A review by kryle
The Gilded Crown by Marianne Gordon

dark mysterious 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

3.5

Hellevir is able to raise the dead, but her gift comes with a price. Each time she visits with Death, she loses a small part of her self. When rumors of her gift reach the royal court, the Queen seeks her out and demands that she become the on-call resurrectionist for Princess Sullivain, sole heir to the crown. Hellevir finds herself in difficult position as she navigates the world of political intrigue, threats, and conspiracy all while attempting to balance her personal morals with the complex relationships she forms. 
 
Read if you like: 
- political intrigue 
- necromancy 
- dark fantasy 
 
I am conflicted on how I feel about this book. Overall, I enjoyed the premise of the story but I feel like it didn’t meet it’s full potential. A majority of the plot line was repetitive. I would have liked more of a backstory, especially regarding the history of the War of the Waves and the Onaistus religion. A map would also be helpful. 
 
I also didn’t care for Hellevir and Sullivain’s relationship. It was toxic and I found it difficult to believe in their subplot of a romance. Sullivain is incredibly manipulative and doesn’t seem to care about the emotional or physical toll of Hellevir using her gift. She also never takes accountability for her actions. But who knows, maybe she’ll get a redemption arc. 
 
I did really enjoy the scenes with Death and the mystery surrounding his character. Hellevir has far more interesting interactions with him than anyone else. I also loved the raven. 10/10 for the animals. 
 
That being said, I feel like there is the potential for Hellevir’s character to have a lot more growth and development in the next book. Like girl, you can still be empathetic and compassionate, but grow a backbone. I am also curious to see how the rest of her bargain with Death pans out, as well as what happens within the court. I liked this enough to give the next book a shot. 
 
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for a free digital copy of this book. This is my honest review. Publication date: July 2, 2024.