picked by the "Crown of Crowns" to be Queen, and change some of the rules set forth by her kingdoms moral code, for the betterment of the people.
Honesty time. I didn't like this book. High Fantasy books are incredibly difficult to write. I have a vast background in reading both "low" fantasy and "high" fantasy. So I was really hoping Crown of Crowns would be one of the good ones. The description and the cover drew me in initially, but I was left disappointed in the story. There are kernels of a good story here, but it's very erratic. There are a couple time jumps, made unclear to the reader until you get to a sentence mentioning her age, or how long an event you just read about happened. A lot of things went unexplained. Specifically, with Decens-Lenitas, and the kingdom in general. There was virtually no set up, which is ESSENTIAL in a high fantasy book. What are all the specifics of the laws and morals of this kingdom? We know how it affects the people, but without knowing the cause to what is going on, how can the reader be empathetic?
I was hoping to at least connect with the characters in this story, but unfortunately, that wasn't the case. I found myself more annoyed with the main character than anything. Her young and naive thought processes at the first of the book, at 15 years old, seemed believable, but as she got older, her thought process was still very much like her fifteen year old self. Her bonds with those around her felt non-existent. There was no building up of these characters. Nothing to tie them together. Not even with her main love interest!
Crown of Crowns was a bit of a disappoint for me. The story and characters fell flat, in my opinion. Points are given for a very original, unique plot, but that's about it. If you would like to give it a shot, Preorder links are below, and it comes out August 11th, 2020.
September 23, 2020
◾Crown of Crowns is a story about a teenage noblewoman Kaelyn who falls in love with commoner Roki. This romance goes against her family's wishes as there is a law where the ruling and lower classes live and die apart. Actually her family insists on a match with a boy from another noble family because it is her place and she could be queen.
◾When her mother is murdered, Kaelyn finds herself giving in to her family’s wishes. She becomes queen by the time she is 18 years old and must make decisions and choices that no teen should be forced to make. She grows up quickly as the story moves ahead.
◾This truth cannot be denied as it has been followed and is still followed in many parts of the world therefore the characters seem realistic and the plot move fast and engages well. It's a memorable book about a kingdom and a woman's quest to free her people. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves sci-fi and romance.
◾The Author has placed her words very nicely in the book and I absolutely enjoyed this book reading. It is refreshing and all the characters, suspense and the events have been described nicely. Vocabulary is rich. Narration is so smooth.
◾When her mother is murdered, Kaelyn finds herself giving in to her family’s wishes. She becomes queen by the time she is 18 years old and must make decisions and choices that no teen should be forced to make. She grows up quickly as the story moves ahead.
◾This truth cannot be denied as it has been followed and is still followed in many parts of the world therefore the characters seem realistic and the plot move fast and engages well. It's a memorable book about a kingdom and a woman's quest to free her people. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves sci-fi and romance.
◾The Author has placed her words very nicely in the book and I absolutely enjoyed this book reading. It is refreshing and all the characters, suspense and the events have been described nicely. Vocabulary is rich. Narration is so smooth.
December 12, 2021
This is the first book in a duet and the authors first book.
I haven't read the blurb and went blind.
I didn't even know the genre, but I have to say I'm positive surprised.
𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙢𝙞𝙭 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙘𝙞-𝙛𝙞 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙮 𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚.
It's definitely an interesting and unique story that has a post-apocalyptic vibe though only in the background.
To be honest it happens so much in so breath-taking speed, with so many twists and turns, you get dizzy.
I needed some time to
acclimate to the story, but after I did, I was fascinated and excited und couldn't put it down.
I can't give you much more of the story, because it will spoil the whole experience, that is this book, but the story is engrossing and captivating and written in very unique way.
I haven't read the blurb and went blind.
I didn't even know the genre, but I have to say I'm positive surprised.
𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙢𝙞𝙭 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙘𝙞-𝙛𝙞 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙮 𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚.
It's definitely an interesting and unique story that has a post-apocalyptic vibe though only in the background.
To be honest it happens so much in so breath-taking speed, with so many twists and turns, you get dizzy.
I needed some time to
acclimate to the story, but after I did, I was fascinated and excited und couldn't put it down.
I can't give you much more of the story, because it will spoil the whole experience, that is this book, but the story is engrossing and captivating and written in very unique way.
July 27, 2020
I was able to request an ARC of #CrownofCrowns by Clara Loveman through #netgalley. I was not paid in any shape or form, and this review is purely from my own thoughts.
“”The Crown of Crowns has known all along”, he finished. “You and I are destined to be a team.””
Synopsis: This story is set in a society of monarchs and noble, where there is a small portion of them and a large mass of poor commoners. They follow by a certain code and rules — robots do all the tasks and protecting, rations are given out monthly since food markets are banned, and no one can experience pregnancy. Kaelyn is a progressive young noble-esque who believes that society should be changed.
Review: I absolutely loved how, even at 15, Kaelyn knew that certain rules should be questioned and society should be progressive. Even when she grew up years later, she still stuck to her morals and beliefs about what a society should act and be like. Kaelyn isn’t a rebel or a delinquent, but rather believes that there should be change. She believes that commoners should be able to hold higher positions, and women should be able to experience pregnancy instead of test tube lab babies. Throughout the story, I could see more and more of how justice oriented Kaelyn was, especially near the end. There were some moments where I thought I knew what was happening, and then the author took me to a completely different outcome. There wasn’t as much physical romance as I would have liked, but enough to keep me engaged throughout the book. There was a hint of forbidden romance, and the amount of discrepancies between the three of them had my jaw dropped multiple times throughout the story. The romance wasn’t steamy, but the emotional aspect was all I needed to keep going.
August 17, 2020
I received an ARC of this in return for an honest review.
Crown of Crowns’ intriguing and twisting plot drew me in straight away and had me reading all through my weekend. Set in an alternate dystopian world governed by kings and queens controlled by benevolent spirits, I was struck by the uniqueness of the storyline and world-building.
The Bone Season is probably the closest comparator given both novels feature a naïve young girl as the main protagonist and an ancient, sexy alien/spirit as the love interest. The romance was probably the weakest point in the novel, I felt it was a bit too much ‘telling’ and not enough ‘showing’. I would have liked to have seen (potentially through flashbacks) the relationship between Roki and Kaelyn unfold as I actually found myself preferring Zawne to Roki despite Zawne acting only as a foil to Roki. I hope their love triangle is explored in later books as I think there is a lot of potential there.
The world Loveman has created is deeply imagined and it was interesting to read about the political mechanisms and struggles. Kaelyn really comes into her own. In the beginning she reads as an immature fifteen-year-old, but throughout the novel she grows and by the end I felt she had earned the responsibilities she was given.
There is so much more to unpack. Crown of Crowns is a strong beginning and I look forward to more from the author.
Crown of Crowns’ intriguing and twisting plot drew me in straight away and had me reading all through my weekend. Set in an alternate dystopian world governed by kings and queens controlled by benevolent spirits, I was struck by the uniqueness of the storyline and world-building.
The Bone Season is probably the closest comparator given both novels feature a naïve young girl as the main protagonist and an ancient, sexy alien/spirit as the love interest. The romance was probably the weakest point in the novel, I felt it was a bit too much ‘telling’ and not enough ‘showing’. I would have liked to have seen (potentially through flashbacks) the relationship between Roki and Kaelyn unfold as I actually found myself preferring Zawne to Roki despite Zawne acting only as a foil to Roki. I hope their love triangle is explored in later books as I think there is a lot of potential there.
The world Loveman has created is deeply imagined and it was interesting to read about the political mechanisms and struggles. Kaelyn really comes into her own. In the beginning she reads as an immature fifteen-year-old, but throughout the novel she grows and by the end I felt she had earned the responsibilities she was given.
There is so much more to unpack. Crown of Crowns is a strong beginning and I look forward to more from the author.
August 18, 2021
Crown of crowns is a mix of fantasy, sci-fi and romance and it was AMAZING. I had such a fun time reading this one and I can only pray that there would be a sequel. I would love to meet the characters again!
Firstly, I think that the world-building of this book is excellent as it introduces you to the world slowly, so you can take in the information and let it sit in your mind. There are some fantasy books I’ve read where it’s just info dumping everywhere and it can get quite confusing sometimes. The author did a great job at introducing her readers to her world.
Where do I even begin with the romance? I am in love with the romance in this book (and that love triangle!) I am a sucker for this trope and honestly, reading this just satisfied my heart.
The concept in this book is truly interesting. The way that the rulers of the lands are chosen is nothing short of genius. I don’t want to mention it here because spoilers! Inside this book there were a few plot twists and I had to put off reading for a while and process certain things – mind-blowing!
I really loved the main character in this book because she is just one amazing woman! Starting a charity foundation in her teens? Being a ruler at 18? Not reluctant to sacrifice anything for the benefit of her country? I DIG THAT.
In conclusion, this book really exceeded my expectations and I recommend Crown of Crowns to anyone and everyone!
Firstly, I think that the world-building of this book is excellent as it introduces you to the world slowly, so you can take in the information and let it sit in your mind. There are some fantasy books I’ve read where it’s just info dumping everywhere and it can get quite confusing sometimes. The author did a great job at introducing her readers to her world.
Where do I even begin with the romance? I am in love with the romance in this book (and that love triangle!) I am a sucker for this trope and honestly, reading this just satisfied my heart.
The concept in this book is truly interesting. The way that the rulers of the lands are chosen is nothing short of genius. I don’t want to mention it here because spoilers! Inside this book there were a few plot twists and I had to put off reading for a while and process certain things – mind-blowing!
I really loved the main character in this book because she is just one amazing woman! Starting a charity foundation in her teens? Being a ruler at 18? Not reluctant to sacrifice anything for the benefit of her country? I DIG THAT.
In conclusion, this book really exceeded my expectations and I recommend Crown of Crowns to anyone and everyone!
August 10, 2020
This just wasn’t the book for me.
Reading the synopsis, I was intrigued by the idea of Kaelyn and Roki. Once I read the book, I honestly disliked every character, except for maybe Zawne. I tried to like Kaelyn, but the way she acted because of boys.. it was a no-go for me. I didn’t like how the story started. I even checked back to make sure I didn’t miss anything. She was already a lovesick girl and we didn’t see that buildup and it just didn’t sit well with me. Then the story continues but she still is with the same stuff?? Though she had a good reason for what she does in the end, she definitely had an ulterior motive and it wasn’t compelling to me. Also, she wasn’t the nicest or the most supportive character to the loyal the side characters. It felt like it was all Kaelyn’s show and I really couldn’t support her.
As a whole, I feel like the world building wasn’t there. The world is multifaceted and there’s a lot going on that is interesting.. just barely explained. The plot of the story was interesting and refreshing, and with more world building and character development, could’ve been a lot better. It was just missing a lot for me. It felt like it dragged and then the end was tied up quickly. However, if you like dystopian-esque books, this might be the one for you.
* I received this ARC from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Reading the synopsis, I was intrigued by the idea of Kaelyn and Roki. Once I read the book, I honestly disliked every character, except for maybe Zawne. I tried to like Kaelyn, but the way she acted because of boys.. it was a no-go for me. I didn’t like how the story started. I even checked back to make sure I didn’t miss anything. She was already a lovesick girl and we didn’t see that buildup and it just didn’t sit well with me. Then the story continues but she still is with the same stuff?? Though she had a good reason for what she does in the end, she definitely had an ulterior motive and it wasn’t compelling to me. Also, she wasn’t the nicest or the most supportive character to the loyal the side characters. It felt like it was all Kaelyn’s show and I really couldn’t support her.
As a whole, I feel like the world building wasn’t there. The world is multifaceted and there’s a lot going on that is interesting.. just barely explained. The plot of the story was interesting and refreshing, and with more world building and character development, could’ve been a lot better. It was just missing a lot for me. It felt like it dragged and then the end was tied up quickly. However, if you like dystopian-esque books, this might be the one for you.
* I received this ARC from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
September 2, 2020
Clara Loveman has made me a lover of SciFi.
With characters like Kaelyn, Roki, and Gurnots, and of course the Geniverd Kingdom who always follow the moral code it was a very enjoyable read.
Grabbing bits and pieces of fantasy, romance, and science fiction, the story weaves some of the amazing book work.
This book gets 5 stars for the elderly compelling storyline riveting characters have a well-thought-out slow and play. I recommend this story to anybody who was looking for a good sci-fi & fantasy kingdomish type book or just a damn good read yes but does not disappoint.
Again, Very enjoyable story, fun character development, and a unique world that you are dragged into more and more as the pages turn.
Well, I won't give you any more SPOILERS!! So go ahead and buy your one.
Great book can’t wait until the next one
With characters like Kaelyn, Roki, and Gurnots, and of course the Geniverd Kingdom who always follow the moral code it was a very enjoyable read.
Grabbing bits and pieces of fantasy, romance, and science fiction, the story weaves some of the amazing book work.
This book gets 5 stars for the elderly compelling storyline riveting characters have a well-thought-out slow and play. I recommend this story to anybody who was looking for a good sci-fi & fantasy kingdomish type book or just a damn good read yes but does not disappoint.
Again, Very enjoyable story, fun character development, and a unique world that you are dragged into more and more as the pages turn.
Well, I won't give you any more SPOILERS!! So go ahead and buy your one.
Great book can’t wait until the next one
September 2, 2020
This is one of the best books I've read in a long time. This world of humans and non-humans and their harsh realities intertwine with the story of the main character and her destiny. Kaelyn is a fierce and wise observer of the cruel world of which she inhabits. She is not infallible, however, and her fate so often leads towards difficult positions that force her outside of her comfort zone. I do not wish to deprive you of the chance to discover this world for yourselves and therefore I hope you purchase this and enjoy it as much as I have. I would like to add, that everyone should read this book once in their lifetime. Thank you Clara Loveman for such an amazing book.
August 10, 2020
The story has a lot (and I mean a lot!) of potential but the writer took some quick turns that she shouldn't have. Especially when wrapping up the story for this book and setting up for the next. Needs polishing. Feels very unfinished.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2020
Crown of Crowns by Clara Loveman
Publication Date: August 11, 2020
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Description from NetGalley...
“By law, Kaelyn and Roki shouldn’t have anything in common. They shouldn’t even be friends. And whatever they do, they can never, ever fall in love.
Kaelyn, a young noblewoman, feels smothered under the harsh constraints of the Decens-Lenitas, the legal and moral code that governs the people of the Geniverd Kingdom. When she meets Roki, a handsome young man from the city with knowledge and aspirations beyond his status, Kaelyn realizes she’s not the only person trapped. She starts to question everything she thought she knew, including about the Gurnots, a group of anarchist rebels set on overthrowing the laws—people who the nobles have labelled as terrorists.
With the lives of all free people at stake, Kaelyn must uncover the truth—even if she risks her heart at every turn.”
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Thank you to @NetGalley @lovemanauthor for the digital ARC in return for my honest review.
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Thank you to @litpr2012 for inviting me to be a part of the book blog tour and for the copy of the book in return for my honest review.
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My thoughts...
This is a debut novel for Clara Loveman. The book is a mixture of dystopian, sci-fi and fantasy. This was impressive as the story was complex and intricately packed in a relatively quick-read book. That was one of the things I liked about the story: it moved right along and did not dwell too much on certain themes. Because of that, the mind’s eye was exercised as the world begins to form on the pages. Like any debut novel that was intended for a series, this first book provided a quick glimpse of the world and characters. I want to learn more about the world and seeing the characters developed further. The world Loveman created was so interesting. I am looking forward to the next book.
Publication Date: August 11, 2020
.
Description from NetGalley...
“By law, Kaelyn and Roki shouldn’t have anything in common. They shouldn’t even be friends. And whatever they do, they can never, ever fall in love.
Kaelyn, a young noblewoman, feels smothered under the harsh constraints of the Decens-Lenitas, the legal and moral code that governs the people of the Geniverd Kingdom. When she meets Roki, a handsome young man from the city with knowledge and aspirations beyond his status, Kaelyn realizes she’s not the only person trapped. She starts to question everything she thought she knew, including about the Gurnots, a group of anarchist rebels set on overthrowing the laws—people who the nobles have labelled as terrorists.
With the lives of all free people at stake, Kaelyn must uncover the truth—even if she risks her heart at every turn.”
.
Thank you to @NetGalley @lovemanauthor for the digital ARC in return for my honest review.
.
Thank you to @litpr2012 for inviting me to be a part of the book blog tour and for the copy of the book in return for my honest review.
.
My thoughts...
This is a debut novel for Clara Loveman. The book is a mixture of dystopian, sci-fi and fantasy. This was impressive as the story was complex and intricately packed in a relatively quick-read book. That was one of the things I liked about the story: it moved right along and did not dwell too much on certain themes. Because of that, the mind’s eye was exercised as the world begins to form on the pages. Like any debut novel that was intended for a series, this first book provided a quick glimpse of the world and characters. I want to learn more about the world and seeing the characters developed further. The world Loveman created was so interesting. I am looking forward to the next book.
September 2, 2020
Received a copy for review.
This was an interesting read. I'm going with a 3.5 star rating. This was an interesting read, but I felt the pacing was extremely quick. The writing kept me intrigued and the concept of Min and Crown of Crowns kept me wanting to know more
Kaelyn is a noblewoman who is not interested in the wealth or being locked in a gilded cage. She wants to experience life and be among the people. I enjoyed her drive and boldness to continue despite all the craziness that happened. She was truly a queen to be desired. Her hard-work, love for the people and resolve were all amazing. She was a powerful character.
Roki is commoner or so he plays the part. He is much more than that which shocked me. I enjoyed him because he was never fake about his desires and wants for the world. Roki was amazing.
Zawne was at first a cool guy, but he eventually pissed me off. I still don't know if I should feel sorry for him. He irritated me a lot. I hope he matures in the sequel.
The romances were quick and interesting. I adored Kaelyn with Roki! They were so adorable together. They were made for one another. As for Kaelyn and Zawne I disliked it lol. Zawne was just too much of douche for me to care about their romance. It all felt forced.
Lordin was aggravating along with her mother. Two peas in pod, twisted villains. I really hope Lordin does not get her way -- I need Kaelyn to get her good!
Overall, I do plan to continue on reading the sequel, Godly Sins, when it comes out because I'm intrigued by the world of the Min, Kaelyn and Roki.
This was an interesting read. I'm going with a 3.5 star rating. This was an interesting read, but I felt the pacing was extremely quick. The writing kept me intrigued and the concept of Min and Crown of Crowns kept me wanting to know more
Kaelyn is a noblewoman who is not interested in the wealth or being locked in a gilded cage. She wants to experience life and be among the people. I enjoyed her drive and boldness to continue despite all the craziness that happened. She was truly a queen to be desired. Her hard-work, love for the people and resolve were all amazing. She was a powerful character.
Roki is commoner or so he plays the part. He is much more than that which shocked me. I enjoyed him because he was never fake about his desires and wants for the world. Roki was amazing.
Zawne was at first a cool guy, but he eventually pissed me off. I still don't know if I should feel sorry for him. He irritated me a lot. I hope he matures in the sequel.
The romances were quick and interesting. I adored Kaelyn with Roki! They were so adorable together. They were made for one another. As for Kaelyn and Zawne I disliked it lol. Zawne was just too much of douche for me to care about their romance. It all felt forced.
Lordin was aggravating along with her mother. Two peas in pod, twisted villains. I really hope Lordin does not get her way -- I need Kaelyn to get her good!
Overall, I do plan to continue on reading the sequel, Godly Sins, when it comes out because I'm intrigued by the world of the Min, Kaelyn and Roki.
June 19, 2021
I'm a little torn about what to give this book. Either 2 or 3 stars, but since there was ultimately one plot point I didn't like at all, I'm going to go with 2 stars. This plot point drove me up the wall, and just seemed to capitalize on current events. I don't want to say anymore because I don't want to spoil the book, but once I got to this plot point, I couldn't help but roll my eyes.
The book had an interesting cover and title, and that's what initially drew me in. But I have to say I wasn't crazy about it. The characters were very shallow, and most of the twists seemed obvious from the get-go. The story was confusing at parts and it was difficult to remember all the special names and uses in this world. Also, some of the twisrs gave me a bad taste in my mouth, because I just didn't agree with them.
The premise was interesting, and the story started out ok, but then it veered and really jumped the shark by the end. I'nm curious to see what the ending of this duology is, so I will be reading the second book, although I don't have high hopes for it. One thing I say: I'm glad I got this book for free.
The book had an interesting cover and title, and that's what initially drew me in. But I have to say I wasn't crazy about it. The characters were very shallow, and most of the twists seemed obvious from the get-go. The story was confusing at parts and it was difficult to remember all the special names and uses in this world. Also, some of the twisrs gave me a bad taste in my mouth, because I just didn't agree with them.
The premise was interesting, and the story started out ok, but then it veered and really jumped the shark by the end. I'nm curious to see what the ending of this duology is, so I will be reading the second book, although I don't have high hopes for it. One thing I say: I'm glad I got this book for free.
August 11, 2020
I made it to approximately the 25% mark in the book before stopping. I was unable to finish this book for a variety of reasons. First the dialogue is incredibly stilted with characters saying the quiet part out loud. For example, a character might explain to another that they are using humor to deflect stress. This is something that should be made clear through a characters’ actions without needing to be explicitly spelled out. No one goes around talking like this. Second I found the world building confusing at best and entirely logical at worst. It is a highly technologically advanced society that uses robots for most things and leaves the general population to wallow in boredom and inactivity. This does not make any sense. There is a moral code that governs the entire fabric of the society that is not properly explained and makes little sense. If their code revolves around community engagement and selflessness why does the general population suffer from large amounts of violence and poverty? I also found the make-up of the upper tiers of society illogical. The crown of crowns ceremony makes no sense as it is a magical way of choosing a ruler for a society that does not appear to otherwise engage with magic. My final issue with the novel and the reason I had to stop reading was the romance. The main character’s infatuation with Roki does not make sense or feel real. No one stays in love so violently with someone they have not seen since they were 15 and they are now 19 years old that is a ridiculously long time to hold on to a teenage fling. The moment when our main character sees her love interest again is absurd. She immediately falls into his arms and forgives him for ignoring her for years after her mother’s death and professes love. I do not buy a single second of this. Honestly this novel should have started around the point I stopped reading. The first quarter of the novel is background set up that should have been done faster or in flashbacks. The true meat of the novel appears to really begin after Kaelyn is crowned queen. Everything else is not important to the true story being told. I cannot say whether the novel gets better or worse or worse I do not buy a single second of this. Honestly this novel should have started around the point I stopped reading. The first quarter of the novel is background set up that should have been done faster or in flashbacks. The true meat of the novel appears to really begin after Kaelyn is crowned queen. Everything else is not important to the true story being told. I cannot say whether the novel gets better or worse, but it was quite simply not for me. The writing issues and plot issues were too great for me to stomach continuing. I hate to be so harsh on a new author and cannot say there is no possibility her later books to be better. However, this novel does not give me enough indication of her writing style and its potential to wish to read more from her.
September 19, 2020
[review also available on my blog Lunarlucibooks ]
First of all, thanks to Netgalley for the digital copy and many thanks to the team at Literally Public Relations for sending me a digital copy!
Overall, this book was pretty good. I liked the premise of it, although I’m not too keen on love stories, the rest of it took me in. The originality of how the King and Queen are chosen was interesting since it was a thing I hadn’t heard of before, so that was awesome. I have part of my bookshelves dedicated to the genre “royal fantasy”, since I have quite some books featuring heirs to a kingdom or a kingdom in ruins or books with royal families. Anyway, this was original and interesting so I was curious for how that would work out.
The story starts off immediately in the middle of a conversation between Kaelyn and Roki, walking along what seems like the reenactment of a market as they used to have. Kaelyn is dressed to look like a commoner but is still too “neat”. They talk about their relationship and how life is as a commoner, since Kaelyn is royal and has no idea how it would feel to be common. The story continues with the homecoming ceremony and the tragedy happening there.
What I didn’t really understand was in the beginning of the book, they mention robots as being Royal Protectors. This seemed interesting, I definitely like that sci-fi part of books, such as Cinder by Marissa Meyer did as well. I looked forward to reading more about them, but they are not mentioned at all throughout the rest of the book, or at least not memorable enough for me to remember it. I didn’t see what use they had to the story, so that was a little disappointing as they seemed to be able to help with quite some problems going on in the kingdom.
The rest of the book dove deeper into the story of Kaelyn and her life. As she is chosen to be the Queen of the Geniverd Kingdom, she’s let in on the Great Secret that apparently every King and Queen know about. This Great Secret made the story quite a bit more interesting after the disappointment about the robots. The Great Secret was another new concept in this genre for me, so that was cool. The way the Crown of Crowns chooses the royal couple to rule and continue to advise them throughout their ruling was pretty well done. They gave advice but gave the King and Queen the ability to make their own decisions still.
As I said, overall, it was pretty good. There were, however, a few things I didn’t understand/like too much, and I’ll make a quick list of them below:
- The robots, as I mentioned before, who were introduced and not mentioned or used in the rest of the book. I didn’t see why they were introduced as such or why they were not used later on.
- The backstory felt like it was missing. The book starts in the middle of a conversation, and this is not a bad thing, but there’s talk about the moral code, about the kingdom, but it is never clearly explained how this moral code works, or why the kingdom became like this, royal and common separated. This made reading about these topics more difficult as I would’ve liked to know more about it
- The love story between Kaelyn and Roki never felt like it was needed for the story. As I said, I am generally not too keen on love stories, so it might just be me. They were madly in love, but still Kaelyn marries royal and keeps thinking about Roki, which felt to me like cheating a bit. She doesn’t actually cheat, but while she’s married and ruling the kingdom with her husband, she keeps thinking about Roki, their relationship, about how much she wants to be together with him, and at the same time accusing her husband of betraying her. It didn’t feel right, and seemed to me only as a motive for a choice she makes later on in the story, which made that choice a lot less likable for me
- The amount of story in this book felt like too much. There are action parts in the book as well, but they seemed to be overshadowed by how much story was around them. Of course, I’d rather have more story than less story, but I kinda felt like it could have been spread about two books instead of only this one. There is so much story and some of it just seemed not relevant to this story. As an example, Kaelyn’s husband also did the Aska Warrior training and at some point, his training backstory is shown in detail, but I didn’t feel like it added much to the story. I thought it would fit better if it were to be told in the beginning in the book and thus making Kaelyn’s brother’s story a little less flat
- The characters and relationships/friendships in general felt a bit flat to me. Most of the time, Kaelyn seems to do everything for her own purposes and not thinking about her friends at all. The characters do have backstories, but they didn’t seem to fit into the story and thus making them seem flat.
Now of course, this seems like I didn’t like the book at all, but that’s not the case. These were just things I personally didn’t like too much, and I simply also didn’t want to spoil too much so I can’t say too much about the parts that I did like.
Book 2 has also been announced, it’s called Godly Sins and it’ll be coming out soon! If you’re interested in the combination of Dystopia and Fantasy I’d recommend this book to you, and if you like story-heavy books, this could also be the book for you!
First of all, thanks to Netgalley for the digital copy and many thanks to the team at Literally Public Relations for sending me a digital copy!
Overall, this book was pretty good. I liked the premise of it, although I’m not too keen on love stories, the rest of it took me in. The originality of how the King and Queen are chosen was interesting since it was a thing I hadn’t heard of before, so that was awesome. I have part of my bookshelves dedicated to the genre “royal fantasy”, since I have quite some books featuring heirs to a kingdom or a kingdom in ruins or books with royal families. Anyway, this was original and interesting so I was curious for how that would work out.
The story starts off immediately in the middle of a conversation between Kaelyn and Roki, walking along what seems like the reenactment of a market as they used to have. Kaelyn is dressed to look like a commoner but is still too “neat”. They talk about their relationship and how life is as a commoner, since Kaelyn is royal and has no idea how it would feel to be common. The story continues with the homecoming ceremony and the tragedy happening there.
What I didn’t really understand was in the beginning of the book, they mention robots as being Royal Protectors. This seemed interesting, I definitely like that sci-fi part of books, such as Cinder by Marissa Meyer did as well. I looked forward to reading more about them, but they are not mentioned at all throughout the rest of the book, or at least not memorable enough for me to remember it. I didn’t see what use they had to the story, so that was a little disappointing as they seemed to be able to help with quite some problems going on in the kingdom.
The rest of the book dove deeper into the story of Kaelyn and her life. As she is chosen to be the Queen of the Geniverd Kingdom, she’s let in on the Great Secret that apparently every King and Queen know about. This Great Secret made the story quite a bit more interesting after the disappointment about the robots. The Great Secret was another new concept in this genre for me, so that was cool. The way the Crown of Crowns chooses the royal couple to rule and continue to advise them throughout their ruling was pretty well done. They gave advice but gave the King and Queen the ability to make their own decisions still.
As I said, overall, it was pretty good. There were, however, a few things I didn’t understand/like too much, and I’ll make a quick list of them below:
- The robots, as I mentioned before, who were introduced and not mentioned or used in the rest of the book. I didn’t see why they were introduced as such or why they were not used later on.
- The backstory felt like it was missing. The book starts in the middle of a conversation, and this is not a bad thing, but there’s talk about the moral code, about the kingdom, but it is never clearly explained how this moral code works, or why the kingdom became like this, royal and common separated. This made reading about these topics more difficult as I would’ve liked to know more about it
- The love story between Kaelyn and Roki never felt like it was needed for the story. As I said, I am generally not too keen on love stories, so it might just be me. They were madly in love, but still Kaelyn marries royal and keeps thinking about Roki, which felt to me like cheating a bit. She doesn’t actually cheat, but while she’s married and ruling the kingdom with her husband, she keeps thinking about Roki, their relationship, about how much she wants to be together with him, and at the same time accusing her husband of betraying her. It didn’t feel right, and seemed to me only as a motive for a choice she makes later on in the story, which made that choice a lot less likable for me
- The amount of story in this book felt like too much. There are action parts in the book as well, but they seemed to be overshadowed by how much story was around them. Of course, I’d rather have more story than less story, but I kinda felt like it could have been spread about two books instead of only this one. There is so much story and some of it just seemed not relevant to this story. As an example, Kaelyn’s husband also did the Aska Warrior training and at some point, his training backstory is shown in detail, but I didn’t feel like it added much to the story. I thought it would fit better if it were to be told in the beginning in the book and thus making Kaelyn’s brother’s story a little less flat
- The characters and relationships/friendships in general felt a bit flat to me. Most of the time, Kaelyn seems to do everything for her own purposes and not thinking about her friends at all. The characters do have backstories, but they didn’t seem to fit into the story and thus making them seem flat.
Now of course, this seems like I didn’t like the book at all, but that’s not the case. These were just things I personally didn’t like too much, and I simply also didn’t want to spoil too much so I can’t say too much about the parts that I did like.
Book 2 has also been announced, it’s called Godly Sins and it’ll be coming out soon! If you’re interested in the combination of Dystopia and Fantasy I’d recommend this book to you, and if you like story-heavy books, this could also be the book for you!
August 23, 2020
Clara Loveman’s ‘Crown of Crowns’ is a deeply satisfying slice of sci-fi-tinged YA-fantasy.
Centered around the story of the ‘noble-born’ Kaelyn and her quest to become the ‘crown of crowns,’ Loveman’s novel blends elements of sci-fi (futuristic society wholly reliant on tech) and fantasy (lots of GOT-esque elements here) with a ‘forbidden love’ subplot involving a ‘commoner’ named Roki.
Loveman’s novel hits the ground running and rarely lets up. While the author leans heavily on established genre-tropes, she does manage to put a fresh spin on the tried and true ‘hero’s journey’ template, imbuing her protagonist with a fierce independence streak. Additionally, the romantic connection between Roki and Kaelyn is, for the most part, well-written, and provides the story with a sense of balance.
As many other readers have noted, the ‘world-building’ is both scant and haphazardly implemented, leading to a handful of ill-timed ‘data-dumps.’ That being said, Loveman wisely focuses on establishing and maintaining a near-frantic pace, which, given the target audience, suits the story.
Small bouts of clunky dialogue and redundant sentence structure notwithstanding, ‘Crown of Crowns’ is an impressively captivating example of YA fantasy—highly recommended for fans of other genre-benders like ‘The 100,’ ‘Divergent,’ and ‘Hunger Games.’
Centered around the story of the ‘noble-born’ Kaelyn and her quest to become the ‘crown of crowns,’ Loveman’s novel blends elements of sci-fi (futuristic society wholly reliant on tech) and fantasy (lots of GOT-esque elements here) with a ‘forbidden love’ subplot involving a ‘commoner’ named Roki.
Loveman’s novel hits the ground running and rarely lets up. While the author leans heavily on established genre-tropes, she does manage to put a fresh spin on the tried and true ‘hero’s journey’ template, imbuing her protagonist with a fierce independence streak. Additionally, the romantic connection between Roki and Kaelyn is, for the most part, well-written, and provides the story with a sense of balance.
As many other readers have noted, the ‘world-building’ is both scant and haphazardly implemented, leading to a handful of ill-timed ‘data-dumps.’ That being said, Loveman wisely focuses on establishing and maintaining a near-frantic pace, which, given the target audience, suits the story.
Small bouts of clunky dialogue and redundant sentence structure notwithstanding, ‘Crown of Crowns’ is an impressively captivating example of YA fantasy—highly recommended for fans of other genre-benders like ‘The 100,’ ‘Divergent,’ and ‘Hunger Games.’
August 12, 2020
Genre : YA Fiction
Page count : 266
Star rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Synopsis : Kaelyn, a young noblewoman, feels smothered under the harsh constraints of the Decens-Lenitas, the legal and moral code that governs the people of Geniverd Kingdom. When she meets Roki, a handsome young man from the city with knowledge and aspirations beyond his status, Kaelyn realises she isn’t the only one trapped.
When her parents find out she has been spending more and more time with a lowborn citizen, they forbid her to meet Roki ever again. He’s common. She could be queen.
My review :
So let me start by saying that the synopsis is very vague here which I love as there are times when a synopsis basically gives away all the good bits before you even begin to read it. There is so much more to this book and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
We follow our main character Kaelyn as she grows up and we learn of her aspirations and love for Roki. A tragic family death happens and she is left with grief and time to work out what is best for her city and after the queen dies suddenly right after she married the king and sits on the thrown determined to make the city good again and help the poor and most in need. Here in comes the crown of crowns a powerful force where she must obey their directions and wishes or die a brutal death along with those close to her.
This book was written in such a way it kept my attention throughout and I didn’t want to put it down. The chapters are short and it was very interesting and very intriguing from the start. I’ve rated it 4 stars as I genuinely think the is one of the best arc YA novels I’ve read in a long time and I am hoping to read more from this author.
Thank you again to Literally PR for gifting me a copy of this book in return for my honest review. It’s always my pleasure to meet read and review new novels.
Page count : 266
Star rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Synopsis : Kaelyn, a young noblewoman, feels smothered under the harsh constraints of the Decens-Lenitas, the legal and moral code that governs the people of Geniverd Kingdom. When she meets Roki, a handsome young man from the city with knowledge and aspirations beyond his status, Kaelyn realises she isn’t the only one trapped.
When her parents find out she has been spending more and more time with a lowborn citizen, they forbid her to meet Roki ever again. He’s common. She could be queen.
My review :
So let me start by saying that the synopsis is very vague here which I love as there are times when a synopsis basically gives away all the good bits before you even begin to read it. There is so much more to this book and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
We follow our main character Kaelyn as she grows up and we learn of her aspirations and love for Roki. A tragic family death happens and she is left with grief and time to work out what is best for her city and after the queen dies suddenly right after she married the king and sits on the thrown determined to make the city good again and help the poor and most in need. Here in comes the crown of crowns a powerful force where she must obey their directions and wishes or die a brutal death along with those close to her.
This book was written in such a way it kept my attention throughout and I didn’t want to put it down. The chapters are short and it was very interesting and very intriguing from the start. I’ve rated it 4 stars as I genuinely think the is one of the best arc YA novels I’ve read in a long time and I am hoping to read more from this author.
Thank you again to Literally PR for gifting me a copy of this book in return for my honest review. It’s always my pleasure to meet read and review new novels.
July 29, 2020
Crown of Crowns is truly unlike any other book I have read.
While the usual forbidden love trope is involved, Clara Loveman changes this trope in a way that truly leaves you speechless. Right when you think you have the story figured out, BAM! there goes a plot twist.
The story revolves around Kaelyn, a 15 year old sheltered princess who rarely knows anything of her kingdom. Since page one, we are introduced to Roki, a young, handsome guy who isn't supposed to be with someone like her. Despite her parent's disapproval, Kaelyn sneaks with Roki and explores her kingdom more. Suddenly, her mom dies, and given their last argument was about Roki and her mother's disapproval, she pushes Roki away, leaving him angry and confused. As Kaelyn struggles to move on and marries another man, when her kingdom is threatened by a secret rebel organization, and Roki's entrance into her life... Kaelyn begins to doubt what is true and what isn't, slowly forming into more of a formidable queen. The romance is light in this book, considering that the beginning seemed to imply more, but it was an interesting tale with the fantasy elements, the fancy tech, and characters that really stick with you. Overall, it was an enjoyable read.
While the usual forbidden love trope is involved, Clara Loveman changes this trope in a way that truly leaves you speechless. Right when you think you have the story figured out, BAM! there goes a plot twist.
The story revolves around Kaelyn, a 15 year old sheltered princess who rarely knows anything of her kingdom. Since page one, we are introduced to Roki, a young, handsome guy who isn't supposed to be with someone like her. Despite her parent's disapproval, Kaelyn sneaks with Roki and explores her kingdom more. Suddenly, her mom dies, and given their last argument was about Roki and her mother's disapproval, she pushes Roki away, leaving him angry and confused. As Kaelyn struggles to move on and marries another man, when her kingdom is threatened by a secret rebel organization, and Roki's entrance into her life... Kaelyn begins to doubt what is true and what isn't, slowly forming into more of a formidable queen. The romance is light in this book, considering that the beginning seemed to imply more, but it was an interesting tale with the fantasy elements, the fancy tech, and characters that really stick with you. Overall, it was an enjoyable read.
August 1, 2020
This was a great story of freedom!! Where one girl fights to free her people. I could not put it down and I loved the flow and the story. I can not wait for another title from this author!!
August 20, 2020
Unfortunately there’s not much to recommend Crown of Crowns. I did not enjoy this book for a number of reasons - the characters were unlikeable, the world building frustratingly inadequate and the plot increasingly ridiculous.
Our high born heroine (if we can call her that; she never actually does much that’s heroic) Kaelyn starts out as an immature noble-born brat rebelling against her gilded cage. She then grows to become a “morally good” person after the murder of her mother. She’s still a thoroughly boring and irritating character though, and I felt no empathy for her during the story. As I couldn’t bring myself to cheer for her, or any main character, the book became quite onerous by the end.
At one point I realised I was more than a quarter into the book and still didn’t have a clear idea of how the world worked. This didn’t change much as I read on. The people of this world live by a code called The Decens-Lenitas. As other reviewers have noted, the author declines to explain anything further, leaving us all at sea as to what the code actually says and how it governs the people’s lives. Similarly, we are introduced to a Meghan Markle-esque character named Lordin, who is apparently very famous for being “good” at practising this code but exactly how or why is never really explained. I was also annoyed at the discussions of “old-fashioned” societal structures like medieval feudalism, when the MC fails to realise she is essentially part of an actual feudal system of monarchs, nobles and peasants.
Lastly; the plot and writing were both of a low standard. By the time the supernatural elements were introduced I was ready to throw the book out the window. The author’s inconsistent treatment of how the Crown of Crowns actually governed and directed the world was incredibly frustrating, as was the many characteristics of the Min thrown into the dialogue as an afterthought, seemingly in service of the plot. This meant that the whole book had a very unplanned, fan fiction feel to it, as if the author wrote it all in one go and fixed any problems with the narrative by simply making stuff up on the fly to achieve their story goals. They also devote pages and pages to things that aren’t important; in particular the warrior’s journey near the end. The book ends abruptly with only one of the story’s problems being solved; the others facing the characters left, it seems, to be solved in a sequel. I will not however, be reading it.
Our high born heroine (if we can call her that; she never actually does much that’s heroic) Kaelyn starts out as an immature noble-born brat rebelling against her gilded cage. She then grows to become a “morally good” person after the murder of her mother. She’s still a thoroughly boring and irritating character though, and I felt no empathy for her during the story. As I couldn’t bring myself to cheer for her, or any main character, the book became quite onerous by the end.
At one point I realised I was more than a quarter into the book and still didn’t have a clear idea of how the world worked. This didn’t change much as I read on. The people of this world live by a code called The Decens-Lenitas. As other reviewers have noted, the author declines to explain anything further, leaving us all at sea as to what the code actually says and how it governs the people’s lives. Similarly, we are introduced to a Meghan Markle-esque character named Lordin, who is apparently very famous for being “good” at practising this code but exactly how or why is never really explained. I was also annoyed at the discussions of “old-fashioned” societal structures like medieval feudalism, when the MC fails to realise she is essentially part of an actual feudal system of monarchs, nobles and peasants.
Lastly; the plot and writing were both of a low standard. By the time the supernatural elements were introduced I was ready to throw the book out the window. The author’s inconsistent treatment of how the Crown of Crowns actually governed and directed the world was incredibly frustrating, as was the many characteristics of the Min thrown into the dialogue as an afterthought, seemingly in service of the plot. This meant that the whole book had a very unplanned, fan fiction feel to it, as if the author wrote it all in one go and fixed any problems with the narrative by simply making stuff up on the fly to achieve their story goals. They also devote pages and pages to things that aren’t important; in particular the warrior’s journey near the end. The book ends abruptly with only one of the story’s problems being solved; the others facing the characters left, it seems, to be solved in a sequel. I will not however, be reading it.
October 13, 2020
Sadly I DNF'ed this book. I wanted to enjoy it and I tried every night for a month to get into it and persevere but I just couldn’t do it! The writing was stilted and clunky, the character development was lacking and the world building sadly left a lot to be desired.
The main character is 15 at the beginning of the book and I can understand why she comes across as a bit of an infatuated selfish child, but it skips forward to her as a 19 year old and I honestly can’t see any difference in her. It’s frustrating! I also struggled with how much the author tells us things rather than shows us, I think that’s partly why it felt immature.
On a positive note, I thought the way that royalty are chosen was an interesting concept. There’s a love triangle (always a thumbs up from me) and who doesn’t love the noblewoman falling for a commoner trope?!
I thought the premise had so much potential but the execution needed more work. I hate giving a review when I haven’t even finished a book but I just couldn’t bring myself to read beyond 35%.
If I pick it up again in the future and manage to read more I will amend my review accordingly, but thank you to NetGalley and Literally PR Limited for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The main character is 15 at the beginning of the book and I can understand why she comes across as a bit of an infatuated selfish child, but it skips forward to her as a 19 year old and I honestly can’t see any difference in her. It’s frustrating! I also struggled with how much the author tells us things rather than shows us, I think that’s partly why it felt immature.
On a positive note, I thought the way that royalty are chosen was an interesting concept. There’s a love triangle (always a thumbs up from me) and who doesn’t love the noblewoman falling for a commoner trope?!
I thought the premise had so much potential but the execution needed more work. I hate giving a review when I haven’t even finished a book but I just couldn’t bring myself to read beyond 35%.
If I pick it up again in the future and manage to read more I will amend my review accordingly, but thank you to NetGalley and Literally PR Limited for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 10, 2021
This book had just so many plots! It was set in a dystopian future, managed by robots, wherein most of the people were poor and hungry and the elite were very wealthy and very bored; so a violent revolution is stirring, including guerrilla attacks on communities across the world. Apparently these attacks are coordinated by a leader from a giant underground community, where many people from above move to escape the harsh rule above. (Okay, so those two plots seem like they could be combined.)
In addition, the main character is a member of the elite class. She becomes queen by agreeing to commune with aliens from another planet secretly in her dreams. There are also spirits that sometimes inhabit bodies and report to the aliens, but they also have free will; so they might interfere with things or lie in their reports. Eventually the queen decides to becomes a spirit in order to fight another spirit. Once she does that, she is given the opportunity to become ruler of the aliens.
So aliens, robots, spirits, guerrilla warfare, underground lair, bird coronation (I didn't mention that earlier?) - it was just too much.
In addition, the main character is a member of the elite class. She becomes queen by agreeing to commune with aliens from another planet secretly in her dreams. There are also spirits that sometimes inhabit bodies and report to the aliens, but they also have free will; so they might interfere with things or lie in their reports. Eventually the queen decides to becomes a spirit in order to fight another spirit. Once she does that, she is given the opportunity to become ruler of the aliens.
So aliens, robots, spirits, guerrilla warfare, underground lair, bird coronation (I didn't mention that earlier?) - it was just too much.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2020
Based on the summary, I thought this book had promise. Unfortunately, the writing was really bad though. The voice was in first person and honestly felt like a thirteen year old girl. It was juvenile and stilted throughout. The characters were very underdeveloped. Kaelyn was whiny and annoying and Roki was condescending and pompous. I kept reading and finding myself cringing through it. I seriously can't think of a single positive thing to say....I really like to give the benefit of the doubt, especially when I assume it may be an author's debut novel, but this one I seriously can't find any redeeming qualities in. Boring plot, annoying characters, subpar writing, bad grammar....it's just a no from me.
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