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cloaknquill's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
writer6's review against another edition
4.0
While I didn't think that A Crown of Ivy and Glass was perfect, I still loved this book for the most part. I do think that this book suffers from some pacing issues at times, and I felt like the plot kind of dragged at times throughout the book from time to time. I really liked most of the characters in the book. That being said, I'm really looking forward to reading the rest of Claire Legrand's Middlemist trilogy! :)
My rating/score: 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads' rating system / 8 out of 10 on my own personal scoring system.
My rating/score: 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads' rating system / 8 out of 10 on my own personal scoring system.
madisonmunn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
sharon_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I really enjoyed this book. First fantasy book I’ve read since the middle of 2024 and it held up. The romance was sweet and I loved seeing Talen and Gemma come together. But I did find there was a lot of back and fourth with their romance that could have been cut out for the sake of time.
As much as I loved our Gemma, once I hit 75%, the referencing to the panic, her pain, etc got to be a little much and didn’t need to be repeated EVERY chapter. It was never expanded on, and it always the same explanations. I know there is much more at play, but saying the amount of times she wakes up to pain, and it being the same old ordinary pain of everyday life is not needed all the time.
As for the fantasy, the world is super interesting. I was curious to learn more as I started reading, and as we dove deeper, I was interested but also felt like things weren’t being explained? Despite enjoying the side plots, I felt it took away from the main story and where the book was going. In the last 15%, stopping in the middle of our conclusion and final reveal, to have this side plot be brought forward again was a tad bit annoying and I don’t think it was needed since I felt like our characters could have come together as a team without it, and it would have been more powerful?
I’m still excited for the next book, even though I’m not sure where they are going to go from here. But I look forward to reading.
As much as I loved our Gemma, once I hit 75%, the referencing to the panic, her pain, etc got to be a little much and didn’t need to be repeated EVERY chapter. It was never expanded on, and it always the same explanations. I know there is much more at play, but saying the amount of times she wakes up to pain, and it being the same old ordinary pain of everyday life is not needed all the time.
As for the fantasy, the world is super interesting. I was curious to learn more as I started reading, and as we dove deeper, I was interested but also felt like things weren’t being explained? Despite enjoying the side plots, I felt it took away from the main story and where the book was going. In the last 15%, stopping in the middle of our conclusion and final reveal, to have this side plot be brought forward again was a tad bit annoying and I don’t think it was needed since I felt like our characters could have come together as a team without it, and it would have been more powerful?
I’m still excited for the next book, even though I’m not sure where they are going to go from here. But I look forward to reading.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
sryoung's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
darkbluereader's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
cassandramt17'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? Yes
4.25
chrimeme's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
atrailofpages's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
During the Unmaking, centuries ago, the gods chose certain families to receive herbals of their power and serve as guardians of Edyn, the human realm.
Imogen’s family was among them, one of the Anointed clans. Being the youngest, Imogen was the one to serve at the Middlemist. But twelve years ago, the Warden came and was convinced to take Mara instead of Imogen. And Imogen was secretly delighted to be able to continue to live her lavish life, despite being rather sickly and ill. And poor Mara had to join the Order of the Rose and watch the borders of the Mist for monsters and intruders.
When Imogen and her family visit Mara, Mara tries to tell Imogene something, but fails to do so when called away to protect the border where Imogen sees the truth about her sister and the Roses.
After the event, Imogen throws a party where she meets Talan d’Astier, a boy her father is thinking about doing business with. When they meet and talk, their situations are similar and Talan understands Imogen a lot better than others and tells her they could help each other.
Overall, I enjoyed this story. This took a much darker turn than I expected. It’s like a darker version of Bridgerton 😅 filled with monsters and dark magic.
Although, I never would ever connect with Imogen, it was fun to read a character who is rather spoiled and selfish and loved lavish things and her lavish lifestyle. To see her grow and change was definitely a feat of its own.
I will say the romance was okay. It seemed fast and there’s drama, but again, a bit too fast for my liking and I’m not sure if I actually liked Talan or not 😅
The ending also was a bit surprising, and I will say, the ending helped improve the scoring of this book because the ending is not your typical HEA fantasy ending. But I wouldn’t say it’s NOT happy, just different.
Overall, a great dark fantasy read with Bridgerton vibes. I would definitely recommend!
Imogen’s family was among them, one of the Anointed clans. Being the youngest, Imogen was the one to serve at the Middlemist. But twelve years ago, the Warden came and was convinced to take Mara instead of Imogen. And Imogen was secretly delighted to be able to continue to live her lavish life, despite being rather sickly and ill. And poor Mara had to join the Order of the Rose and watch the borders of the Mist for monsters and intruders.
When Imogen and her family visit Mara, Mara tries to tell Imogene something, but fails to do so when called away to protect the border where Imogen sees the truth about her sister and the Roses.
After the event, Imogen throws a party where she meets Talan d’Astier, a boy her father is thinking about doing business with. When they meet and talk, their situations are similar and Talan understands Imogen a lot better than others and tells her they could help each other.
Overall, I enjoyed this story. This took a much darker turn than I expected. It’s like a darker version of Bridgerton 😅 filled with monsters and dark magic.
Although, I never would ever connect with Imogen, it was fun to read a character who is rather spoiled and selfish and loved lavish things and her lavish lifestyle. To see her grow and change was definitely a feat of its own.
I will say the romance was okay. It seemed fast and there’s drama, but again, a bit too fast for my liking and I’m not sure if I actually liked Talan or not 😅
The ending also was a bit surprising, and I will say, the ending helped improve the scoring of this book because the ending is not your typical HEA fantasy ending. But I wouldn’t say it’s NOT happy, just different.
Overall, a great dark fantasy read with Bridgerton vibes. I would definitely recommend!