The Queen's Crown

League of Rulers #1

by Jennifer Anne Davis

Her sister’s wedding was meant to unite two kingdoms.
Her murder ignited a war in Sabine’s heart.

To hunt the killer, Princess Sabine Ludwig takes her sister’s place and weds the enigmatic king of Lynk—a man whispered to be as ruthless as he is devastatingly charming. She plans to seduce the truth from him, then spill his blood if she must.

But the king’s touch is a temptation she never expected, and every glance from him blurs the line between enemy and lover. In a court where loyalty is bought with lies and desire is a weapon, Sabine must decide which is more dangerous—trusting the wrong man, or falling for him.

One will ruin her.
The other will destroy her kingdom.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Fantasy Romance, Mystery, Royalty

306 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 19, 2023

About the author

Jennifer Anne Davis graduated from the University of San Diego with a degree in English and a teaching credential. She is currently a full-time writer. Jennifer is the recipient of the San Diego Book Awards Best Published Young Adult Novel (2013), winner of the Kindle Book Awards (2018), a finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards (2014), and a finalist in the USA Best Book Awards (2014).

Visit Jennifer online at:

www.JenniferAnneDavis.com

Reviews

[sam (nesta's version) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Queen’s Crown by Jennifer Anne Davis

★ ★ ★ | Fade to black

!! POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD PROCEED WITH CAUTION !!

*A special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*

.
.
.
.
.

I have mixed feelings about this one. I was definitely drawn to it because of the cover and the description, but some aspects definitely let me down.

Y’all we all know that I don’t love slow burn, especially with no crumbs. That’s just my personal preference and if it’s clear that’s what it is, I don’t let it affect my review. But man, by the middle of the book I was BEGGING for some sort of romance. Some sort of anything. But when we did get it, it felt like it came out of nowhere.

Now, I enjoyed the twists and turns of the story. But, I felt like I went through this story knowing absolutely nothing. Like there were no crumbs of plot or hints to the story, which was actually quite frustrating. We needed to get some sort of direction.

I didn’t really feel invested in any of the characters relationships or connected to any of them at all, either.

Now, the ending. Trust me, I love a good cliff hanger. But, the plot of the book needs to conclude first, at least to me. The story of the first book just didn’t feel finished to me. I just wish that it had a more concrete end prior to the cliffhanger.

Overall, I didn’t particularly love this book. But, it has interested me enough to read the second one.

[Phoebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating- 4 stars

Many thanks to Jennifer Anne Davis, Xpresso Book Tour and NetGalley for letting me have this opportunity to review this eBook and to give my honest review.

The Queen's Crown follows Princess Sabine Ludwig who thought that she would never have any claim to any throne and spend her days drinking tea and knitting. However, tragedy strikes when her sister is brutally murdered in a foreign kingdom. Sabine's world is turned upside down. Sabine decides to take her sister's place and marry King Rainer. Sabine believes this will be the only way to save her kingdom and to find out her sister's killer. But once Sabine gets to the kingdom, not everything as it seems.

This book was quite plot-driven and there was a lot going on which kept me really intrigued throughout the book. It did get annoying the more times the MC was left in the dark or lied to over and over again. Most of the time, I was screaming at the characters because I wanted to know what was going on. I am still not sure if
I trusted any of the characters with the amount of lies and deception they put her through. I would love to see more world building in the next book to learn more about the world.

After this book, I am left with more questions than answers and I can not wait for the second book. I am hoping that we get the answers that we were waiting for it in this book. I am also intrigued to see where this book is going to go.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Fantasy / Romance
*Rating* 3.5-4

*Thoughts*

The Queen's Crown, by Jennifer Anne Davis, is the first installment in the authors League of Rulers series. 18-year-old Princess Sabine Ludwig is the youngest daughter of the King and Queen of Bakley. Sabine thought her biggest problem was finding a man remotely interesting to dabble with while trying to fill her days with something other than knitting or drinking tea. Then the unspeakable happens. Alina, who was supposed to marry another, accepted a marriage bone with the King of Lynk.

*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*

https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...

[Amanda Deur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it, the suspense was killing me. Now to wait for book 2, ugh, I hate it 😂

[Jane ☾ · Rating 3 out of 5]

While it did have some interesting political schemes/ world-building, it was missing something, a spark if you will.

The characters felt one dimensional and I didn't care for a single person there. I kept waiting for something to pique my interest but the plot moved at a snail's pace and there was nothing to keep me occupied. No sassy banter between characters, not that many sibling scenes, no chemistry, no high-risk tense scenes...it was very meh. Not only that but the amount of times someone mentioned how the MC is here only to "breed/ give birth to an heir" was disgustingly high

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to Netgalley and Reign Publishing for giving me the opportunity to review this book. All opinions are my own.

I have some mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I felt frustrated with the characters lying to the MC so much of the time and I felt like I couldn't trust anything that was being said. I really just wanted the plot to move forward clearly. I also really wanted to see more world building than there was. It felt like the book was missing key information and wasn't quite complete. On the other hand, I really enjoyed the story and want to see where this goes in the books to come.

[ryn ✩ · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m incredibly grateful for having NetGalley accept my request for this arc!

But, to be entirely honest, I could not finish this book.

The plot was very interesting and I was truly very excited to read it but, the writing really disconnected me from the story, I just couldn’t get into it no matter how hard I tried. I felt like this was a first draft of the book that really needs some polishing and editing to truly reach its potential.

[Crissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was amazing!!!! I devoured this story from beginning to end and it ended with a cliffhanger that left me wanting the next book asap. I truly enjoyed ruling family of Bakley but of course as the story focuses on Alina and Sabine more, they were my favorites of the family thus far. I also enjoy Markis, a lieutenant that is sent with Princess Sabine to Lynk for protection. Rainer, the ruling King of Lynk, and his family are an interesting bunch. When it comes to them there's more to them than what meets the eye, especially after all of the surprises, suspense, mystery and betrayal within the family and even out of it. You will definitely have some love and dislike feelings when it comes to this family and will have even more mixed feelings by the end of the story. When it comes to the members and citizens of the Lynk court, they hold nothing back. There's no limit to the scheming. This story left me with a lot of unanswered questions that I'm excited to find out the answers to, especially with all of the games and power play moves that are happening within the ruling family of Lynk. All I know is that I need Queen Sabine to find out the answers to her questions and the truth about what is really going on around her as her life depends on it. She's young and naive in a sense, but I need her to straighten her backbone and become the Queen that she is meant to be. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series and would definitely recommend this book to all of my book loving friends.

[lina · Rating 2 out of 5]

So. much. repetition.
Find my sister’s killer.
Find my sister’s killer.
Find m.. WE KNOW!!

Gosh, can someone who can actually write rewrite this?? The story itself isn’t bad. The writing is horrible and Sabine is a bit dumb, but at least she has potential to be an actual interesting and intelligent leading character.

[laura Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

All i have to say is WOW! This book has so many twist and turns you wont see coming. It kept me on the edge of my seat and left me wanting more. Princess Sabine is the youngest child of the King of Backley, and has always been a bit of a wild child. Her older sister, Alina, agrees to marry the very mysterious King of Lynk, because their kingdom is in need of re-enforcements. Shortly after Alina leaves to marry the king, she is found murdered! Wanting to get justice for her sister, and find her killer, Sabine agrees to take her sisters place. When she arrives in Lync she is emerged into a world of lies and mysteries, where is unable to trust anyone but herself. She is on a mission to find out what really happened to her sister, while trying to not become a victim herself.

[heyshelbyhi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like this has so much potential, but my biggest impression was feeling frustrated by the lack of information we were given. The conversations and interactions all felt abrupt and strange. We didn’t have any answers, or even clues, throughout the whole thing, so it was just frustrating to me. The king had a hunch that he knew who was the murderer. Okay. Could we get a hint? No.

After reading the whole book I’m still not sure who Sabine’s love interest is supposed to be, because none of the options seemed very appealing. The characters all felt very flat to me without any personality.

I’m left with lots of questions. How could 4 people travel through a completely dark mountain river in a canoe for days without getting out to sleep etc? Maybe I misunderstood something, but this is the type of thing that seemed to be swept aside without answers, and I still have questions lol. I’m sad about this, because I feel like I could have really enjoyed it if we had more details shown to us.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Isabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so fun, easy and engaging! Def reminds me in the best way possible of some older YA series. I will read further in the series for sure

[Saurya · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Queen's Crown is perfect if you love
🔪 Murder mystery
💑 Strong sister bond
👑 Marrying the "villain"
🏰 Political intrigue
👗 The Victorian era

WHAT IT'S ABOUT:
👑 As sixth in line to the throne, eighteen-year-old Princess Sabine Ludwig of Bakley thought her biggest problem was finding a man remotely interesting to dabble with while trying to fill her days with something other than knitting or drinking tea. Yet, when her sister is murdered in a foreign kingdom before she’s to be married, her world twists upside down.

👑 Devasted and furious, Sabine wants nothing but find her sister's murderer and bring him to justice. So she blindly takes her place and marry the mysterious and mighty king of Lynk. It’s the only way she can hunt down and find the killer. But more than one obstacle stands in her way, and it's hard for her to be queen of a kingdom so secret.

👑 Hallf thruths, lies, and royal secrets, she must keeps her wits about her to find her sister's killer and most importantly, survive. Can she trust her guards, her maid and the royal siblings?
Between power struggles, seduction and lurking dangers, her life and much more is at stake. Will she make it long enough to the wedding or meet the same fate as her sister?

[Adriana Guerrero · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a beautiful work of art; the themes and plot were catchy and irresistible for me; they filled me with intrigue and the need to end the story as fast as I could. I received an arc of this book, and now I am devastated that I have to wait even longer to be able to read the sequel. It is my conclusion that the plot is the strongest point this book has; how it is filled with mystery, yet it still conserves amusing and lighthearted aspects that make it suitable as an easy read. It kept me at the edge of my seat; with all the plot twists and events that happened adding to the narrative and unifying in such an extremely especial product.

Let's talk about the characters; I think characters are the second most important part of any book, they can save a lame story as well as ruin one with a perfect plot line. I have mixed feelings about the characters in this case. Sabine, is a witty, relatable girl that sometime finds herself in situations where she feels out of her depth; this doesn't stop her of course, and I can't wait to see what she will do in the sequel, while there was not a lot of character evolution throughout the whole book; I hope we see more of that. I think she does the best she can in the circumstances that surround her and I hope she accomplishes her goals. She actually reminds me of the main character in another of Jennifer Anne's books, Reid in "Realm of Knights", in her actions as well as her way of thinking and personality. Maybe not in each one's talents but in the way they seek to be honorable and find themselves in royal situations filled with betrayal and schemes. So if you liked that book, you are probably also going to love this. I also greatly liked Axel, his witty banter with Sabine made me feel like they would be the perfect romantic partners, or at least best friends; despite the improbability of this happening, I can't help but hope that there will be something there and that we won't be seeing the last of their relationship.

Now, the characters that I hated, not because they were badly written, lacked content or were flat; but because their action made me rage at them, and often I had the sense of wanting to hit them while reading. Sabine's brother, there was not one of them that I liked. When her sister goes away to marriage she is forced to attend tea with her mother every day, as well as she is the one that needs to comfort her when Alina dies; my question is, why couldn't her brothers do this? Is it because she is a woman, are they not capable of also assuming these tasks, as far as I know comforting someone is not a job relegated to women. And the fact that her older brother forced her to just irks me so bad. The king of Lynk was also someone I detested, hence my reasons for wanting her to end with his brother; he was so controlling and presumed so much. Was constantly condescending to the point of not letting her pick her clothes and forcing, practically molding her into this breeding machine to create heirs, she was told at some point that this was also she was worth for. Her handmaiden, well she is a backstabber, I don't trust her for a second.

And you might think I hated this book due to the way I ranted about it up there. But it is because I was so invested in the story that I actually began hating those who wronged our protagonist and fervently desired the ending I wanted. I would totally recommend this book for it will involve you personally in all ways.

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very slow paced. I know I’m meant to feel intrigued about the mystery, but instead I’m just frustrated because nothing is happening and Sabine does not behave like I would expect any normal person to act. Also I was expecting an element of romance and there was almost none.

[adriana koehn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a beautiful work of art; the themes and plot were catchy and irresistible for me; they filled me with intrigue and the need to end the story as fast as I could. I received an arc of this book, and now I am devastated that I have to wait even longer to be able to read the sequel. It is my conclusion that the plot is the strongest point this book has; how it is filled with mystery, yet it still conserves amusing and lighthearted aspects that make it suitable as an easy read. It kept me at the edge of my seat; with all the plot twists and events that happened adding to the narrative and unifying in such an extremely especial product.

Let's talk about the characters; I think characters are the second most important part of any book, they can save a lame story as well as ruin one with a perfect plot line. I have mixed feelings about the characters in this case. Sabine, is a witty, relatable girl that sometime finds herself in situations where she feels out of her depth; this doesn't stop her of course, and I can't wait to see what she will do in the sequel, while there was not a lot of character evolution throughout the whole book; I hope we see more of that. I think she does the best she can in the circumstances that surround her and I hope she accomplishes her goals. She actually reminds me of the main character in another of Jennifer Anne's books, Reid in "Realm of Knights", in her actions as well as her way of thinking and personality. Maybe not in each one's talents but in the way they seek to be honorable and find themselves in royal situations filled with betrayal and schemes. So if you liked that book, you are probably also going to love this. I also greatly liked Axel, his witty banter with Sabine made me feel like they would be the perfect romantic partners, or at least best friends; despite the improbability of this happening, I can't help but hope that there will be something there and that we won't be seeing the last of their relationship.

Now, the characters that I hated, not because they were badly written, lacked content or were flat; but because their action made me rage at them, and often I had the sense of wanting to hit them while reading. Sabine's brother, there was not one of them that I liked. When her sister goes away to marriage she is forced to attend tea with her mother every day, as well as she is the one that needs to comfort her when Alina dies; my question is, why couldn't her brothers do this? Is it because she is a woman, are they not capable of also assuming these tasks, as far as I know comforting someone is not a job relegated to women. And the fact that her older brother forced her to just irks me so bad. The king of Lynk was also someone I detested, hence my reasons for wanting her to end with his brother; he was so controlling and presumed so much. Was constantly condescending to the point of not letting her pick her clothes and forcing, practically molding her into this breeding machine to create heirs, she was told at some point that this was also she was worth for. Her handmaiden, well she is a backstabber, I don't trust her for a second.

And you might think I hated this book due to the way I ranted about it up there. But it is because I was so invested in the story that I actually began hating those who wronged our protagonist and fervently desired the ending I wanted. I would totally recommend this book for it will involve you personally in all ways.

[Heather M Jones-Lancto · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can never go wrong with a Jennifer Anne Davis Fantasy Romance story. I have read several of her series and am excited for this new narrative. 'The Queen's Crown' kept me guessing right to the end, who would be the main love interest of the book as well as who committed murder. Davis perfectly painted a beautiful picture of the country side as the main character, Sabine, crossed through her neighboring countries. I am wholly invested in this story and not sure I can patiently wait until March 2024 to find out what happens next.

Our main character, Sabine Ludwig, is from the peaceful country of Bakley whose main industry is agriculture. Recently, neighbors from Carlon have been stealing the children from the outlying towns and villages of Bakley. In order to strengthen their forces, Sabine's older sister, Alina agrees to marry the King of Lynk, forming an alliance and securing armed forces. Shortly after arriving in Lynk, Arlina is murdered. Sabine volunteers to take her sisters place to ensure that the contract between Bakley and Lynk remains secure. She also goes because she has vowed to find her sister's killer.

I couldn't help but wonder if Sabine's name was intentional. Possibly named for the Roman myth about the Sabine women who were abducted by men from Rome. Our main character Sabine from 'The Queen's Crown', volunteers to go to Lynk but if her sister had lived and fulfilled her duty, Sabine would have been free to remain at home, marry a local man, and have children. Sabine has free will and made a choice but only out of obligation. Ultimately, I am not a fan of the King of Lynk, Rainer Manford. He is an arrogant, self serving man who only wants a wife from a royal line in order to produce an heir and help him save his throne. In the meantime, Rainer continues his side relationship with the love of his life who is unfortunately for him is not of royal blood. To me the almost 'insta-attraction' between Sabine and Rainer is confusing. He is supposed to be madly in love with someone else but he becomes incredibly possessive of Sabine. Equally, she swoons everytie she sees him topless. Sabine is a strong willed individual whom I expect way more from. The book started off at a quick pace, got a bit slow in the middle, picked up speed at the end, and ended with a great twist and a cliffhanger. I am really interested to see what happens next.

[TheReadingAngel · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5

The Queen’s Crown follows 18yo Princess Sabine of Bakley. Content with spending her days as she wants as 6th in line, she isn’t prepared for when her older sister dies a week before her wedding to the mysterious king of Lynk, a militarily focused kingdom. Thinking it’s the only way to solve her family’s problem and find her sister’s murderer, Sabine takes her sisters place and makes the perilous journey to Lynk. Except that when she gets there, nothing is as it seems.

So here’s the thing. I got through this book really fast because it was easy to read. But I was also very confused most of the time, not really in a bad way, just confused. Like everyone was talking to the FMC, but not really. There also wasn’t a lot of world building. That would’ve helped me understand what was going on more. Hopefully there will be more lore and world building in the upcoming novels.

I really like the main character. She was your typical quick-witted, strong willed FMC. I kind of wish she did more herself for the plot. I felt like there was a lot of plot happening to her, but she wasn’t really setting anything into motion herself. Again, hopefully there’ll be more actions she takes in the future novels that can alter the story more.

I did not hate this book. I enjoy reading Davis’ writing. I have high hopes for this series and I am looking forward to seeing how this story progresses. I just want to know what’s going on.

[Stefani McIntyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me hooked from start to finish. It’s the first of a series and ends on quite the cliffhanger, so buckle up because you’re in for a ride…or a lot of frustration depending on how you feel about cliffhangers. TBH I was pissed 😆 I want more NOW. Well played Jennifer.

This story follows Sabine, a young princess whose sister was promised to a foreign king and then murdered just before the wedding. Sabine agrees to take her place in order to hunt down the murderer and save the alliance of their kingdoms. What follows is an intriguing journey of courtiers gossip, lies, twists and puzzles as she figures out who to trust and who the King is that she’s supposed to marry.

Fascinating court dynamic with likable and relatable characters throughout. I loved the family banter and the growth of our young heroine as she starts to realize the depth of her situation. There is so much more I want to know about the characters as I felt at times that the story was almost sped through for the sake of simplicity and pacing but I’m hoping more development will be revealed in the books to follow. Solid 4 star for me, a great, quick read that pulls you in and leaves you wanting more.


Thank you for the chance to read + review an ARC of this book which is being published later this month!
📚✨

[gung-ho_reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was extraordinarily thrilling! I read this all in one day, I can't believe how insane the tension and stakes are. The Queen's Crown is a fantastic political fantasy full of intrigue.

Right off the bat, the plot is fast paced and I loved that we jumped right into the story with Sabine set in to motion of marrying the King of Lynk, Rainer. I loved their tension and dynamic until he began frustrating me with his plans and not telling Sabine anything. This is plot driven though so I will forgive it if we see their dynamic explored more in the next book.

I can't wait to see them falling more for each other and seeing more into Rainer as a character because we haven't gotten to see his motivations yet. I can sense the tension coming from the betrayal and it's so difficult to root for him completely but I'm still holding out hope we can get something more and that he can't push Sabine around. I want her to be able to make her own moves and gain some political advantage.

The constant feeling of not knowing things and being on the edge of betrayal is exciting. This was exactly the vibes I've been wanting in a fantasy for a long time. It had high amounts of intrigue, suspense and the right amount of romance to be developed further down the line. I'm eager for the sequel. 5⭐

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

[toppled bookshelves · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️

I was drawn to this book from its stunning cover and vivd description and the story help a promising plot. Murder. Revenge. Marriage of Convenience.

Had me sold from only that.

There definitely some fun and intriguing parts of this book, the twins and the mystery around Sabine's sister's murder. I can't lie that I am looking forward to the release of book 2. However, I felt as though was more telling and I just couldn't imagine some of the key locations in the book. Idk i also felt like I didn't connect with the main character. She sounded so badass and witty but I just never saw her really display it in a compelling way.

King Rainer was far to distant and plain. He sounded like any old king and sure maybe he worked with his soldiers, but like in all those pages there was no real understanding of him as a character, he was merely a side piece.

I believe the author has immense potential for the next book and there is just so many ways this story the turn and even though there were some things that may have been better, it doesn't stop the next book from being a compelling and thrilling novel.

[Adrianna Heaney-velu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Princess Sabine Ludwig of Backley fills her day flirting with young men and getting into trouble. When her sister weds another kingdom King, she ends up being poisoned. Sabine volunteers to wed King Axel in her sister’s place to find out who the murderer is. She is troubled when she starts falling for Axel and starts realizing she is more ignorant of the struggles and secrets of the world.

“The Queen’s Crown” by Jennifer Anne Davis was absolutely amazing. It’s a enemies to lovers with power struggles and deceit. My favorite parts were the characters. Sabine fits the ignorant princess role but also is striving to overcome her lack of knowledge. Axel is mysterious but secretly sweet on Sabine. There's so much happening in the story that it kept me hooked from beginning to end. I cannot wait for the next book because of the cliffhanger. I loved this book so much, 5 out of 5 stars. This book is a must-read for someone who enjoys a blend of romance, political intrigue, and character growth.

[Aimee · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not really enjoy this book. I found the writing hard to connect to. There was a lot of telling and not showing. I don’t really enjoy this type of writing because it takes away the element of me being *in* the story with the characters, experiencing it alongside them. I didn’t feel like I got to “figure it out” with the characters.

I really didn’t like Sabine. She was difficult throughout the book, complained all the time, and she was a snob.
I didn’t really connect with any of the characters. Throughout reading, I was just like “who is this?”. There were limited physical descriptions so I couldn’t visualise any of these characters. I didn’t feel chemistry between any of the characters.

There were just things that happened in the story that were annoying. Like the dog being “highly trained”, but then eating a piece of paper out of her hand? Like, what?!

I won’t be continuing the series.

Thanks NetGalley, the author and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for honest review.

[Mrs. Kenyon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Princess Sabine is the sixth in line to the throne, so she doesn’t spend much time thinking about politics. That is until her sister agrees to marry a neighboring king to help her country … and then is murdered before the wedding can occur. Sabine wants to know who was responsible for her sister’s death, so she agrees to marry the king of Lynk to investigate it herself. Will Sabine be able to discover who was behind the murder? How will she adjust to a role she was never destined to hold?

The Queen’s Crown is the first book in the League of Rulers series. This fantasy novel had me captivated from the start and I couldn’t stop reading because I wanted to know what was going to happen next. As the book neared the end and the story wasn’t slowing down, I knew that the second book would be a necessity. This book was not a high fantasy, but it gives readers a lot to think about and includes many characters with hidden depths. This book does end with a cliffhanger, and I wish the next book was already available.

[Tonja Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Queen’s Crown is the first book in the League of Rulers series and it ends in a cliffhanger. I now HAVE to read the second book in the series because I need to know what happens next.

After Sabine’s sister is murdered while waiting to marry King Rainer, Sabine decides to take her sister’s place. She hopes to not only fulfill her duty to her country but also secretly find the person responsible for her sister’s death.

There is so much about this book that had me wondering “who done it” and “what is going on.” I think that is what kept me engrossed in reading it. I didn’t know who was telling the truth, what the motives of many of the characters were, or if Sabine was going to be murdered too. And the relationship between Sabine and Rainer had me frustrated, in a good way. Will they have a slow burn romance and fall in love or is she just a means to an end for him?

* Special thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded down to 3.

I will say I plan on continuing the series. The Queen’s crown is pretty short so it ended with A LOT left to be resolved. It’s fast paced which I like. I had an idea who was behind Alina’s demise but wasn’t certain.

I have a minor complaint and that’s lack of descriptions. People and places have very vague descriptions so it’s not as easy for my mind to make a proper picture. I don’t need pages of descriptions but a little more can really help bring more life to the story.

Another minor complaint is timeline. Alina was sent off to be married. We know when Sabine makes the same journey that it’s not a quick one. We have no idea what the timeline between Alina’s departure to her funeral is. It’s not a dealbreaker but it definitely made me question distance and time period since this happened very early in the book.

I received a copy of The Queen’s Crown via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Marta Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into this book with high expectations and yet find myself somewhat nonplussed by it . Sabine is the youngest child of the King, a little wild perhaps but that’s clearly because there has been little expected from her. That all changes though when her sister is murdered and Sabine herself decides to step up and become the Queen her sister was meant to be ! In a strange Court with no idea who to trust she slowly learns that to be a Queen isn’t to really hold any power and lies and deceit most definitely muddy the waters around her !
I wanted to like Sabine but at times her desire to be seen as a Princess felt overkill and selfish, actually pretty juvenile too, is Rainier meant to be her love interest because honestly I get she finds him attractive but as a reader I personally find him boring, rude and chauvinistic! Frequent inconsistencies annoyed me, eg well trained dog suddenly eating things they shouldn’t but most of all the tell not show style of writing and just so much not explained meant I finished this feeling very unsatisfied. Clearly the author wants to keep readers guessing but this reader just wasn’t entertained enough.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

[Anna Júlia Grzybowski (bookishquests) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this ARC through NetGalley; all opinions are my own.

This was, in the end, an Okay book. I was really interested in the plot and intrigued by the possibilities. Unfortunately, the character development was all over the place; there was no emotional connection with any of the MCs or side characters, mainly because the writing felt rushed.

I'm interested to know what it is that all the other characters apparently have knowledge of but felt there was no need to tell our FMC, even when it was clear to them that she was missing some important information, but not even the ones that are supposed to be helping her said anything.

So, I will probably read the next book, and hopefully the writing will improve. I'm just not in a rush to get to it.

My ratings, from 0 to 10

* Characters: 6
* Atmosphere: 7
* Writing: 5
* Plot: 7
* Intrigue: 7
* Logic: 6
* Enjoyment: 6

- In my profile, you can find what I considered in each category.

[Leah Alvord · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is this my favorite book by Jennifer Anne Davis?

No.

Is it still entertaining?

Ooooh definitely!

To be honest, I don't think I connected well with Sabine, but I was here for the side characters. Axel, especially, had me feeling all the suspicion and amusement at the same time. (Still don't trust him. Still can't wait to see more of him.)

I loved the chemistry between Sabine and Rainer and was definitely excitedly shouting "I want sexy training sessions!!" from pretty much the moment Sabine started training before going to Lynk. What makes it more fun is watching Rainer and Sabine try to figure each other out. Chemistry does not equal trust and there are just as many questions by the end as there are in the beginning, which I thoroughly enjoy since this is the beginning of a series.

I can't wait to see what more comes in the next book.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This new novel by Ms. Davis was a great read! I have read several of her works and enjoy her writing immensely. This was an interesting novel, multiple plot twists, where nothing is as it seems. I have more questions than answers and cannot wait to read what happens in the next novel of this series! Sabine never had to worry about much being the youngest of six, but everything changes when her sister is murdered. Desiring revenge, but also wanting to protect her people, she replaces her sister and finds herself navigating between politics and intelligence, while trying to adopt to their lifestyle. Some unexpected events that occurred, which has Sabine wondering what is true, for family wouldn't lie, would they? I received this novel from net galley and the publisher. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.