honeypeach's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
plush's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Hellevir has been strange for longer than she has been able to speak to Death and raise the dead. Once Hellevir raised the heir to the throne after she was assassinated, it was only a matter of time before the crown decided she was too valuable to leave in her village next to nothing. But the city surrounding the palace is crawling with webs of deceit and hatred. Threats come both from the crown demanding her obedience and the church that labels her a heathen. Raising the dead exacts a toll that she’s more than willing to pay, but being near the princess may cost her heart.
This book hooked me from the first page. I could not put it down. I love Hellevir. She’s so real and flawed. I love the atmosphere and the writing of this story. Everything feels so tangible while reading. I love the descriptions and how beautifully everything is described.
I honestly can’t believe it’s a debut novel. This book is a thorny delight that will stick with me for a long time. I cannot wait for more.
This book hooked me from the first page. I could not put it down. I love Hellevir. She’s so real and flawed. I love the atmosphere and the writing of this story. Everything feels so tangible while reading. I love the descriptions and how beautifully everything is described.
I honestly can’t believe it’s a debut novel. This book is a thorny delight that will stick with me for a long time. I cannot wait for more.
mimimac's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I went into the Gilded Crown expecting a lighthearted romantasy book with some sort of death magic, I can’t exactly remember where that impression came from, I think probably based on the cover & some comps I saw on instagram, but it has done this book a massive disservice imo.
I would liken this book more to if The Bear & The Nightingale & The Six Deaths of the Saint had a baby with a side sprinkle of lusting. It definitely wasn’t what I had seen pitched & honestly I think it was better than the pitch.
If you’re like me & excepting a romance, I am here to manage your expectations. There is some intense (& mildly inappropriate) sapphic yearning which is very well written & will leave you wanting more, plus there is a lovely achillian side relationship, but that’s it. You will like it, but you will be disappointed if you expect more.
I really liked the whole idea of this book, the exchanges with death & how the deals worked, the bargains & corruption, just the general scope of the book, I think it’s a really solid foundation for any following books. There’s a lot left unexplored but also plenty of info to get you started without being overwhelming.
I thought the worldbuilding was very good, clear & much more realistic than some fantasy, rooted in real world myths & historical references. The pacing was perhaps a bit slow in places, but I was intrigued throughout so didn’t notice it too much.
Overall a really solid book & can’t wait for the next one!
Thank you to Harper Voyager and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this ARC.
word_dragon's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Gilded Crown is an intriguing story of death and politics. Hellevar has special abilities: she can talk to animals and bring the newly dead back to life. As a child, her mother died in childbirth. In her desperation she enters Death and sees her mother with her baby sister. Death will only let her take one soul back at a cost. She chooses her mother. Her mother is angry and forces her family to leave Hellevar in the village as they move to the capital. Years later, as a teenager, yhe queen comes calling for Hellevar to resurrect her daughter who was poisoned. Unfortunately, this starts her life as the princesses personal herbalist and reserectionist. In the capital, Hellevar reconnects with her family and is thrown into the search for the one behind the assassination attempts. She quickly learns that things are not what they seem and not everyone shows their true self.
A solid four stars. Pacing was a little off, but the reader can become quickly absorbs in this young adult story. I enjoyed the gay couples, but I felt as if the author tried a little hard to make them so. However, I did quickly fall in love or dislike various characters
A solid four stars. Pacing was a little off, but the reader can become quickly absorbs in this young adult story. I enjoyed the gay couples, but I felt as if the author tried a little hard to make them so. However, I did quickly fall in love or dislike various characters
egkaetzel's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I read this book as an ARC - thank you to Harper Voyager.
Review summary: Overall, there are many things to enjoy about this book, but I do think it sometimes struggles with adjusting character motivations for the sake of the plot which can be frustrating. The book follows a girl who can raise the dead when she is thrust into court politics and a growing tension between a new monotheistic religion and the old pagan tradition. Ultimately I think lovers of YA and new adult dark fantasy will really enjoy this, but for me I would have ditched one of the subplots to dive deeper into her magic and her relationships.
Review summary: Overall, there are many things to enjoy about this book, but I do think it sometimes struggles with adjusting character motivations for the sake of the plot which can be frustrating. The book follows a girl who can raise the dead when she is thrust into court politics and a growing tension between a new monotheistic religion and the old pagan tradition. Ultimately I think lovers of YA and new adult dark fantasy will really enjoy this, but for me I would have ditched one of the subplots to dive deeper into her magic and her relationships.
More details: The writing style is very good, the author I very capable and handles well the tricky balance in fantasy between world building, characters, and plot. However it feels that in trying to navigate threads of the characters relationship with death, her relationship with Sullivan, the conflict with the church, and a plot to overthrow the crown, I felt like there were some crucial underdeveloped pieces. I would agree with other reviewers that is does feel more YA or “new adult” as those books, like this one, tend to gloss over very troubling relationships such as those between Hellevir and Sullivan. It was just very very hard to believe in Hellevir’s love to someone who felt truly so evil.
I also wish that there had been more time spent developing Hellevir relationship with her magical and healing abilities outside of raising the dead. Ultimately I think lovers of YA and new adult dark fantasy will really enjoy this, but for me I would have ditched one of the subplots to dive deeper into her magic and her relationships. Also she should have talked to more animals because that is a COOL power she really never used.
I also wish that there had been more time spent developing Hellevir relationship with her magical and healing abilities outside of raising the dead. Ultimately I think lovers of YA and new adult dark fantasy will really enjoy this, but for me I would have ditched one of the subplots to dive deeper into her magic and her relationships. Also she should have talked to more animals because that is a COOL power she really never used.
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence
baffledbiscuit's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
sian1808's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
4/5 Stars Definitely worth the read!
One of my favourite things about this book was the unique take on death and what comes after. From the very start I was hooked, with each page I wanted to know more and the writing never failed to keep me intrigued about what would happen next.
Although I mostly loved this book, the one character I could not connect with was Sullivan. For me her character wasn’t really that likable and I felt as though a lot of excuses were constantly made for her actions. On the other hand, I found the MC Hellevir very likable and intriguing, some of my favourite moments were often between Hellevir and death himself something that I cannot wait to see more often in future books.
I can quite happily see myself rereading this book over and over without getting bored. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for allowing me to read an ARC of this fantastic book.
One of my favourite things about this book was the unique take on death and what comes after. From the very start I was hooked, with each page I wanted to know more and the writing never failed to keep me intrigued about what would happen next.
Although I mostly loved this book, the one character I could not connect with was Sullivan. For me her character wasn’t really that likable and I felt as though a lot of excuses were constantly made for her actions. On the other hand, I found the MC Hellevir very likable and intriguing, some of my favourite moments were often between Hellevir and death himself something that I cannot wait to see more often in future books.
I can quite happily see myself rereading this book over and over without getting bored. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for allowing me to read an ARC of this fantastic book.
mariathelibrarian's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
welcometomynirvana's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
pagesofnay's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0