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Dominions #1

Il regno delle bugie. The Liar’s Crown

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La vita di Meren è un’immensa bugia. Pur essendo una principessa, la sua esistenza è stata tenuta segreta sin dalla nascita affinché nessuno sapesse che la legittima erede al trono, Tabra, ha una gemella. Le due sorelle sono perfettamente identiche e Meren, nata per seconda, assume l’identità di Tabra ogni volta in cui si teme che qualcosa possa minacciare la vita della principessa.
Quando la regina madre muore, il destino del regno di Aryd dipende dall’incolumità della nuova regina, Tabra. E così la gemella Meren si presenta alla cerimonia di incoronazione al suo posto, consapevole che tra le centinaia di occhi che la guardano potrebbe esserci qualcuno che non lo fa con benevolenza. Ma quello che accade va oltre ogni possibile previsione: una creatura fatta di oscurità la rapisce, portandola via con sé. Le ombre che brandisce, però, non bastano a spaventare Meren. È cresciuta preparandosi al pericolo, ha dovuto imparare a non averne paura. E a guardare oltre le apparenze. Riuscirà a salvarsi e a mettere al sicuro il futuro del Regno?

513 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 30, 2022

1846 people are currently reading
83674 people want to read

About the author

Abigail Owen

50 books4,731 followers
Abigail Owen is the #1 New York Times, #1 USA Today, and International bestselling author of 30+ books that range from upper YA (18+) epic romantasy to new adult modern mythic romantasy to super spicy adult paranormal romance. She loves magical worlds with plots that move hot and fast, feisty heroines with sass, heroes with heart, a dash of snark, and oodles of HEAs!

Abbie has a degree in English Rhetoric (Technical Writing) from Texas A&M University (gig’em Ags!), and an MBA from California State University-Sacramento. Prior to becoming a published author, she spent 15+ years using the other side of her brain in various tech- and business-related roles.

Other titles include: wife, mother, Star Wars geek, ex-competitive skydiver, AuDHD, spreadsheet lover, Jeopardy! fanatic, organizational guru, true classic movie buff, linguaphile, wishful world traveler, and chocoholic.

Abbie currently resides in Austin, Texas, with her own swoon-worthy hero, their (mostly) angelic teenagers, and an adorable fur baby.

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Profile Image for Lucie V..
1,219 reviews3,642 followers
January 28, 2024
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley (thank you Entangled Publishing, LLC). All thoughts and opinions are my own.

✅ World-building
✅ Pace
✅ Plot
✅ Captor/captive dynamic
✅ Magic
✅ Characters
✅🆗 Politics (could have been more developed)
✅🆗 Hate to love

I’m always waiting. Waiting to sneak out. Waiting to be called upon to fulfill my duties. Waiting for Omma, who has raised me since birth, to tell me what to do. Waiting to be anything but who and what I am.
Mereneith Evangeline XII of Aryd. A second-born princess in a long line of royal twins—one to rule, the other to serve as nothing more than a secret body double in dangerous circumstances.


Meren and Tabra are the Twin princesses of Aryd, but officially, Meren does not exist. While Tabra lives at the palace and is being groomed to become a queen, Meren lives hidden in the city and only goes to the palace when she needs to take her place as Tabra’s body double for any potentially dangerous situation. When the ruling queen dies, Meren decides to go to the official meal before the coronation in Tabra’s place, especially since they’ve received news that their enemy, King Eidolon of Tyndra is coming for the coronation, and is thinking about allying their country by marrying Tabra. When Meren is kidnapped before the meal even began, she needs to act fast. She has to find a way to escape and go back to the castle where her sister is left alone with King Eidolon, but escaping is no easy feat when no one is even looking for Meren since nobody knows about Tabra’s twin. She accomplished her role and was kidnapped in Tabra’s place, so now all Tabra can do is go on as if nothing happened, meaning Meren is on her own.

Honestly, I was a little wary of this book at first because the blurb reminded me of Twin Crowns (I requested the ARC before I read Twin Crowns)… Twins separated at birth, one raised to be a princess, one who does not even exist as far as anyone knows and lives with the people, a kidnapping by a “bad guy” who turns out not to be so bad… There are similarities in the ideas, but thankfully, the plot and relationship between the two sisters are very different and more elaborate than in Twin Crowns.

I like the idea that Meren is not jealous of her twin, and Tabra is not a snob to Meren. They both very obviously love each other and make the most of what little time they have together. I admire Meren for not being resentful because even though she understands that it’s not Tabra’s fault, Meren’s only purpose in life is to be ready to become her sister’s double. While not being resentful, Meren still longs to be free and to be able to explore the world and be known as herself instead of having to hide in case anyone sees her face, but her love for her sister and her people is stronger than her desire for freedom, and so she remains hidden and continues to be ready to give her life for her sister and country.

Just like each set of royal twins before these, one child was Enfernae, the other Hylorae and nothing special.


While the magic system is quite easy to understand, I struggled a little at first because of the new words, so here is a recap of what you need to know about the magic :
- Vexillium are people with no or close to no magic.
- Imperium have magic and they are separated into two groups: the hyloraes control physical things such as plants or water, and the enfernaes control non-tangible things like minds or emotions.
Meren is a hylorae that can control sand, while Tabra, her twin sister should be an enfernae, but her powers have yet to manifest.

Meren is a good main character. She is determined to do what’s best for her country and to go back to her sister, but she is also open-minded enough to see that she might be able to help others who need it even more along the way, and her place as the queen’s twin (or the queen as other people think) means that she has power to change things for the better, and not only for her people. She also has a sassy side that comes out whenever the mysterious and dashing Reven tries to interact with her or to provoke her, and she is independent and able to take care of herself, for the most part, thanks to the “survival 101” training she received from her only friend. Meren also has a vulnerable side that comes out more and more as she realizes that she wishes people would know the real her because even when she ends up being kidnapped, it’s as Tabra the princess. When people talk to her and seek her advice, it’s as Tabra, and never as Meren because Meren does not exist. Meren comes to realize that she yearns for a true connection as Meren, and that makes her question her place in the world. This mix of snark and vulnerability made her quite relatable and likable.

Reven, the kidnapper, is also a great character, which I would describe as kind of morally gray I think… I don’t want to say too much about him so I don’t spoil anything, but let’s just say that he has a dark and dangerous side that is not always under control, and the author managed to create quite an interesting concept with his character (although she mentioned in her notes at the end that it was inspired by a Grimm’s tale, I just don’t know which one). And of course, he is gorgeous and has a protective side that comes out when Meren gets in trouble, so of course, we have no choice but to like him…

“Where do you think you’re going?” he demands. He’s as pale as the salt flats in Aryd, his shirt soaked in sweat or ocean water or maybe both, chest heaving as he sucks air in sharp bursts.
“To go rescue your bloody ass from a Devourer.” I fling a hand in that direction.
He chokes. “I’m fairly certain princesses don’t say ‘ass.’”
“How would you know? And how did you get away—?” I search his body for any sign of injury.
His lips crook. “Were you worried about me, princess?”
My mouth slams shut. I should have left him in the water to be sucked dry. “You must think I’m a total bitch to want anyone to die that way.”
His humor dies slowly. “You have no clue what I think about you.”


I apologize in advance because I feel that I’ve been especially picky for this one when it comes to the romance. I was honestly wary when I realized that Meren was having thoughts such as “I wish I could laugh with him” or “it hurts my feelings when he calls me a brat” after spending only about 24 hours with a man that kidnapped her, and I was really afraid that this would fall into the insta-love category. Thankfully, while the shift in Meren and Reven’s relationship started off too soon and too fast to my taste, it remained at that stage for a while before continuing to develop. Still, because of that too-early start, a part of me kept wanting to roll my eyes at Meren every time she had thoughts about wanting to stay with Reven or wanting to hear his voice. I think that this hate-to-love would have been great if Meren waited longer before having nice and mushy thoughts about Reven because even though he’s gorgeous and made sure that she remained alive, he still kidnapped her and was a jerk at first! There is a difference between thinking that he’s gorgeous even though he’s a jerk (which I can understand and get behind), and feeling all weird because he touches her or wanting to see him smile (which comes close to the insta-love category).

“What the hells do you think you’re doing?” I shriek as I scramble out, slipping on the rocks at the edges. I hit the grass and tumble onto my back, breathing hard.
Reven’s face appears above me. He’s standing, arms crossed, feet set wide apart, unmoved. “I’m helping you get your shit together.”
“By throwing me in a creek?” I snap. Then scowl at him, shivers racking my body.
He arches an eyebrow. “It worked, didn’t it?”


Overall though, it was a good romance, and while it had a rough start (in my opinion), it ended up not being too bad, and I like Meren and Reven together enough to want to know what will happen to them in the next book. I am expecting a potential love triangle in the next book, and while a part of me is a little wary, I am eager to see what the author will do with this situation because I do enjoy a well-written and well-developed love triangle every once in a while.

“I never expected to be surprised by you.” The words feather over me.


Now, the secondary characters, in general, are well developed and each has their personality. They also serve a purpose besides being a friend to the MCs or just supporting the MCs during their quest. The one character that disappointed me a little bit though is King Eidolon. From the very first chapter, he is mentioned and described as the big evil villain to defeat. The one who is always one step ahead, always looming and scheming, yet we didn’t see him until the very end of the book. I feel that there could have been more tension throughout the book if he’d been a little more present, or at least if he’d come into play earlier. There was also a pretty obvious connection to be made between him, his scheming, and something that happened to Tabra, and Meren failed to make that connection, which seems pretty stupid to be honest.

Overall, this is a solid debut, and if you enjoy fantasy stories with hate-to-love romance, travel quests, some politics, and a cast of likable characters, you should enjoy this book!



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Profile Image for ♥Milica♥.
1,868 reviews734 followers
August 28, 2022
The gorgeous cover and interesting blurb were what drew me to this book, but unfortunately what was inside didn't work for me.

I could tell by the writing style that something would inevitably annoy me when I opened it, but I wanted to give it a chance. After all, I can ignore just about anything if I like and/or can connect to the characters.

WELL, ABOUT THAT...The characters...I don't even know where to start with them.

Let's do Meren first, since she's the main character. Meren is the twin sister to the future queen, raised in secret and trained to sacrifice herself for her sister, whenever a dangerous situation should arise.

Problem is, we don't even get to see Meren in action, because she gets kidnapped before she can fulfil her duty. We can argue that her getting kidnapped was her fulfilling her duty, but as the book goes on it's very clear that her sister is the one who's in more danger.

And Meren didn't even fight, she was too distracted and forgot everything she learned. This happened continuously, and the reason for her distractions IS A MAN!

Reven is that man, and the very first time she encounters him in the dark, she falls for him. DONT TRY TO TELL ME SHE DOESN'T!!! She sees his midnight black hair and turquoise eyes, he speaks three words to her (his voice sounds like velvet and iron by the way, very important) and she's done for.

She thinks he sees her, the real her. The same thing happens in another scene which was even worse, but before I get to that one, I have to mention Cain.

Cain is the other potential love interest, who has no real chance at all, never did. Meren does mention him in the first two chapters, but we don't see him till chapter three, and by then she's already had her first encounter with Reven.

He's the typical best friend who has feelings for her, but aside from that I don't really see why he was even necessary to the story? I wanted to root for him, even if it was futile. He does eventually come back into the story, but I can't see any romance happening.

And everything about his family also felt like background fillers, we never learned anything about them, or for example why Meren and his sister hate each other so much.

I don't hate Pella at all, but I felt like I was supposed to with the way she was described. She's like a clichéd mean girl, but I found her back and forth with Meren cringy (mostly Meren's fault!). Again, it would've helped if we knew the context of their rivalry.

Back to Reven now and this other scene. So in that scene, Meren yet again feels like he sees the real her and wants her. At that point I just felt like closing the book in embarrassment. This NEVER happens to me with fantasy books, if it does it's with contemporary romances because some of the lines there are really not to my taste.

But yeah this is literally their second meeting, they haven't had a proper conversation and she's already one foot into the romance...girl...calm down.

It felt like they were pushed, or forced together too fast and I didn't like it. The romance didn't get any better from then on, just faster. There was no build up, no chemistry, just, whatever that was.

Reven was also one of those characters that's supposed to be evil, a monster, made of darkness etc etc, he pushes Meren away (but at the same time not really) and we didn't get anything like that. He's honestly nice? Although he does get jealous and possessive but that's to be expected.

It's just that I so rarely see characters described as monsters actually be monsters, and I get a bit more disappointed each time.

Meren's relationship with her sister is also one I didn't buy. No relationships were believable in this book. Maybe the book could've been a bit longer in order to explore their relationship (and Meren and Cain's too)?

This next thing is mostly contained to a few beginning chapters, and that's the descriptions of the "wandering desert peoples". Those descriptions made me slightly uncomfortable, and when I went to check if anyone else noticed it, I only saw one other person say it. If I didn't see it, I would've thought it was just me.

Luckily, this didn't continue for the rest of the book, but I'm very curious to see if anyone else will feel that way later on when more people read it.

So the plot, up until Meren gets kidnapped it feels like one book, and after she gets kidnapped it feels like a completely different one. But the plot wasn't nearly as bad as the romance. It wasn't bad at all actually, and it was better in the second half than in the first.

The plot might technically be my favourite thing next to the magic system? I don't know how the magic works, but do I care? No. I think the concept is unique, but could use more development.

I don't know if I'll be reading the sequel. The ending is a cliffhanger and was supposed to make me want to continue, except I'm not getting that feeling at all. I won't lose any sleep if I don't read the next book.

Lastly, are YA books supposed to have steamy scenes? The Liar's Crown has one, so I'm not sure how YA it really is. Maybe upper/older YA? Or YA bordering NA, something like that.

Anywayyyy, just because this didn't work for me, doesn't mean you shouldn't give it a chance. If it sounds good to you go ahead and read it.

2.5

*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*
Profile Image for A Mac.
1,596 reviews223 followers
August 22, 2022
Meren is a hidden princess. Her twin sister is next in line to be queen, and as per tradition, Meren is her body double. She yearns for freedom but can’t leave her sister vulnerable. The ruling queen dies unexpectedly, and the princess receives a marriage proposal and a suspicious gift. Meren decides to take her place at the coronation and unwittingly puts herself in the sights of a shadowed kidnapper. As Meren struggles to gain her freedom, she learns that there are more lies to unravel than just her own.

This was a great read! The author excels at creating a vivid setting. Detailed worldbuilding was woven throughout the story, dialogue, and descriptions effortlessly, which left the setting feeling realistic and immersive. I loved the lore and history included about the Goddesses and the Sacred Trees – I’m looking forward to learning more about the history of this world in the next book.

The characters were well written – even the secondary characters had varying motives and personalities (yay for some well written morally grey characters!). I enjoyed Meren as a protagonist. She had the perfect amount of sass and self-doubt to make her relatable and realistic. She was independent enough to take matters into her own hands yet still had doubts about her place and meaning in the world, making for an overall compelling protagonist. Reven was also a compelling character, with plenty of conflicting emotions and motivations. The concept behind his character was fascinating and unique.

On a related note, the author did a great job with the dialogue and banter between Meren and Reven. AND this is one of the best written enemies-to-lovers that I’ve run across. The author avoided many of the YA pitfalls associated with this trope and managed to create a realistic, relatable, and interesting relationship. This was one of the first romances that wasn’t insta-love or felt forced into existing just for the sake of including romance.

There were just a couple things I disliked. There was a connection that felt glaringly obvious, but Meren didn’t figure out until the end of the book. This felt like plot-induced stupidity and was a little frustrating. Eidolon was also constantly mentioned as being a looming and dangerous threat, but he didn’t come into play until the very end of the work. This made the story lose some of the tension that should have been there.

This was a solid fantasy read that I recommend. I look forward to reading the next work in the series!

My thanks to NetGalley, Entangled Publishing, and RB Media for allowing me to read and review this work, which will be published August 30, 2022. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

22 August Update - Listened to the audiobook version of this work - the narrator did an absolutely wonderful job bringing the characters to life. I may have even enjoyed having it read to me more than I did reading it myself. This work was still great the second time around, and I can't wait for the sequel - I highly recommend both versions of this work.
Profile Image for Kristin Sledge.
355 reviews45 followers
September 20, 2022
Now THIS is exquisite fantasy. Five stars and a book hangover from this little beaut. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Meren and Tabra are twins in a long royal line where the second born is hidden as a spare for the first born. Tabra is set to become the queen of Aryd, and has caught the eye of a neighboring king, Eidolon(also known as a shadow king). When the coronation is deemed too risky for her to attend, Meren is sent in her place. On her way, Meren is kidnapped by a dark young stranger. She must continue to convince her kidnapper that she is Tabra both in an effort to keep Tabra safe and keep herself alive. Will Meren's powers as a sand wielder help her escape back to Tabra? Or is there more to this stranger than meets the eye?

Guys....this is the beginning of something great. The world building is phenomenal, the characters are sassy and engaging, and the magic system is the real star. Meren is such a great heroine, she isn't whiny or resentful about being second born, instead she takes her duty as a double for Tabra severely seriously. It's so refreshing to see a hidden main want to serve her purpose while also finding out who they are outside of it. She doesn't throw her sister to the wolves upon realizing what she wants out of life. Reven, our kidnapper is very charismatic, reminds me a bit of the Darkling, and is hard to stay angry with, simply the best kind of enemy to lover in my opinion. This novel grants the reader everything they could want: classic tropes, fresh magic, and reveals leaving you gasping for air. I am STARVED for book 2 and will be counting down the months, days, hours until I can sink my teeth into it.

5 stars for the beginning of a new epic in fantasy. Recommended for readers who loved the Shadow and Bone trilogy or Vicious from V.E. Schwab. Age recommended for readers 15+ as there is some explicit romance, but nothing untoward. Don't mind me, I'll just be here willing time to go faster to get me closer to book 2!
Profile Image for eden ⊹.
138 reviews137 followers
April 3, 2024
holy shit maybe i am a romantasy enthusiast
Profile Image for Madison Warner Fairbanks.
3,397 reviews495 followers
August 27, 2022
The Liar’s Crown by Abigail Owen
Dominion #1. YA high fantasy with a touch of romance.
Meren is the second born twin in the long line of Queens. Being the second born means it’s her job to protect her sister at all cost. Knowing there is a threat at the Coronation, it’s Meren that’s kidnapped rather than the Queen which is exactly why she’s stepped in. But she hasn’t bargained for what she will find beyond the walls of the Kingdom, and how it will impact not only her, but her sister and the entire Kingdom.

Magic, treachery, lies, friendship, honor, and love. This book is a mix of adventure and emotional discovery as Meren moves from a relatively boring daily routine to being the key to change and survival. Trite, but she falls in love with her kidnapper. I wasn’t sure he was he right one for her but her commitment is steady. At least until….
It’s an epic high fantasy with a lot more to come. A cliff hanger as this series is clearly not done.

🎧 I listened to an audiobook version narrated by Samara Naeymi with Luis Moreno for select passages and the first part of the epilogue. The performance was wonderful with clear emotions and tension throughout that kept the me engaged and actively listening. I found the best speed was 1.25 which is slightly slower than my preferred. I’m looking forward to the continuation of this series.

I received a copy of the audiobook from NetGalley and RB Media.
Profile Image for naz .
441 reviews874 followers
September 29, 2024
this book was such an easy fantasy - wow seriously is been a while since I actually read a fantasy that I get from the start the world building and magical abilities without problems

full review pending

𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱:CR as audio 💓 it’s about twin sisters that one is a “decoy” and the decoy got kidnapped by a shadow daddy 🫣✨👏🏼
Profile Image for Alaina.
7,345 reviews203 followers
June 23, 2022
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Liar's Crown was so freaking good. From the very beginning, I was completely hooked and now I seriously need the sequel. In this, you will meet Meren. She is a twin and technically a princess but has to stay hidden. Her twin sister is next in line to be Queen. Whereas Meren is her body double and secretly dreams of being free from her duties.

So, when an unexpected death draws her back into the double body life, the last thing she thought was going to happen was a kidnapping. Hers to be exact and by a mysterious guy with shadow magic. Now Reven was all kinds of yummy. I loved his grumpiness and instantly started to ship these two together. Their bantering gave me life and just helped fuel the flames within their sexual tension bonfire.

Seriously, the romance between these two made me swoon. Of course, there's lots of drama and danger lurking around them. I definitely wasn't expecting the ending that came our way. Which is probably why I'm beyond excited for the next book. I need everyone back together and a certain evil someone to die.

In the end, I'm so happy that I got the chance to dive into this. Really hoping that the sequel lands in my lap as well.
Profile Image for Maeghan 🦋 HIATUS on & off.
578 reviews531 followers
January 17, 2024
« How could I be scared of a man who has saved so many? Myself included »

🔸 Cute romance
🔸 Unique magic system
🔸 Twin princesses
🔸 Amazing characters & side characters

« Am I really that difficult?
- You’re a fighter » ❤️‍🔥

Meren & Tabra are twin princesses - one known to the world and the other hidden in case something happens to the other one. They both have unique personalities - which is accentuated by the fact that they weren’t raised in the same luxuries.

At first, this book made me think of Twin Crowns (which I adored) - but it quickly changed into something unique. I don’t recall ever reading something like this.

The last 100 pages were 🤯 & I’ll definitely be reading the rest of this series.
Profile Image for Lydia.
366 reviews1,279 followers
December 14, 2023
EXIJO YA EL SEGUNDO LIBRO OMGG

Me ha encantado. La originalidad y agilidad de la historia es increíble, no podía parar de leer y en ningún momento se me ha hecho pesado. Las hermanas, las sombras, Reven y Eidolon… Pensaba que en algún momento caería sobre una trama predecible ¡pero me ha sorprendido todo el tiempo!
Ese pedazo de final me ha dejado con la boca abierta 🆘
Profile Image for Mari࣪ ִֶָ☾..
138 reviews1 follower
October 24, 2022
baddies don't fall in love with their kidnapper from day one bestie, they do it on the second day like normal people duhh. do better
Profile Image for Amina .
1,319 reviews34 followers
June 15, 2023
✰ 3.5 stars ✰

“That connection you feel is my heart, and every beat is for you. I think I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you in that glass garden.”

are

I have had The Liar's Crown on my tbr for too long a time. The beautiful pink & black color combo of its cover charmed me and it's opening line 'To resist is human, to tempt is divine' lured me in. And while this urban fantasy wasn't entirely perfect, I was actually surprised that it was a pleasant enough read. It didn't falter in it's pacing or action - the characters and stories were constantly on the chase with stakes running high at every turn. I may have had my usual qualms with the tone of certain scenes, but I am still very much eager to read it's much awaited sequel.

In the magical kingdom of Aryd, there is one golden rule that - there can only be one Queen. For centuries, generations of queens have been murdered by Eidolon, the immortal king, has been murdering generations of queens, in order for his life span to be continuously replenished. In order to protect their lives, twin princesses Meren and Tabra were separated at birth - Meren, who was raised as a commoner, where she honed her skills as an Imperium, and Tabra, poised to be next in line to the throne. But, when its time for Tabra to claim her title as queen, Meren rushes to her side to act as her fearless body double, resulting her in being kidnapped by Reven, a snarky yet mysterious young man. And on her magical journey to his kingdom, Meren realizes that there is more than just power play that lies in danger for not only her sister, but for Reven and herself, as well.

As it's part of a trilogy, Abigail Owens creatively set the stage for a world full of intrigue and danger. Lush in description and entertaining dialogue, I was immediately pulled into the steady development of Meren and Reven's relationship. I appreciated that it wasn't instant love - Meren IS a confident, headstrong and determined heroine, who also has a bit of a foul mouth, which serves to amuse Reven almost always. I would have hoped to see more of her powers developed, but hopefully, we'll see more of her in action, next time. Reven also grew on me as we got to learn more about him and his past - his time in the Shadowood with the Vanished people was one of my favorite parts, and the moment when it was destroyed was so vividly described, I could feel the anguish he must have been feeling. 🥺

"When he slips his hands deeper into my hair, I sigh. And give in a little.

“I think maybe I want to take care of you, too.”

He stills beneath me. “You’d be the first.”


Their moments of intimacy were both light-hearted and bittersweet - how Reven felt that he wasn't worthy or capable of love, Meren who had never had the chance to show her love. Their desire for each other became more palpable as time went on, and it made it all the more entertaining, when Meren did make the first move. I liked the slow reveals to much of Reven's hidden identity and past, which definitely makes me very curious to see what will happen next. When you also learn that for so long, he's been in the shadows, hearing Meren's calls and prayers - she just didn't know it. In a way, they are soulmates - just in such a twisted sense that is heartbreaking, if not one of the many reasons why she makes some of the decisions towards the end. 💔💔

“I never expected to be surprised by you.”

"When did the man I desperately wanted to escape from become the only one I feel safe with?"

The supporting characters were also very well-developed - I am very much looking forward to seeing more of Vos and Cain, two supporting characters that quickly drew my attention. Plus, with that unexpected cliffhanger, it's suffice to say, there's going to be a lot more mayhem in store for all players in the next act. 😊😊

There definitely was a lot that happened in such a short time - from action, to adventure, to secrets and lies, there was never an instance where something wasn't happening. And that kept me going - despite, my usual grievances with something amiss with the writing (like, please, someone teach me how I can get over 'fuck, shit', being said in a fantasy - it just throws me off!), it wasn't a complete waste. I had a good time, and that's always what matters to me. ✨✨
Profile Image for S. ≽^•⩊•^≼ I'm not here yet.
698 reviews122 followers
September 3, 2022
The Liar’s Crown is the first book of new romantic fantasy Dominions.

For generations, the princesses of Aryd have have a secret, there has always been a twin princess to live in the shadow of the firstborn child and sacrifice her life to protect the queen of Aryd.

Meren is the secret twin of Tabra. Meren has grown up to protect her sister. After the queen's death, King Eidolon sends a proposal message to Tabra, the new queen! Now it is the time for Meren to protect her sister, as a body double, she should face King Eidolon who has been trying for ages to kill the queen of Aryd.

Yes, She should protect her, but how could she when kidnapped by a shadow and no one (except Tabra) even knows she exists?

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An entertaining tale that to my surprise was full of love and kindhearted, Meren was always trusting and loyal. The world was built creatively and the characters were likable.

I listened to the audiobook that beautifully narrated by Samara Naeymi and Luis Moreno, and waiting for the next book, The Stolen Throne (what a name)!

Many thanks to RB Media via NetGalley for ARC, I have given my honest review.
Profile Image for Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany).
2,778 reviews4,683 followers
August 24, 2022
A good pick for fans of The Remnant Chronicles, The Liar's Crown is YA romantic fantasy with some political elements. It also gets rather steamy for a YA book. It follows a young woman who is the secret twin sister of the crown princess, born to be her body double and protect her life. So when she is accidentally kidnapped instead of her sister after the death of their grandmother, she must pretend to be the new queen.

The book starts very strong, with an interesting premise and entertaining pacing. Then once the kidnapper gets the main character to a more static location, it starts to lose steam and kind of meanders, eventually picking back up and getting us to a cliffhanger ending. I would have liked to get more of a complete story arc in this first book, especially because the middle kind of plods and there's a love triangle that gets going pretty late in the game.

That said, I think a lot of readers will enjoy this. It's got interesting magic, a dangerous love interest, a torrid, forbidden romance, and plenty of secrets. I liked it, though the early part of the book had my hopes very high and it didn't quite deliver what I was looking for. If you enjoy books like The Kiss of Deception, give this a try! Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy for review, all opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Tahera.
743 reviews282 followers
September 5, 2022
On a whim I decided to click on the request button for this audiobook Arc. I don't read much of Young Adult Fantasy but the striking cover and the blurb made me consider giving this one a try.

I did listen to the entire audiobook but I never really got engrossed in the story. The world building was interesting but the writing and characterisation was average with ample usage of modern slang and cuss words in the dialogues. The plot picked up at the climax which hints at a more adventure and action packed sequel.

I also felt that the female narrator wasn't the best choice as her range was quite limited in terms of voicing the characters. We only get to hear the male narrator at the end in the epilogue.

I know I am in the minority here because a majority of the reviewers have loved this book so maybe I guess I am too old for this genre.

My thanks to NetGalley, the audiobook publisher Recorded Books and the author for the audio Arc of the book.

Rating: ⭐⭐✨💫
Profile Image for saisha⊹{we are so back}.
97 reviews205 followers
August 12, 2024
❤️"As if the shadows backed away, the candlelight illuminates him. He suddenly appears younger, freer. And more handsome than my heart can handle."❤️

warning... this review does contain spoilers, so don't keep reading if u don't want spoilers!

the liars crown is a romantasy book that was absolutely stunning. i really enjoyed the plot, the characters, and the world building!🫶🏻

❤️"Instead, he drags his gaze from the building back to me, and all that harsh beauty transforms into something softer. Understanding."❤️

🌺my thoughts🌺

ranting - okay this was a good book... the plot was a bit slow, and there were some parts that sorta reminded me of a acomaf... but overall i really liked it!

meren💖 - meren was such a strong and confident dmc, and i loved her for it!!

❤️"He straightens only to frame my face with his hands, his forehead against mine."❤️

reven❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ - I absolutely loved reven!!! the sacrifices he makes... and he's so sweet, and protective of meren...

similarities - so while reading this book i found some similarities to acomaf... SPOILERS COMING UP AHEAD...


❤️"His voice is closer now, as thought my ear is pressed to his chest, which makes no sense, and the warmth is wrapped around me."❤️

🌸favorite parts🌸
⇢ the kidnapping

⇢ REVEN😍😍😍😍


🎧songs🎶
⇢ snow on the beach
⇢ maroon

❤️"She has Meren's beautiful face, but she's not my Meren. This woman doesn't make me want to wrap her up and carry her away somewhere safe and private. To put myself between her and every evil in the world."❤️

but overall, i really did enjoy this book, and it was a fun read! and after that ending.... i need to read the sequel... asap..💕😁
Profile Image for Ana (Aeternam Dea).
384 reviews50 followers
January 12, 2024
Como primera toma de contacto, se realiza una introducción detallada del nuevo mundo repleto de magia, secretos, reinos rivales y peligros, que nos acompañará a lo largo de todos sus capítulos. Se trata de un enemies to lovers que exuda sin complejos rasgos novedosos que tratan de romper, en parte, ese molde literario preconcebido y acostumbrado dentro de la temática.

Su historia, está protagonizada por Meren y narrado bajo su única perspectiva y es un personaje, cuya personalidad es carismática y, en sucesivas ocasiones, parece querer traspasar las páginas. En sus hazañas y aventuras, le acompaña Reven, su coprotagonista, con un pasado que engancha y atrapa a partes iguales. Ambos conforman una pareja de contrastes, que seduce perfectamente.

El estilo de la autora encandila, por su agilidad constructiva y por sus descripciones cuidadas, sin que estas caigan en la pesadez. Brinda un gran peso a las emociones y los sentimientos, su romance contiene una pizca de erotismo, totalmente sutil, que meramente trata de ser un acompañante más.

Compuesto por sesenta y cuatro capítulos, cada uno de ellos concisos, y en los que se esconden pequeñas fórmulas de misterio, secretos que poco a poco van desempolvándose y que convierten a esta novela en una historia verdaderamente completa, capaz de marcar diferencia e incluso convertirse, en una de las mejores lecturas de este recién estrenado año.

Reseña completa: https://aeternamdea.blogspot.com/2024...
Profile Image for Kate | FocusOnYourShelf.
397 reviews14 followers
February 16, 2025
DNF @ 35%

I enjoyed the writing and the premise, but the story itself really fell flat. Especially with how easy MFC and MMC start to care for each other. Like girl, he abducted you, do fall in love with him in the first half of the book.
Profile Image for Carole (Carole's Random Life).
1,937 reviews607 followers
September 14, 2022
This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/

I really enjoyed this book! Meren is a princess but her twin sister is meant to be Queen. She has lived her life hidden to fill in for her sister if things get dangerous or she is needed. She has lived her entire life as a backup to her sister but she is finally in the position to act and she is ready. I was mesmerized by her journey in this story and couldn’t wait to see how things would work out.

Meren is kidnapped just before her sister is to be crowned as Queen. She soon warms up to her kidnapper and they work together against a common enemy. Her kidnapper, Reven, is a Shadowraith made of shadows and Meren has her own abilities. I liked Meren and Reven and thought their personalities meshed perfectly. The story was incredibly exciting and I found the book nearly impossible to set aside because I just had to know what happened next.

I listened to the audiobook and thought that the narrators did a wonderful job with this story. The bulk of this story was narrated by Samara Naeymi with Luis Moreno adding just a piece at the very end of the book. I thought that the narrator did a great job with the various character voices and I liked the way she was able to add some emotion to her reading. I definitely feel like the narration of this book added to my enjoyment of the story.

I would definitely recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a very well-done fantasy with fantastic world-building. I loved the characters, the magic, and the romance. This book does leave some issues unresolved so I am eager to get my hands on the next book just as soon as possible.

I received a review copy of this book from Entangled Teen and purchased a copy of the audiobook.

Initial Thoughts
I enjoyed this one a lot! Meren is a princess but it is her twin sister who is meant to be Queen. She has lived her life hidden to fill in for her sister if things get dangerous or she is needed. She is kidnapped. She soon warms up to her kidnapper and they work together against a common enemy. Her kidnapper, Reven is a shadowraith made of shadows and Meren has her own abilities. This was a rather exciting book with very likable characters. I listened to the audiobook and thought that the narrators did a great job with the narration.
Profile Image for Ashley.
660 reviews2,786 followers
April 17, 2024
This truly started out so strong for me but I just think at about half way I started to lose interest. I do think listening to this on audio has a lot to do with my rating because while the narrator was great, I struggled with when she spoke for the mmc.

I loved the aspect of the story and I think it truly has great potential in the upcoming books. I’m unsure if I’ll continue just because I didn’t really see the connection between the two main characters at all - so I found their scenes boring.

I suggest reading this physically instead of on audio if you choose to give it a go!

If you like:
Ya fantasy
Captive romance
Royalty
Twin princess sisters
Disguising as her sister
Hate to ally
.. you may like this book!

This book definitely wasn’t bad! I just don’t think I was engaged enough with the flow of the story.
Profile Image for Kait Ballenger.
Author 24 books1,183 followers
November 14, 2021
I had the privilege of reading this one early, and if you love YA fantasy, you do not want to miss it! A swoon worthy hero, a fierce heroine, nonstop magical action. I was on the edge of my seat. Can't wait for book 2!
Profile Image for ౨ৎ.
422 reviews57 followers
February 18, 2023
4.5!!!
stunning bookk

reading the blurb, this book was giving Twin Crowns, and I basically DNF’d that at like chapter 3 last year (I will give it another go someday idk…) so when I started reading this I wasn’t expecting anything good tbh.

and my expectations were proved wrong. I adore this book and everyone should read it (well no, I don’t think this is everyone’s cup of tea)

Also mention to that cover, because it is so so so gorgeous.

Meren spoke to me, and I just loved her sm. she definitely wasn’t anywhere near a ‘perfect’ mc but I loved her sm. Reven was AMAZING.

And that epilogue?? *chefs kiss*

It’s been a whole day since I read this and I’m still not over it.
Profile Image for Mandy.
399 reviews741 followers
July 10, 2023
I’m surprised this book isn’t more popular. I had a fun time reading this, and it was a hard one to put down.

World-building✔️
Adventure✔️
Banter✔️
Dark hair morally gray love interest ✔️
Unique magic system✔️
Princess and secret twin✔️
Shadows✔️
Secrets✔️
Captor/Captive dynamic✔️
Hate to ally to lovers✔️
1 🌶 ✔️

Can’t wait for book 2
Profile Image for Megan.
279 reviews190 followers
November 21, 2022
This was just so basic and boring, I felt like I was reading a mash up of every fantasy romance ever written probably because the author has just recycled characters from other books and made them over the top/clichés

The cover is pretty and the writing style is decent, but it was just too meh for me because nothing felt original and I pretty much guessed everything that was going to happen
Profile Image for Nai's books.
298 reviews93 followers
December 21, 2023
Empiezo diciendo que este libro no ha sido para mi. También que es solo mi opinión y que si tu lo has leído y te ha gustado me alegro mucho. También que si lo vas a leer espero que puedas disfrutar de él.

Contexto: La protagonista es la hermana gemela de la princesa heredera. Su existencia se ha mantenido oculta durante toda su vida y la suplanta cuando se dan situaciones de riesgo. Sin embargo, el día de su coronación alguien la secuestra. ¿A quién? ¿A la princesa heredera? ¡No! A la protagonista haciéndose pasar por ella.

Y con esta premisa dices waw, este libro lo tengo que leer. Además la edición es preciosa y llama la atención. Ojalá todo fuera tal y como aparenta.

El libro tiene cosas buenas: La ambientación me ha gustado. Hay mucha fantasía, muchas criaturas mágicas y muchos elementos que en conjunto eran buenos. La trama de entrada también me estaba gustando, pero tiene altibajos. Empieza bien, luego decae y al final vuelve a remontar.

Para mi el principal problema han sido dos: La protagonista y la narración.

A la protagonista le faltaban luces muchas veces, de verdad, que hacer personajes empoderados femeninos no significa hacerlas absurdas, incoherentes o inconscientes. No siempre se puede ser un “porque yo lo valgo” a veces cuando tienes un cuchillo en el cuello es más inteligente no insultar a quien te está amenazando. De verdad. Ni ponerte en peligro constantemente porque eres super valiente y super todo. No, pensar también es necesario.

Pero lo peor para mi ha sido la narración. Me ha dado la sensación de que este libro estaba escrito por una adolescente. Tengo que decir que no se si es cosa de la autora o de la traducción ya que no he leído el original pero la narración me ha parecido pobre, repetitiva, caótica y con algunos diálogos que me daban cosita.

Me da mucha pena, ojalá me hubiera gustado el libro porque de verdad tenía muchas ganas de leerlo. Pero no ha sido para mi.
Profile Image for Brend.
806 reviews1,728 followers
Read
March 8, 2024
DNF at 56% (skimmed the last half tho just because)

No rating cause it wasn't bad; it just wasn't for me. I was not expecting a journey story (at least no that long) and they just take me out of it. I don't really enjoy books with them unless it's just a few chapters and by the end of the book.
Profile Image for MarynaReads.
119 reviews7 followers
January 5, 2025
Soft DNF at 40%

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Я так подумала і все ж вирішила не завершувати книгу. З одного боку мені навіть шкода, бо було багато моментів, які сподобались, але все ж були моменти, які знизили моє бажання читати🤷🏻‍♀️ Взагалі до цієї книги не маю негативних емоцій. Тут скоріше я просто вирішила, що знайду щось більш до смаку.

Чому не хочу завершувати:
⁃ дууууже багато описів всього, що бачить гг-ня. І якщо спочатку це були якісь цікаві моменти (типу істот чи локацій), то потім я вже задовбалась читати з якого матеріалу в неї чи в нього всі предмети одягу, чи дорого-багато, чи для простих людей, якої вони довжини чи як облягають тіло і так по колу. А ще як виглядає кожен предмет в кімнаті. Взагалі я люблю описи, щоб можна було візуалізувати, але тут все якось так написано, що мій мозок взагалі відмовлявся це сприймати і книга просто почала мене втомлювати. Навіть в тому ж Quicksilver було немало описів, але з їх допомогою я чудово все уявляла. А тут я навіть вже гуглила ті 100500 предметів одягу.
До речі, ця книга є українською, то може в перекладі читати простіше і цікавіше, не знаю🤷🏻‍♀️
⁃ власні назви: авторка з самого початку починає використовувати купу якихось придуманих нею термінів і більшість з них навіть не пояснює, а глосарія ніякого немає. Я на її сайті знайшла лише про локації трохи. І через це мені було важко влитися в історію. Доводилося робити припущення та здогадуватися. А я таке не люблю🤷🏻‍♀️ Я за те, щоб автори придумували якісь нові унікальні терміни для їхніх світів, але тоді або поясніть їх в тексті нормально, або зробіть глосарій.
⁃ концепція магії гг-я (тут вже просто особисто мені не дуже до вподоби, бо це звучить крінжово😅): якщо чесно, то досить унікальна ідея (хоча я б сказала, що це взято з ГП, але просто адаптовано). Проте все одно звучить цікаво та свіжо і багатьом може сподобатися. Я прям здивувалася, це був неочікуваний поворот😅

Сподобалося:
⁃ любовна лінія: мені сподобалось як авторка описала повільний перехід від ненависті до симпатії, як зʼявилась хімія між гг-ми, як змінювалися їхні стосунки та виникала довіра. Я із задоволенням спостерігала за їхньою взаємодією.
⁃ Сюжет сподобався і тримав увагу, хоча якийсь YA вайб трохи псував загальну картину і я не відчувала серйозності того, що відбувалося. Все якось так легковажно описувалось спочатку, що не викликало сильних емоцій для співпереживання. Авторка більше зосереджувала увагу на описах всього, що бачила ніж на тому, щоб передати певні події більш емоційно.
⁃ Я не провела дуже багато часу з гг-ми, щоб точно сказати, що персонажі мені подобаються, але точно викликали симпатію і не дратували. Тому, думаю, можна віднести в категорію, що подобаються.
Profile Image for Marie-Pierre lit.
320 reviews141 followers
May 23, 2024
L’amour interdit! Ah cette tension latente qui nous languis des moments tendres. On sait que les choses iront mal, mais on flirt avec cet amour qui semble si pur. 🥰

C’était une très belle lecture, la dose de fantastique vs romance était bien. L’écriture est accessible pour un public jeune adulte.
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