The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! š
kayla_kamldecker's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Self harm
jazzsilvestri's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
jen_sten's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Self harm and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Vomit
kalecake's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Suicide, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Body horror, Blood, and Sexual content
bellebookcorner's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The story started out with a strong opening, plot seems interesting to follow, and I enjoy listening to the narrator. The narrator did a good job delivering this book.
However, at some point the plot took an unexpected turn. I was struggling to keep up with whatās going on. It would be nice if this one was divided into two books instead of cramming it into a long thick book.
The world building is actually pretty interesting and Iām interested in knowing more about the magic system. However, the pacing felt weird sometimes. In some parts it was too rushed with multiple time jumps but then itāll turn very slow that I just want to skim past it.
Moreover, there are too many characters but not many of them are very memorable. I didnāt feel the chemistry or any spark between the main characters because of how the FMC keeps giving the MMC a second chance over and over again annoyed me by the end of it.
I really want to like this book but I felt confused most of the time listening to this story. The long chapters also makes this book feels longer than it should be.
This book sounds promising and has potentials to be a great read, however I was disappointed with how it turns out. I donāt think Iām gonna continue reading this series.
While this book didn't work out for me, youāre welcome to check it out if YA fantasy romance is your go to genre.
I received an advanced audiobook for free through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Huge thank you to the author and publisher!
Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Sexual content, Grief, and Death
deedireads's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
A Crown of Ivy and Glass, an adult fantasy romance Giselle retelling, was definitely not perfect, but I had a ton of fun reading it and canāt wait for book two.
For you if: Youāre looking for anxiety/chronic pain rep and love a steamy fantasy book.
FULL REVIEW:
I loved Claire Legrandās Empirium trilogy (first book is Furyborn), so imagine how excited I was when I read in her newsletter that sheād sold a new adult fantasy romance trilogy where each book focuses on a different sister and retells a famous ballet. I DMed the publisher to put me on a galley list right away (to which they kindly said āitās a little early lolā).
A Crown of Ivy and Glass was far from perfect, but I definitely had fun reading it. This one is a Giselle retelling and focuses on the youngest sister, Gemma.
The not-so-great parts: The pacing was inconsistent, with a much slower build and sudden change 75% of the way in. Gemma is vain and self-absorbed and not very likable, especially in the beginning. Legrandās āonce upon a timeā prose style also takes some time to get used to until it stops feeling cheesy, as does Gemma and Talinās insta-love.
And for the good parts: Gemma gives us some solid rep, including anxiety/panic attacks and severe chronic pain, which Legrand has said was extremely important to her. I loved that it was a Giselle retelling, and it managed to surprise me even so. The magic system feels novel and interesting. Oh, and steamy scenes be steamyyy.
The next book is going to be about Gemmaās eldest sister, Farin, and based on the glimpses we got in this book, I can already tell itās going to be a fantastic romance. Iāll be eagerly awaiting it!
Graphic: Chronic illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Violence, and Sexual content
wheeliechick's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Self harm
luckylulureads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Iād say the romance was more Insta-lust than Insta-love, and honestly I donāt see anything wrong with that. Thereās definitely still some tension or push/pull in the relationship between Gemma and Talan that it seems realistic. Sure, he can kinda lay it on thick, but with reason. ..
Gemma herself is an unlikeable character, and yet I loved her. She deals with chronic pain and crippling anxiety, and as someone who can relate, it can be difficult to find the energy for kindness or generosity when youāre running on fumes like that. She can be moody, irrational, and selfish, but she is also aware of how her actions affect others in the aftermath. Sheās a traumatized person who is working on healing and coking to terms with her pain. And I think she has incredible growth over the course of the book. As the author intended, Gemma is absolutely Amy March and Emma Woodhouse coded.Ā
The plot of the book itself is super interesting, and I found myself unable to put the book down once the mysteries really got rolling. I had to know what all of these seemingly disparate threads meant. While the book takes a really wild turn in the second half, it quickly gets back on course, and there are some intense revelations. It puts a lot of the first half into perspective.Ā
I absolutely cannot WAIT for book two, which I have on good authority is definitely Farrinās book. Which hopefully means more Ryder!
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Chronic illness, Self harm, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Vomit, Suicide, Ableism, Animal death, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Blood
nukie19's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Narration from Evelyn Rose was excellent. She was wonderful to listen to and I appreciated her subtle changes for each character.
Thanks to the publisher for providing an audiobook ARC through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.Ā
Graphic: Blood, Chronic illness, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Violence, Abandonment, Cursing, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Alcohol, and Grief
brightbelladonna22's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
From the very first chapter, Legrand's writing style and worldbuilding pulled me in. In classic Legrand fashion, her writing is gorgeously evocative and haunting, and I love her return to a first-person POV....and I love having Gemma as a narrator. Legrand always writes complicated female characters so beautifully, and Lady Imogen (Gemma) Ashbourne is no exception. Gemma is a 20 year old daughter of an Anointed family, and is the only one of her family members not blessed with the magic of the gods. Instead, Gemma experiences excruciating pain in the presence of magic and debilitating panic attacks, but her pain doesn't make her some kind of saint. She's often unlikeable, selfish, juvenile, and self-loathing, all of which make her deeply human, and deeply relatable to me, a twentysomething woman with chronic pain. The chronic illness representation here is some of the best I've ever read, and I adore that Legrand never writes in some kind of magical cure-all, even when it seems it might go in that direction.
I also adore the turns that this story takes. Although the first half feels very much like Bridgerton, it very quickly goes off the rails in the best way and begins my favorite part of the book. I won't spoil anything, but if you've read Legrand, you know the dark and creative directions she goes in. All I'm going to say is when Gemma discovers her father's greenway (a magical passage between portions of their world), I literally could not put this book down, and when a twist involving her lover, Talan, happens about 70% of the way through, I audibly gasped.
And speaking of Talan, I've seen a lot of hate/indifference towards him here, and I can't say I completely disagree. If there is one very minor flaw I have with this book, it's that Talan and Gemma can feel insta-lovey at times. I don't think it's unrealistic -- when you get to the twist, you'll find out why he falls for her so fast, but I can also see her attraction to him. I mean, a sexy empath who takes your pain away if you ask? Sign me up, please. Still, I think part of the insta-lovey feel is due to the pacing. Apparently, their whirlwind romance takes place over two months, but nothing indicates the time skip, so I felt it was all happening in weeks. I'm certain other readers felt the same.
Still, that's a very minor flaw in the grand scheme of things (in my book) and didn't detract from my love of this book or my love of the series in the least. Based on Legrand's newsletter, it seems like the next book in the series will be from Farrin's point of view, and (I'm hoping) her romance with mortal enemy, Ryder Bask. I adored the hints of tension and backstory I got between Farrin and Ryder -- probably even more than I liked Gemma and Talan!
I cannot wait to pick up my physical copy of this book and I eagerly await the rest of the series. I never thought I'd love a Legrand series more than the Emperium trilogy, but so far, this is winning out over Furyborn.
A huge thank you to NetGalley, SourcebooksCasa, and Claire Legrand for giving me this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, and Chronic illness