Capture the Crown

Gargoyle Queen #1

by Jennifer Estep

Best-selling author Jennifer Estep returns to her Crown of Shards world with an all-new trilogy and a bold new heroine who protects her kingdom from magic, murder, and mayhem by moonlighting as a spy.

Gemma Ripley has a reputation for being a pampered princess who is more interested in pretty gowns, sparkling jewelry, and other frivolous things than learning how to rule the kingdom of Andvari. But her carefully crafted persona is just an act to hide the fact that Gemma is a powerful mind magier - and a spy.

Gemma is undercover, trying to figure out who is stealing large amounts of tearstone from one of the Ripley royal mines when she encounters Prince Leonidas Morricone of Morta - her mortal enemy. Gemma tries to steer clear of the handsome prince, but when she finds herself behind enemy lines, she reluctantly joins forces with Leo. Also coming to Gemma’s aid is Grimley, her beloved gargoyle.

Despite the fact that Andvari and Morta are old, bitter enemies, a dangerous attraction sparks between Gemma and Leo. Further complicating matters is Leo’s murderous family, especially Queen Maeven Morricone, the mastermind behind the infamous Seven Spire massacre.

The closer Gemma gets to the stolen tearstone, the more deadly plots she uncovers. Everyone is trying to capture the crown, but only one queen can sit on the throne...

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Magic, Audiobook, Young Adult, Paranormal, Enemies To Lovers

433 pages, Paperback

First published July 6, 2021

About the author

Jennifer Estep is a New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author who prowls the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea.

Jennifer is the author of the Elemental Assassin, Section 47, Galactic Bonds, Crown of Shards, Gargoyle Queen, and other fantasy series. She has written more than 40 books, along with numerous novellas and stories.

In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys hanging out with friends and family, doing yoga, and reading fantasy and romance books. She also watches way too much TV and loves all things related to superheroes.

For more information on Jennifer and her books, visit her website at www.JenniferEstep.com or sign up for her newsletter: http://www.jenniferestep.com/contact-....

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Happy reading, everyone! 😎

Reviews

[LIsa Noell "Rocking the chutzpah!" · Rating 3 out of 5]

My thanks to Harper Voyager, Jennifer Estep and Netgalley.
I read this book to the 51% mark, then I quit.
This isn't because I thought the story was awful. Matter of fact, I was almost having fun! But, eventually the youthfulness is what did me in! Insta love is always bothersome, but it was actually the color purple that killed it for me. 2 kingdoms. One is purple and the other is blue. I never made it to blue. So many shades of blue.
Everyone wears shades of purple in our first kingdom. Every one. And it's always, and I mean always a detailed description of what shade of purple. "Also, my favorite color is purple."
Finally, by my forth or fifth description of lilac, or maybe lavender...I groaned. That's when I decided to call it quits.
Otherwise, I did like the story. A bit young for me, but I liked it. Also, gargoyles!

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Capture the Crown by Jennifer Estep
Gargoyle Queen, book 1. Crown of Shards world. 15 years after the first trilogy which does not need to be read before this. There are many events and people referred to so I believe the experience would be better if they have been read. At least the first, Kill the Queen. Fantasy.

Gemma Ridley. One of the few survivors of the massacre when she was a child. Now a spy even though still a princess.
Leonidas of Motra. The enemy. Maybe? But why is he helping Gemma? Doesn’t he recognize her from when they met years ago?
Danger follows Gemma as she works as a miner uncovering secrets and death.

Death counts are high. Tragedy and torture in memories and real time. Triumph for some. Questions for the future are heavy and plentiful. Fantasy elements and magic master the game of power and survival.
At this point looking forward to the next in the trilogy but not as strong as the first set.

🎧 I mostly listened to the audio version narrated by Lauren Fortgang. I also have a paperback and alternated at times. I found the audiobook a bit more engaging which was opposite my experience for the first trilogy. Same narrator. She has a pleasant voice to listen to with great depth for the various characters such as a gargoyle and magic bird. Emotion are well portrayed.

[Avada Kaddavra · Rating 2 out of 5]

***Enthält Spoiler und Spott***

Das war das mit Abstand schlechteste Buch, dass ich je von Jennifer Estep gelesen habe.
Die Prota soll 29 sein, benimmt sich aber wie 16, genau wie der Love Interest... Die beiden haben eine absolut toxische Beziehung zueinander und Gemma täte gut daran sich von ihm fernzuhalten. Mit 29 sollte das möglich sein, auch wenn er noch so toll aussieht🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

So. Dann zur Logik. Die hat sich in dem Buch eher nicht so durchgesetzt.
Zum Beispiel: Gemma ist irgendwie eine der letzten ihrer Dynastie (ich glaube sogar Kronprinzessin??) und ist mit 29 weder verheiratet noch verlobt noch Mutter?? Da wäre sie aber eine große Ausnahme im Eliteadel😂 Selbst wenn sie es nicht selbst wollen würde, hätte man sie längst dazu gedrängt ihre Linie fortzusetzen, um die Thronfolge zu sichern. Spionin spielen wäre viel zu gefährlich.
Ah Moment, das müssen wir richtigstellen: Sie ist "Meisterspionin" und außerdem "die beste" des Landes.
Leider hat sie aber keinerlei Spionagefertigkeiten (sie sieht das anders, liegt aber falsch), sie kann nur ihren Namen vor allen geheim halten und der ist am Ende trotzdem rausgekommen ohne dass sie es geahnt hätte....🤭

Noch ein Beispiel zum Thema Logik? Na gut😜
Also, Leonidas bringt die bewusstlose, verletzte Gemma in sein Königreich (absolutes Feindesland), lässt Gemma heilen und sagt ihr dann, als sie wieder gesund ist, sie müsste dringend das Land verlassen, es sei zu gefährlich für sie. Aber wie sie wegkommen soll weiß er auch nicht so genau, der Schlauberger🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Noch ein Beispiel? Meisterspionin Gemma spioniert in der Werkstatt des Feindes, plötzlich öffnet sich die Tür und der Feind betritt den Raum!😱 Gemma hat keine Zeit in den Geheimgang zu rennen, aus dem sie gekommen ist, aber zum Glück hat sie die zündende Idee, mehrere Meter hoch zu einem Fenster zu klettern🤨 es wäre auch mein erster Instinkt irgendwo hochzuklettern, weil man ja viel schneller ein paar Meter klettern als rennen kann🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

Noch ein Beispiel? Ach, na gut, eins noch: Gemma ist von ihrem Feind gefangen genommen und gefesselt und ihre Magie ist blockiert worden, sie kann sich nicht befreien geschweige denn bewegen oder sich gegen ihn verteidigen, die Situation ist aussichtslos! Und doch schwört sich Gemma, einen Weg zu finden ihren Peiniger mit in den Tod zu reißen, sollte er sie zu Tode foltern.
🤨🤔❓❓❓Was ist das für ein Quatsch, wie soll das denn gehen?
Hach naja. Egal.

Ich werde die Reihe jedenfalls definitiv nicht weiter verfolgen, das war mir echt zu blöd😂😂

[Bibi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started reading this about a year ago and haven’t gotten beyond 25%. It’s super slow, characters are uninteresting and being in the mind of, Gemma, the heroine is worse than the constant migraines currently plaguing me. DNF @ 25%.

[⊹ Gabriela | Asternyx ⊹ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actual rating : 4.5🌟

I literally couldn't put it down!!!
So. Freaking. Good.
It felt like I was losing a race I didn't know I signed up for!
This was awesome I can't wait for the next book!

⇢ Edit :

This book's about a girl who has a reputation for being a pampered princess. However, her carefully crafted persona is just an act to hide the fact that she is a powerful mind magier and a spy.
On one of her missions she encounters her mortal enemy — Prince Leonidas. And even though she tries to stay away from him, she soon finds out they have a mutual enemy.

They decide to work togheter and here comes the enemy-to-lovers trope you all know I stand for 😏

It's a YA Fantasy, but based on the language & events happening in the book I'll put it in the NA category.

We have gargoyles, different other creatures, a beautiful fantasy world and well written characters.
Badass princess (hell yeah) and the ✨ prince ✨

Can't help but appreciate the villain in this book. It's such a well made character, loved it!

I totally recommend it to the fantasy lovers out there!

[Mikky · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the start this book had me intrigued. I loved that this story was in the vein of the Blood And Ash series that I've been loving these past few years. Through that series, I discovered that I really like fantasy and therefore should be reading more of it. So here we are!

The first few hours of this story were fantastic but then it got really boring through the middle only to pick back up again in the end. The way everything was set up I assumed it would be action-packed always and when that didn't happen I got a tad bit bored.

Gemma was a bad*ss! She may be a princess and have a constructed reputation for being air-headed but that doesn't mean she doesn't care about her people. She took it so far as to become a spy. I love her tenacity and her willingness to put herself in danger to better understand and help out the people who believe in her.

Leonidas of Motra was interesting. Throughout the story, we don't know what side he's solidly on until the end. He's done Gemma very dirty in the past but he kind of grew on me? Like a fungus, you could say. He also has a very sad and heartbreaking life story. I couldn't help but have a soft spot for him.

Considering that the main genre I read is romance I kinda, sorta wanted more romance. All the longing gazes and the instances of hand holding for a few seconds were not enough! From what I understand this series is pure fantasy but a girl can hope right?

The ending was action-packed and I loved every minute of it! It's what I wanted the whole book to be. I want more of that in the next book in this series. The very last interaction between Leo and Gemma was so sad and heartbreaking. In what world could they possibly be together? That's the answer I'll be looking forward to getting before this series ends.

The Audio Book:

The narration was okay. Personally, I just didn't think that the voice went with the main character. That's probably something that's going to be personal to me though. The characters were distinguishable from each other and there were no weird noises in the background.

[Julie - One Book More · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Capture the Crown, the first book in Jennifer Estep’s new A Gargoyle Queen series! The story follows Gemma, a princess/spy, who while on an investigative mission uncovers things that result in more danger and political intrigue than she ever imagined.

Princess Gemma Ripley has a reputation for being spoiled and pampered, more interested in gowns and jewelry than politics. She encourages this gossip and cultivates the persona of a glitzy, silly woman – anything to distract from the truth. Gemma is really a spy. While investigating who is stealing tearstone from one of her kingdom’s mines, she becomes an unlikely ally of Leonidas Morricone of Morta – her mortal enemy and the man she wants dead. I love Gemma! She is strong and fierce, independent and intelligent. She loves her family and her country, and she fights hard for what she believes in. Gemma also struggles with traumas from her past, which exacerbates her anxiety. She is well-layered and interesting, and I enjoyed the complexities of her character.

Leonidas is another great character and the perfect anti-hero. Not always honorable, trustworthy, or honest, his character is veiled in mystery, and I so loved trying to figure out his true intentions. He is so different from Gemma, who is fairly obvious in her feelings and motivations. Of course, Gemma’s life and family are very different from Leo’s. Unused to the support and love of family, Leo faces familial manipulation, threats, and even attempts on his life. However, Leo is different from most of his family members. He doesn’t possess the cruelty that many of the others do, and he tries valiantly to protect those he loves and cares about. I like that Leo is so well-layered, and I feel like there is so much more to learn about his character.

Determined to show Gemma that not all of his people are evil, Leo shows a deep love for his country. However, political intrigue abounds in his world, and it seems as if everyone has a scheme in the works. So many people are vying for the throne, and no one is safe. Gemma knows she can’t trust anyone, though Leo tries to convince her otherwise. There are so many twists in the story, and I was shocked at some of the turns of events. With murder coups, brewing wars, and a woman behind enemy lines, there is tons of tension and action. Plus, there’s the beginning of a swoon-tastic romance!

I am a fan of a good love story, and this slow-building, enemies-to-lovers romance is fantastic. Gemma and Leo have such a complicated and impossible romance, which reminds me a bit of Romeo and Juliet. Their families are enemies, and Gemma has despised Leo since he betrayed her when they were children. Gemma is slow to trust the mysterious and secretive Leo, even though she feels drawn to him for some inexplicable reason.

Because of his brutal upbringing, Leo struggles with intimacy. Like Gemma, Leo is slow to trust, but his feelings for her are strong. He resists them for many reasons, but this proves impossible. Things are not always as they seem, and the more this pair (especially Gemma) learns about each other, the past, and the present danger, the more they realize that their perceptions might be wrong. I love the tension between this couple. There are so many obstacles in their way, and it seems improbable that they could end up together, but I’m still rooting for them.

In addition to the layered characters and swoon-worthy romance, the world-building is immersive and interesting. I love the different animals, magic, and other supernatural elements that wove through the story. Gemma’s loyal gargoyle is fantastic, as is Leo’s feathered friend. They both have big personalities, and though they should be enemies, they actually seem to have a begrudging respect for each other. I can’t wait to learn more about the world, the magic, and the other supernatural elements and creatures in the upcoming books.

Though this is a spin-off of the Crown of Shards series, you don’t need to read that series to read this book. That being said, I loved this book so much that I’m going to read the Crown of Shards series next. I think this is a great book for readers who like fantasies with dynamic characters, immersive stories, tons of political intrigue, and a fantastic enemies-to-lovers romance. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series and am so thankful to NetGalley, Jennifer Estep, and Harper Voyager for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

[Jennifer Sellers · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I want to say thank you to NetGalley, Jennifer Estep, as well as Avon and Harper Voyager for giving me the opportunity to read this incredible book in advance!

Oh my gosh! I need the next book NOW!!!

Seriously, yall. March has been a great month for me with books, and this one is no exception.

This being the first book by Jennifer Estep I have had the pleasure to read, and IT WILL NOT BE THE LAST, I have to say I am blown away with her writing. Her writing style is so enchanting it draws you in from the first sentence to the very last punctuation. The characters, as well as the world are wonderfully diverse and rich. Each character is truly their own person, making me appreciate even the most evil of her villains.

The slow burn attraction that runs through the story is both sweet and vicious. By the end you will be cursing Jennifer’s name and begging for book two, because one is just not enough.

One of my favorite parts of this books, other than the amazing story, are the characters. (Yes, I said that already, but it is sooooo true!) They are so complex that I want to dive into each one and know more about their stories. I can truly see several series braking off from this one. Especially one based on Delmira! I LOVE HER!

Anyway, that is enough rambling from me. Read it. You will love it. The End.

[Carole (Carole's Random Life) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/

I really enjoyed reading this book! I loved the Crown of Shards trilogy so I was thrilled to get the chance to read more books set in that world. I have to admit that I have a hard time remembering much about secondary characters once I have finished a book so I really knew nothing about Gemma, Leo, or any of the characters but some of the events mentioned in the story were very familiar to me. This would be a perfect place to start if you were thinking about reading any of the books set in this world.

Gemma is known as a pampered princess but the reality is that she works to protect her kingdom by working as a spy. She has been working in a mine when she stumbles upon more than she bargained for when she crosses paths with Prince Leo of Morta. She doesn’t hesitate to take full advantage of the opportunity to go undercover in Morta even though it is a risky move. Before it is all over, she will find herself in more danger than she could have ever imagined.

This was an exciting story! I was really worried about Gemma, Leo, and the rest of the characters for much of the book. There were a few scenes that were really intense. I was never quite sure who Gemma should trust. I liked Leo and they had a lot of chemistry together but he is loyal to his mother, Queen Maeven. I enjoyed the magic in this story. I love Gemma’s abilities and I have a feeling that she will master even more skills as the series progresses. I really loved the gargoyle, Grimley, and the strix, Lyra, and look forward to seeing more of them in future books.

I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was an excellent start to a promising series set in a world that I already love. The characters were very well done and there was plenty of intense action to keep the pages turning. I cannot wait to read more of this series!

I received a digital review copy of this book from Harper Voyager via NetGalley.

[Robert Fontenot · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this book from a Goodreads Giveaway

I tried to finish it but I just couldn't. It ticked all the wrong boxes for me.
Mary Sue protagonist? check
Overly broad "mind magic"? check
Enemies turned lovers? check
Instalove? check
Hurt/comfort? check
Convoluted back story infodumps? check
Oddly placed food porn? check
Nationalities are color coded? check
Even down to eye color? check
And almost every color is described in gemstones? check
Paragraphs of fantasy name word soup to rival Lewis Carroll's Jabberwocky? check
The sort of lazy world building in which there is no electricity but there are light switches (and running water to boot!)? check
The sort of lazy world building in which there is no Europe but there is Swiss Cheese? check
Writing style that veers from the much younger side of YA to almost inappropriately adult? check

By the time I got to where he had scars on the outside but if only he could see that she also had scars, but on the inside, I knew that I was done.

[Ashley Haas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just like the original series, Kill the Queen, (this is a spin-off) I found myself getting bored in some areas and then my mind would wander then I would have to reread the same page multiple times. I honestly feel like it’s me, not the book (cliche huh?) because when I think back on the book as a whole it was actually good and the writing is done really well. If I remember correctly when I read the original series I was in the middle of horrible book slump and currently I find myself teetering on the edge of one so I’m going to round up from 3.5 stars to 4 stars and put this on my reread list for when I’m out of this slump.

I will say that I think this series is slightly better than the first, I enjoyed the story line a little more and the fact that there wasn’t a love triangle, at least not yet. Please, NO LOVE TRIANGLE! 🤮🤮It’s what mainly ruined the first series for me.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.

I loved this first book in a new YA Fantasy trilogy set in the same world as the author's Crown of Shards books. Here, we meet Princess Gemma Ripley, whose frivolous reputation hides her secret identity as a spy, and her skills as a powerful mind magier.

Gemma goes undercover with her loyal gargoyle Grimley to see who is stealing tearstone from her family's mines. While sneaking around she crosses paths with Prince Leonidas Morricone (Leo) of Morta, one of her family's mortal enemies. When Gemma gets into trouble she finds herself pairing up with Leo to uncover the mystery of the missing tearstone. Gemma never dreamed she would be working with Leo, and is surprised and disturbed when she finds herself attracted to him. Both royals will need all the skill, and luck, they can muster to get out of the increasing trouble they find themselves in.

This book caught my attention from the start. I really enjoyed the previous series, which is set in the same world about 15 or so years before the events in this trilogy. Gemma is a strong character, but as is typical in these books, there is something holding her back from achieving her full potential. She is challenged multiple times throughout the book until she's able to push through and take control of her powers. I think perseverance and belief in oneself are an important messages that can never be stressed enough. Even in a YA Fantasy. :-)

Leo is the typical YA brooding love interest with his own secrets and issues. We don't learn much about him as this book is focused on setting up Gemma and the long-term difficulties she will face throughout the trilogy, but I expect we will learn more about him in the next books. Some of the book is formulaic and there is a bit of repetition regarding the Seven Spires massacre (from the previous series) and the couple's childhood interactions that could have been omitted, but this book is such a fun read that those issues are minor irritants.

This is a good first book in a new fun and exciting trilogy and I am really looking forward to the next book in the series. You may miss some nuances in the story if you haven't read the Crown of Shards series, but there is enough background in this book that you could read it without having read the previous series and still be able to enjoy it. However, I highly recommend you read the Crown of Shards series because it is SO GOOD!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Harper Voyager. All opinions are my own.

[Feyre · Rating 3 out of 5]

Capture the crown and you could tear down the throne that went with it.

3.25 🌟
After Everleigh's story, I just had to read this. Maybe my expectation were too high because I loved Everleigh so much but Gemma took some getting used too. I had my problems getting to know her, she's okay but she's built up to be amazing, the glamourous life just a front for a badass spy, and that for me she did not live up to that. Don't just tell me she's amazing, show me. She only showed that towards the ending.
But the chemistry with her love interest was there from the start and I kinda liked him. And the development in the end makes me excited for the books to come. Maybe Gemma will live up to her potential. Story and writing were amazing.

[Manu ✦★✦ · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 50%

I just wish I had DNF this sooner! 25% in I already knew I wasn't liking it, but I was expecting some improvement, a little thing that would make this book a little less horrible. And oh surprise... there wasn't.

First of all, I've already read Jennifer Estep before, my teenage self loved the super trashy fantasy of Touch of Frost and the whole Mythos Academy series. It was my kind of bad, a trashy book that you still enjoyed despite how stupid it was. And I expected the same from this one, but I don't know whether I've outgrown my bad taste or this book was beyond bad BAD, though I suspect is the second.

To understand my dislike for this book there are three major points: characters, romance, and plot.
First, my problem with the characters was how annoying, boring, and completely unidimensional they were. And not just that, they were also super cliche, but that's not a problem to me when well managed! But the other thing this book suffers from is a lot of telling and zero showing. Let's put as an example Gemma, the main character. In the book synopsis, she's described as this pampered princess who actually is a super powerful spy. But the thing is... she isn't. Whenever Gemma has the chance to use her powers she can't because she's overwhelmed about how powerful she is, which is the worst show of power I've ever read. And add to that she is the worst spy ever; she constantly gets out of her "spy" character, she is the worse at going undercover, and she can't keep her mouth close in the most crucial moments. And the worst is that I did like Gemma's character in the first chapters, she was funny and lowkey relatable. But 15 chapters later she was super annoying, her comments were no longer funny, and her decisions and motivations were questionable. And she wasn't even the worst character, Leonidas was. there wasn't a single moment I liked Leonidas, mainly because his only qualities were being handsome and "kind enough to not kill little girls". Like WTF, in which alternative universe can I like him? He was plainer than a rock and more boring than this book. And though I just described two characters everyone else was equally boring and bad.

Add all that and the romance is horrible. But what made it even worse was the most horrible insta-love ever, and though they didn't immediately fall in love with each other, Gemma couldn't stop saying how she felt a "weird attraction for this super attractive man who is her swore enemy". I think I don't need to further explain how horrible this was.

And finally, the plot, that despite having one of the most basic average fantasy worlds ever, I didn't understood shit. Mainly because there's a super big dump of information at the very beginning and because of all the stupid flashbacks that Gemma felt the need to mention even though they were not necessary at all.

So I'm missing a lot of things that I hated but I think this sums up all the reasons why this book is horrible.

[Alaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Capture the Crown was so much fun to dive into! Now it has been a while since I've read a book by Jennifer so I will admit that freaked out when I got accepted to read this one. That last series I dove into was so freaking good that I went into this one with high expectations. Honestly, not disappointed by anything right now.

In it, you will meet Gemma. She is a princess and a spy. In the words of Hannah Montana.. she's got the best of both worlds. Maybe? Not sure. I will admit that she was a pretty interesting and likable character though. Plus the adventure that she went on was loads of fun. Definitely made this a page turner.

Oh and her love interest? Public enemy number one. Which, hello, I'm sold (again). Honestly, each and every one of her enemies were very intriguing. I just wanted to get to know them a bit more and explore their side of evilness.

With each twist and turn, I was constantly on the edge of my seat. I had no idea what was going to go down and that's what kept this being a fun book to devour. Even though the beginning started off a bit slowly for me. It definitely picked up before things felt like they were dragging.

In the end, I loved this book and can't wait for the next one to come out!

[Mindy Lou's Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm always eager to try out a new series when the heroine is the hero in story. I like reading about women who can kick butt and take names. I will admit that Gemma fell just a tad bit short here, but I also think she is being set up to really come into her powers in the next books in the series.

Gemma is a princess and a spy. I found that very intriguing and looked forward to the adventure I knew she would take us on. After the first initial slow start, things pick up with the first hint of danger and it kept my attention all the way to the end.

I found it interesting that Gemma's love interest is a man who is really her enemy, and one she can't trust...or can she? I'm also super intrigued by the enemy queen. I can't quite get a read on her. Is she truly evil? I think she is, but she also does a few things that made stop and contemplate. I liked that. It shows that this story is unpredictable.

I'm going to have to reserve my judgement until I read more in this series. For now, it was intriguing despite having a few things that made me question if Gemma really is as powerful as we are being lead to believe. That can make or break this series for me.

[Sophia Wordworld · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mit "Die Saphirkrone" erschien vor zwei Wochen der Auftakt der neuen "Gargoyle Queen"-Reihe, welche in direkter Verbindung mit Jennifer Esteps "Splitterkrone"-Reihe rund um "Kill the Queen", "Protect the Prince" und "Crush the King" steht, welche ich 2020 mit großer Freude gelesen habe und nun die Geschichte der dort vorkommenden Kronprinzessin Gemma erzählt. Die beiden Reihen können zwar theoretisch unabhängig voneinander gelesen werden, ich kann potenziellen LeserInnen von "Die Saphirkrone" aber definitiv ans Herz legen, die Hauptreihe zuerst zu lesen. Erstens weil sie an sich sehr lesenswert ist, zweitens weil man mehr Spaß hat, wenn man alle Anspielungen und Eastereggs versteht. Da wir die Splitterkrone-Trilogie ebenfalls zusammen gelesen haben, habe ich auch "Die Saphirkrone" wieder als Buddyread zusammen mit Sofia von "Sofias kleine Bücherwelt" (wie immer an dieser Stelle ein kurzes Shoutout!!) gelesen. "Die Saphirkrone" kann für mich unterm Strich bisher noch nicht ganz mit der Hauptreihe mithalten, ist als abenteuerliches Spionage-Sequel aber definitiv lesenswert!

Das Cover und der Titel der deutschen Ausgabe erinnern anders als die Originaledition nur wenig an die Gestaltung der Hauptreihe. Während sich im Englischen der Titel "Capture the Crown" perfekt in die Reihe der Titel von Band eins bis drei einreiht, stechen der deutsche Titel und das Cover etwas heraus. Zu sehen ist der Titel in weißen geschwungenen Großbuchstaben vor einem dunklen Hintergrund, der von blauen Lichtpunkten durchzogen ist und im unteren Teil des Bildes eine silberne, mit blauen Edelsteinen besetzte Krone zeigt. Die Gestaltung des Covers ist unterm Strich also stimmig und hübsch anzusehen, dabei aber leider recht nichtssagend und für meinen Geschmack zu weit von der Gestaltung der anderen Bände entfernt. Ebenfalls schade fand ich, dass wir hier anders als in der Hauptreihe keine beigefügte Karte von Jennifer Esteps Fantasy-Welt erhalten. Gerade da wir mit unseren Figuren verreisen und ein neues Königreich kennenlernen, wäre eine Karte hier sehr hilfreich gewesen!

Erster Satz: "Ich liebe mein Leben als Prinzessin".

Ganz entgegen meiner Erwartung und im Gegensatz zu diesem Einstiegssatz entführt uns Jennifer Estep nicht in das glamouröse Leben einer Prinzessin, sondern schickt uns LeserInnen gemeinsam mit der Kronprinzessin von Andvari Gemma Ripley auf eine gefährliche Undercover-Spionage-Mission an der mortanischen Grenze. Wer bereits die "Splitterkrone"-Reihe gelesen hat, der weiß, dass dem Königreich Morta mit der aktuell herrschenden Königin Maeve Morricone nicht zu trauen ist und so ist es nicht weiter verwunderlich, dass Gemma auf der Suche nach verschwundenem Zährenstein aus ihrer Miene auf eine verdächtige Spur stößt, die sie geradewegs ins Herz von Morta führt: den königlichen Palast Myrkvior in Majesta, wo es nicht nur von Feinden wimmelt, sondern wo auch ihr Erzfeind aus Kindestagen auf sie wartet...

"Wo... bringst du mich ...hin?", krächzte ich. Ein Dutzend schrecklicher Szenarien glitt durch meine Gedanken. Und bevor ich in der Bewusstlosigkeit versank, hörte ich, wie er meine schlimmste Angst bestätigte.
"Nach Hause", antwortete er sanft, "Nach Morta."

Genau wie in ihrer Hauptreihe präsentiert uns Jennifer Estep mit "Die Saphirkrone" also wieder ein politisches, abenteuerliches High Fantasy-Highlight voller Intrigen, Spionage, Verrat und ein bisschen Romantik. Letztere bleibt trotz des Enemies-to-Lovers-Potentials zwar stark im Hintergrund, dafür sind aber einige spannende Crime-Elemente enthalten und wir erhalten hier erstmals einen Blick auf das Königreich Morta. Nachdem wir schon Unger, Bellona und Andvari aus erster Hand kennengelernt haben, dürfen wir nun hinter die Kulissen des zuvor so feindlich und grausam aufgetretenen Königreichs Morta werfen, die Strukturen am Hof besser kennenlernen und die seit Generationen vor sich hin schwärenden Konflikten innerhalb der Königsfamilie begutachten, welche erklären und verständlich machen, weshalb sich die Morricones in den letzten Jahren so kriegerisch verhalten haben, wie wir es aus der Hauptreihe kennen. Besonders im Zentrum der Aufmerksamkeit stehen hier die mortanische Königin Maeven, ihr Sohn Milo und dessen Verlobte aus einer weiteren einflussreichen mortanischen Familie, deren Plänen Gemma als Spionin auf die Schliche kommen muss, um eine weitere Gefährdung ihres Königreichs zu verhindern.

"Ich war der Sturm. Unvorhersehbar. Unkontrollierbar. Nicht aufzuhalten."

Nach einem flotten Einstieg inklusive Beinahetod, Kampfszenen und Lebensgefahr nimmt sich "Die Saphirkrone" im Mittelteil recht viel Zeit, die Gegebenheiten am neuen Hof in Morta auszuloten und Gemmas Beziehung zu Leo zu vertiefen. Das ist auch keineswegs ein Problem, an manchen Stellen reichen gezielte Intrigen zwischen Kaffeekränzchen und ein Kampf nach einer königlichen Audienz jedoch einfach nicht aus, um darüber hinwegzutäuschen, dass Jennifer Estep von Zeit zu Zeit etwas zu sehr ins Schwafeln gerät. In der Splitterkrone-Reihe waren Informationen über Setting und Figuren eher beiläufig platziert und ließen mehr Raum für die aufs Ganze gehende Handlung. Hier werden Kleidung, Zimmer, Magie und Gärten manchmal seitenlang beschrieben. Die ausführlichen, teilweise abschweifenden Beschreibungen regen zwar die Fantasie stark an, bremsen die Handlung jedoch ein wenig aus und lassen den Eindruck entstehen, dass die Geschichte im Verhältnis zur Handlung etwas zu viele Seiten hat. Zwar erhalten wir neben der Haupthandlung ab und an spannende Rückblicke in die Kindheit der Protagonistin, die auch ihre erste Begegnung mit Leonidas beschreiben und uns Hintergründe der Handlung besser verstehen lassen, hier wäre zur weiteren Auffrischung aber eventuell ein paralleler Handlungsstrang oder eine weitere Erzählperspektive hilfreich gewesen...

"Ich mochte es als akzeptables Risiko betrachtet haben, hierzubleiben und in den gefährlichen Gewässern von Myrkvior zu schwimmen. Doch jetzt hatte die Flut eingesetzt, und es wurde Zeit, sich wieder ans Ufer zu begeben, bevor ich in meinem eigenen Blut ertrank"

Langweilig wird es aber trotzdem nie. Dafür sorgen zum einen der für High Fantasy recht temporeiche und dynamische Erzählstil, der die Handlung zu jeder Zeit vorwärts treibt und Längen verhindert. Mit spannenden Kämpfen, Intrigen, Geheimnissen, Reisen durch mehrere Königreiche, der Vorstellung von Fabelwesen wie Gargoyles oder Strixen und dem Kennenlernen von verschiedenen Arten von Magiern - Murkse, die eine verbesserte Körpereigenschaft besitzen, Morphe, die sich in Monstergestalten verwandeln, Magier, die Elemente kontrollieren und Meister, die aus Materialien die beeindruckendsten Dinge herstellen können - bekommen wir zu zum anderen genügend Spannendes präsentiert, dass man darüber wegsehen kann, dass auch hier einige Fantasy-Klischees verbaut wurden und die Handlung zwar sehr stimmig aufgelöst und überraschend unvorhersehbar, an einigen Stellen aber auch ein bisschen fragwürdig ist (Spoiler: Dass Gemma als Prinzessin einfach ihre Haare etwas schneiden und dunkler färben und sich dann als Spionin unerkannt in einen feindlichen Palast einschleusen kann, erschien mir die ganze Zeit über ein wenig unglaubwürdig. Klar hat sie die meisten Höflinge noch nie persönlich getroffen, aber man will doch meinen, dass sie trotzdem einer erkennt - sei es wegen der schlechten Verkleidung, ihrem teilweise auffälligen Verhalten oder weil er oder sie sie bereits auf einem Fest gesehen hat).

"Ich wusste immer, dass du glorreich bist." Trotz der Entfernung hörte ich die tiefe Überzeugung in seinen Worten und konnte nichts gegen die Freude tun, die mein Herz dabei erfüllt. "Jetzt weiß dein Volk das auch."

Auch die weibliche Hauptfigur Gemma blieb für mich ein wenig hinter der Protagonistin der Hauptreihe zurück. Nach wenigen Kapiteln aus ihrer Perspektive ist mir bereits aufgefallen, dass sie Evie in vielen Charaktereigenschaften stark ähnelt, auch wenn sie deutlich jugendlicher und weniger abgeklärt wirkt als unsere Heldin aus Band 1-3. Mit ihren 29 Jahren ist sie überraschend alt (wenn man bedenkt, dass wir Gemma als 12jähriges Mädchen in der Hauptreihe kennenlernen), könnte nach ihrem teilweise etwas naiven Verhalten und den vielen ungeklärten emotionalen Problemen (zum Beispiel mit ihrer Macht) aber deutlich jünger sein. Da sie wie Evie sehr mutig, loyal ihrem Land gegenüber, dabei aber auch voll Mitgefühl, Wärme und dem genau richtigen Maß an zerbrechlichem Selbstbewusstsein ist, habe ich sie aber sehr schnell ins Herz geschlossen und für ihre Stärke bewundert. Genau wie in der Hauptreihe blieb sie nicht die einzige starke Frau, die sich nichts sagen lässt und die wir hier bewundern dürfen. Neben Gemma, der geheimnisvollen Spionin Reiko und der Prinzessin Delmira ist vor allem die Antagonistin, die skrupellose mortanische Königin Maeven, eine vielschichtige ambivalente Figur, die mich sehr fasziniert hat. Ich bin ein großer Fan von feministischer Fantasy, in der es Königinnen und Kämpferinnen gibt, die sich nicht von irgendwelchen Rittern retten lassen oder von gutaussehenden Prinzen abgelenkt werden, sondern selbst das Heft in die Hand nehmen, wodurch Jennifer Estep noch weitere Pluspunkte sammeln konnte.

"Keine Sorge", murmelte Leonidas. "Bei mir wirst du immer in Sicherheit sein." Er sprach leise, doch in seinen Worten schwang ein wildes Versprechen mit, bei dem mein verräterisches Herz schneller schlug."

Mit dem Mentalmagier und Gemmas Nemesis aus Kindertagen Leonidas haben wir einen nach Geißblatt-duftenden, Bibliothek-besitzenden, gutaussehenden und beschützerischen Love Interest (-->❤️), der mir sehr schnell ans Herz gewachsen ist. Auch wenn er als mortanischer Prinz alles verkörpert, was Gemma hasst und die beiden eine komplizierte, belastete Vergangenheit verbindet, sehen wir sofort, dass er anders ist als seine Familie und es trotz einiger bedauernswerter Ausrutscher tief im Herzen gut meint. In Kombination entwickeln die beiden eine sehr interessante Dynamik und eine überraschende Chemie, sodass ich mich auf der einen Seite etwas geärgert habe, dass sie nicht mehr Szenen zusammen habe, mich auf der anderen Seite deshalb aber nur noch mehr auf Band 2 freue. Ich hoffe, dann bekommen wir auch ein paar weitere Szenen mit Gemmas Gargoyle Grimley und Leonidas Strix Lyra (die Autorin hat echt ein Faible für Alliterationen, wenn ihr es noch nicht bemerkt habt)!!!

Ebenfalls ein wenig mehr erhofft hatte ich mir bezüglich Auftritte von Figuren aus der Hauptreihe. Ich kann verstehen, weshalb die Autorin es hier größtenteils bei kurzen Nennungen von Evie, Lucas, Alvis, Xenia und Co gelassen hat, hätte mich aber sehr gefreut, noch ein bisschen mehr von unseren Helden zu lesen. Aber das kann in den Folgebänden ja noch kommen... Der nächste Teil der Gargoyle-Queen-Reihe wird uns zusätzlich durch eine kurze Leseprobe am Ende des Buches schmackhaft gemacht. "Der Dornenthron" erscheint allerdings erst am 30. März 2023, wir müssen uns also noch ein wenig gedulden. Angesichts der langen Wartezeit ist es praktisch, dass uns der spannende Showdown ohne krassen Cliffhanger, dafür aber durchaus mit vielen offenen Fragen und Anknüpfungspunkten gespannt auf Band 2 zurücklässt.


Fazit:

"Die Saphirkrone" ist ein politisches, abenteuerliches High Fantasy-Highlight voller Intrigen, Spionage, Verrat und einem Schuss Romantik. Zwar bleibt das Sequel was Figuren und Handlung angeht leicht hinter der Haupt-Trilogie zurück, ich kann Euch diesen hochspannenden Ausflug ins mörderische Morta aber trotzdem ausdrücklich empfehlen!

[Shivani (shivsreads_ ) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A powerful princess who moonlights as a spy? Hell yes!!

Gemma Ripley, princess of Andvari is a powerful mind magier who has the carefully cultivated persona of a glitzy, pampered princess but is really a spy for her kingdom. When a mission goes horribly wrong and she finds herself in the enemy kingdom of Morta, she reluctantly joins forces with her childhood nemesis Leonidas to uncover a dangerous plot against her kingdom.

Capture The Crown is a fascinating, fast moving story with vivid world building, complicated relationships and almost Game of Thrones level plotting and scheming by a host of multilayered,enigmatic characters. Gemma is a fierce and independent character whose love for her family and kingdom causes her to bravely risk her life multiple times. Her guilt and shame over her inaction during a traumatic event in the past adds to her determination. Leo is a tough nut to crack for most of the book.It is not very clear where his loyalties lie. This story also has great secondary characters who bring more intrigue and drama to the plot.

I did feel that the author could have gone a bit lighter on Gemma’s numerous inner monologues as they became quite repetitive after a point. Although I know that past events have had a hand in shaping the characters’ persona, I would have preferred lesser references to said events too.

Nonetheless, I would recommend Capture The Crown for readers who like fantasy books filled with intrigue, drama, politics, magic, a badass heroine, a morally grey hero and a touch of romance.

Now, I have one question for Jennifer. When is the next book coming out, because I’m already a mess trying to figure out what happens next?

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[Jeanny · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars.
Audible version. Narration was well done. The story failed to hold my interest mostly bc I wasn’t a fan of any of the characters. I thought Gemma the FMC incredibly useless & to be honest TSTL. I suspect if the characters were more engaging the plot would’ve worked well enough. I will not continue the series.

[Beth]

DNF @ 25%

After having this book on my conscience for three weeks, I'm finally giving up.

Things that appealed:

- An enjoyable point of view character. She had a tough past and was still willing to put herself in danger for her country. Although, is that something that a princess ought to be doing?
- Writing that was engaging and easy to read. It's the kind of prose that I typically associate with YA, and it worked well here.
- The story was fun. I was genuinely interested in seeing who was moving the plot behind the stolen gemstone, and why.

Things that weren't so great:

- Aggressive shallowness. Nothing goes beyond a surface level, including descriptions of trauma.
- It was kind of cool that emotion was consistently expressed in similes and metaphors, both within Gemma's mind and when she was reading others' emotions. But after a while it was too intrusive and broke me out of the story.
- Slipshod and lazy world building. It's one of those books that's supposedly set in a fantasy world, but if you look at it closely, people are living much like they do in the 21st century. You've got fantasy refrigerators, and fantasy light switches, and running water (with accompanying fantasy infrastructure, I guess?), and public education, and 8-hour work days, and easy access to a wide variety of food for people of all classes (fantasy logistics?). And no cars or guns, of course.

There might be times that I could enjoy a book like this, but this seems not to be one of them. Thanks--and apologies--to Harper Voyager for sending me a proof copy in a Goodreads giveaway.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this review on Fresh Fiction

CAPTURE THE CROWN marks Jennifer Estep’s return to writing Fantasy. I was immediately intrigued about this concept when I heard about its premise. Estep has been known to create interesting worlds and this one that she had created in the Gargoyle Queen series is no exception.

While this first book in the series did take me a little while to get into in the beginning, there was a lot going on in terms of the action and deception. However, the concept of the spy was the thing that kept me interested. I’ve read a few spy books before, but none of them have been with this type of backdrop, so the combination intrigued me a lot and since this is only the first book in the trilogy, I can only expect it to get better.

If you’re a fan of exploring kingdoms and lots of action and suspense, then I think that you’ll enjoy this new series from Jennifer Estep too. Gemma’s character certainly shines in this book and I have high hopes for the other characters as well, especially Leo. CAPTURE THE CROWN certainly showcases Estep’s writing to the fullest. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

[Jennifer Sellers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh! I need the next book NOW!!!

Seriously, yall. March has been a great month for me with books, and this one is no exception.

This being the first book by Jennifer Estep I have had the pleasure to read, and IT WILL NOT BE THE LAST, I have to say I am blown away with her writing. Her writing style is so enchanting it draws you in from the first sentence to the very last punctuation. The characters, as well as the world are wonderfully diverse and rich. Each character is truly their own person, making me appreciate even the most evil of her villains.

The slow burn attraction that runs through the story is both sweet and vicious. By the end you be cursing Jennifer’s name and begging for book two, because one is just not enough.

One of my favorite parts of this books, aside the amazing story, are the characters. (Yes, I said that already, but it is sooooo true!) They are so complex that I want to dive into each one and know more about their stories. I can truly see several series braking off from this one. Especially one based on Delmira! I LOVE HER!

Anyway, that is enough rambling from me. Read it. You will love it. The End.

[Anna (Bobs Her Hair) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Jennifer Estep. I was frustrated with the repetition (the Seven Spire Massacre, trying to kill each other when they were children, etc.) and the minutiae of getting from point A to point B. This is set in the same world as the Crown of Shards trilogy, which I enjoyed. While certain elements didn't work for me the interaction and chemistry between Gemma and Leonidas was engaging. Plus, I remember them as children in the Crown of Shards series. I love this type of trope. I look forward to book 2 in the Gargoyle Queen trilogy.


library eloan

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Formulaic? Yes. Does it matter? Not one bit! Reading a book by Jennifer Estep always feels familiar because it is. Big hearted heroine ✅ lots of magic action ✅ attention to detail when describing food and outfits(there was a lot of purple in this book)✅ lots of muscly chest in the love interest✅It was all good and an entertaining escape from the real world.

[Alex (The Scribe Owl) · Rating 2 out of 5]

See this review and more at my blog, The Scribe Owl!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

2/5 stars

Capture the Crown is a mess of a novel with a chaotic magic system and jumbled worldbuilding.

I always feel bad writing negative reviews, but Capture the Crown was hot garbage. I wanted to like the whole idea of the princess-turned-spy, but everything was too much of a mess to find the remnants of a good synopsis.

First of all, most of the questions about this book that I see are about the previous series. No, you don't have to read it to read this book. It's just set in the same world; I wouldn't even call it a companion novel. I haven't read the first series either, but I got the gist of it.

As you know, I always look at the characters first. I didn't particularly like any of them. And I didn't understand the romance either. As soon as they see each other, Gemma talks about aTtRaCtIoN between them. THERE IS NO ATTRACTION. YOU KEEP SAYING IT, BUT SHOW ME IT.

As for the worldbuilding, the only difference between the two main countries is that one is violently blue and the other violently purple. I could not quote enough times that Gemma talks about "Morton purple" and two people literally get into a fight about the differences between lilac and lavender. I live in America, but do you see me prancing around in red, white, and blue every day? I might as well throw in bald eagle head boppers for all the crazy wearable patriotism in this novel.

So the characters and relationships weren't great and the worldbuilding was nonexistent. A book normally has some redeemable element. What about the magic system? NO. THAT WAS THE WORST PART! Gemma is a mind magier, which obviously means that she can hear people's thoughts, move objects, make weird booms when she screams, turn into a ghost while she sleeps, and visit other people's dreams. Duh. And if one of those can't get her out of a situation, don't worry, she'll make another ability out of thin air!

You know all about Dauntless cake and Katniss's favorite lamb and plum soup, but what about all the food in Capture the Crown? Gemma's on a mission and pretending to be a peasant, so she brings common food to lunch at her job. A sandwich on sourdough bread with apricot jam and Havarti cheese with pear lemonade on the side. And then she has a peasant breakfast. Hot oatmeal with dried figs and toasted slivered almonds dusted with cinnamon and chocolate flakes. And then she saves this guy and he pulls a whole charcuterie board out of the cupboard. Maybe food is another one of her powers?

All in all, this book was a mess. At least it gave me something to write about.

[Ela's Welt der Bücher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lange habe ich auf meine Printausgabe gewartet, aber nun hab ich es endlich geschafft es zu lesen. Ich wusste schon als ich den Inhalt gelesen habe, dass es so eine Art spinoff von Kill the Queen ist, da Jemma dort auch schon eine Rolle gespielt hat. Jennifer Estep ist eine Autorin, da muss einfach jedes Buch automatisch einziehen, denn ich mag ihren Schreibstil und ihre Geschichten total gerne. Jemma fand ich wirklich sympathisch und ich mag auch ihren Gargoyle gerne. Aber auch unser männlicher Protagonist ist was ganz besonders obwohl man oft daran zweifelt. Es hat wieder so viel Spaß gemacht in diese Welt einzutauchen und ich freue mich wenn es in Dornenthron nächstes Jahr weitergeht.
4,5 Sterne

[Emms-hiatus(ish) · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 45%

It's dull and repetitive. The FMC has a back story of guilt that just doesn't make sense and we have to hear about it over, and over, and over, and over. Same with how the MMC and she tried to kill each other as children. Over, and over, and over, and over.

Then there's all the different shades of purple. Over, and over, and over, and over.

I gave this one a bit longer than I do most books that I don't connect with since I've enjoyed other books by this author. I kept hoping it would get better. Nope.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gemma heads out on a secret spy mission against her father and grandfather's wishes. She is investigating the strange disappearance of large amounts of tearstone.

While she investigates the mind where an informant disappeared, Gemma runs into her longtime nemesis, Prince Leonidas Morricone. She finds herself in a precarious position, to save Prince Leo from an attempt on his life. Deciding to do the right thing, she saves Leo opening good and bad feelings Gemma had tried to forget.

The attraction burns hot but Morta and all the royals are her enemies. How far will Gemma go to uncover the Morta plots and ultimately the very crown is at risk.

A spin-off one of my favorite epic fantasy series, THE CROWN OF SHARDS, I found Capture the Crown simply Mind-blowing! I FLAT OUT LOVED THIS BOOK! Estep is a masterful storyteller! She weaves a web of mystery, magic, and mayhem that enraptured me. Although in my humble opinion May 2022 is just too far away, I will be anxiously waiting for Tear Down THE THRONE…it can’t come fast enough.

I received this ARC copy of Capture the Crown from Avon - Harper Voyager - HarperCollins. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Capture the Crown: A Novel
Jennifer Estep
FRONTLIST | On Sale Date: July 6, 2021
Ship Date: June 9, 2021
9780063023031, 0063023032
Paperback
$16.99 USD, $21.00 CAD, £10.99 GBP
Fiction / Fantasy / Epic
432 pages | Announced 1st Print: 50K
Series: A Gargoyle Queen Novel
8 in H | 5.3 in W | 0.7 lb Wt

[Under the Covers Book Blog]

Jennifer Estep is writing Fantasy again! When I saw this, I immediately wanted to try it because the premise sounds different to what I am normally drawn to. One of the interesting things about Estep’s series is that she tends to feature a lot of different creatures and characters.

I felt like this book was a little out of my comfort zone, so it took me longer than expected to get into. However, I do think that it’s highly detailed and features an interesting protagonist.

The concept of a spy is also something new for me. I can say that I’ve only read a handful of spy novels, but paired with this backdrop, I feel like this series will be an interesting one to watch. I am looking forward to seeing what Estep plans to do with this series with the future books.


Reviewed by Annie ❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤

[Allison • Alli’s Fairy Tales]

• My Reading Experience: Really Good!
• Book Spice: None

My husband did a good job picking this one for me!

[Review to Come]