“Stay with me, Sparrow, and there’ll be no storms." I thought I knew Voron, but there is so much more to this man. As secrets start to unravel and his past comes to light, I learn everything, the good, the bad, and the cruel. Voron is not an easy man to love. Yet I can’t help falling deeper in love with him. I’ve put all my trust into this man. Will that prove to be a grave mistake? As his ambition comes between us, will my love for him be my ruin? Or will the prophecy finally be fulfilled and Sky Kingdom will get the great, just, and powerful king it was promised? ___________________________ This is the final book of the duet Wingless Crow. Crownless King is a Fae Romance for adults set in Marina Simcoe's world of the River of Mists. It contains graphic descriptions of intimacy and is intended for mature readers. ____________________________ Stories set in the world of the River of
Wingless Crow Wingless Crow Crownless King
Fire in Stone Fire in Stone Hearts on Fire
Serpent's Touch Serpent's Touch Serpent's Claim
Madame Tan's Freakshow Call of Water Madness of the Moon Power of Rage
All duets and trilogies in the River of Mists can be read independently.
For illustrations of her books, early access ebooks, bonus stories, and signed paperbacks, please visit the author's Patreon: https://patreon.com/MarinaSimcoe
3.5 stars. This final instalment was a roller coaster. It was a little rushed in parts, had an excess of internal dialogue I started skimming about halfway through, and Sparrow’s stubbornness really shit me for a good portion of this. But overall I was really happy to have Voron and Sparrow finally get their HEA.
Loved this 2nd book of this duology! I’m a huge fan of The River of Mists and this was really good. The authors writing just gets better and better. I got all the feels and loved the ending. *sigh* This was intense at times and I didn’t want to put it down. And let me tell you I love a good roller coaster ride. The Sparrow and Voron had an undeniable chemistry that would make anyone jealous. Their quality time was very spicy, definitely an open door romance. Did I say that right? Sparrow was also my favorite human to date in this series and Voron was everything I love in a man. I highly recommend and hope you enjoy as much as I did. Thanks Booksprout and Marina Simcoe for this delightful story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This fantasy romance was sizzling and swoony! The heroine grew a ton throughout this duology, and I slowly fell in love with the cunning hero. The world building was lush and fascinating, and I loved the high stakes and political intrigue. I highly recommend this duology! I preferred the fact that the books in this duology were longer than in the previous two duologies in this series, so it actually felt more justified that this installment was split into two books. The previous ones were too short to justify it and should have just been two longer novels.
I received a free copy of this book, and am voluntarily leaving a review.
So this was really good, but the exact same thing that bugged me with Serpent's Claim bugged me here. Again, for the majority of the book, the couple wasn't even together and that was always the best part!
The beginning of this was great. We learned so many things about Voron's past and the promises he made so long ago. In one single moment of him losing his tight control, he finds out that he can indulge himself in Sparrow's body in every way that he has ever only dreamed of up until now. And boy that was fun. And because of that, these two get closer and closer. At one point, Sparrow pretty much unlocks a hidden past that was never meant to be seen. Revealing Voron's true parents and his prophesied future. One that he jumps into right away with all the confidence in the world he will succeed.
I don't believe it's a spoiler to say that he was destined to be the king. I mean, heck, even if it wasn't already a given, it was so obvious that his moods were the ones affecting the weather in the last book. Anyway. Once he knows that he was meant to be king, he immediately sets off to get as many allies as he can before taking the palace and the crown as his own. Honestly, while there was some fighting at the end there, it all seemed to go really rather too easy for him.
It's not long after that that the story got kind of meh for me. It wasn't bad at all. But it wasn't crazy exciting. And I wanted more from Voron's POV. The court demands that Voron gets rid of Sparrow and many won't pledge their loyalty until he does. So he orders her returned to the river mist. Obviously Sparrow is no match for the guards and has no wings to save herself from the fall, so even after she fights as hard against them as she can, she's soon falling. She never expected to be saved, or to have that savior be killed right after they land. So now she's lost, alone, and still running for her life. Her new savior comes in the form of a hag that decides to take care of her after learning something even Sparrow didn't know. So for the next 18 months Sparrow lives in the middle of nowhere, almost a servant for the guy that owns the farm in exchange for living there. The whole time she tries to convince herself she hates Voron for what he had done while cursing him for not being by her side.
It's quite by chance that Voron and his council end up at that farmhouse while inspecting the land looking for ways to improve things. And it's then that the story picks up again. While Sparrow manages to make it thru the meal without revealing herself, what happens after Voron and the others leave force her to have to return to the palace in attempt to save Voron's life. A festival is going on that happens only once every ten years, where the people present a gift to the king in exchange for gems or a favor. Sparrow had only intended to warn Alcon but finds herself in front of Voron instead. And the scene when he finally realizes that it's Sparrow there and alive was absolutely fantastic. I might have read it a couple times before moving on. Unfortunately, that's the same time that the remaining enemies choose to strike at Voron with another weapon from the Under. Fortunately, by this time, despite the separation, the two of them have become bonded mates and that means that Sparrow can now tap into and use Voron's power as king. Saving him and everyone else that matters. There is one more, very short, fight before Voron destroys the last of his enemies and can find some happiness with Sparrow again. And once she tells him a secret she has been keeping from him and everyone else, Voron knows peace for the first time.
All in all I was happy with the way this ended. But I was so incredibly frustrated with one glaring issue with Sparrow jumping to conclusions
I have really enjoyed the two duologies I've read by this author, so I'll definitely be checking out more.
This is by far the most haunting beautiful books I have read in a very long time. The words flow like magic across the page. And the end of this duet is the most endearing HEA I have read. I love Sparrow. What she had gone through and continues to struggle was heartbreaking. She is strong, compassionate, but there is something that is holding her back from getting her true hearts desire. She has her secrets, that eventually are revealed. She faces each challenge with determination to protect the ones she loves. Voron has his own problems. He also has a prophecy to fulfill. I love how the weather is determined by the king's mood. In the first part of the story it's severe thunderstorms, hail and wind. At night it rains. Voron never cries except in his dreams. I love what Alcon had to do to keep him alive. The story is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. Well written, the world building is phenomenal. I could picture the Sky Kingdom and all of it's fae. Wording is everything with the fae. And Voron finds out the hard way what his promises meant. I love what he discoveries when he is with Sparrow. She is his everything. This is a story I will be reading more than once. I finished the book a few days ago and I am still reminiscing about it. I would expect nothing less from Ms. Simcoe.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Smooth as,this author's work is always so easy to read and taking the reader unconditionally & transporting the reader into wonderful new worlds.
I have enjoyed Lady Sparrows journey of strength, courage and growth for herself alone & to exceed by her own hand well past unwelcome measures placed by others - Which I found very satisfying considering in Book 1 Sparrow was brought into this world against her will from an outrageous deal made between a king and a goddess and couldn’t go back.
Mutual feelings denied and that push & pull between Voron & Sparrow (via King T) have been an entertaining to experience at each page turn. Voron - what a beast of man - Only a very merciful Woman can take you to task like our Sparrow.
Great Found Family supporting the overarching storyline. & My fav Secret trope in last half of book, im not telling any more.
Plus when u get to the last pages, Marina shares her next writing plans!!! Exciting.
I enjoyed having the opportunity to sneak peak via an ARC, I only do ARcs if I have purchased the book,As I dont review anything I wouldnt purchase or KU for myself.
Be ready to be shocked and mad at Voron in the first part of the book and have your heartbreak for Sparrow. Voron has to make hard choices once he learns the truth of past. It will get you mad at the unfairness and how it affects Sparrow. To me Voron’s personality changes in this book. It’s almost like he’s a different person. But as the book goes on you realize he had to be in order to survive the Sky Kingdom court and gain loyalty. But Sparrow suffers because of this.
She goes through her own trials and hardships but remains strong. I don’t want to say too much because it’ll spoil the book for you, but she’s in a heartbreaking situation that makes everything so much harder for her and Voron’s decisions so much worse. But later you see it causes him great pain and remorse. Sparrow is angry and hurt by Voron’s decisions but finds forgiveness when he explains why he did what he did and what was supposed to happen.
There are some parts that are slow and drags on, these parts could’ve been shortened without so much detail. This book is not as exciting and fast paced as the first, but it’s still a great read and pulls you in.
A fantastic second instalment to this story. A beautiful rendition of the classic tale of enemies to lovers. This book takes you through some heart-wrenching moments as Sparrow and Voron muddle through their narratives to the eventual Happy Ever After, that they have been searching for.
I loved this sequel. It kept me at the edge of my seat the whole way through. I was so eager to learn the outcome of various scenarios throughout the book that I couldn't stop turning to the next page.
Brilliantly composed character and narrative development. I loved the world our author has built for us and the wonderful characters, as well as the unlikely friendships made through the journey of this story.
I was sad it ended where it did and thought there could have been a little more at the end of this story.
But all in all I would enthusiastically encourage any Romance lovers to read this. I loved it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
“I need all of you,” I pleaded with him as if he could hear me. “Every single part of you belongs to me, Voron. Your spirit, too. Come back to me. Whole.”
Sparrow’s world continues to be turned upside down in the second book of Marina Simcoe’s Wingless Crow duet, Crownless King.
Simcoe has us running a gauntlet of emotions when Voron’s goals, in the kingdom where he has placed all of his energy, seem to clash with promises made. I felt such extreme heartache, as well as joy, with each nuance of the absolutely fantastic storytelling found in this book.
With a heart, sometimes feelings raw sorrow for more than one character, I had to keep reminding myself that Marina will make all the things better.
Crownless King’s storyline will be unexpected and the emotional investment you make in reading it will provide you with an adventure like no other!
Wow, those fae promises in this book were a total rollercoaster! Let me tell you, Voron and Sparrow's relationship had me hooked from the start. Sure, Voron's hot and cold behavior was confusing, but that just added to the suspense. I gotta say, Sparrow's inner strength is off the charts. She's going through so much in this gripping story, and I couldn't help but admire her. By the middle, I was bawling my eyes out, wondering how the heck things could ever be fixed. But let me tell you, the author didn't disappoint! The resolution had me on the edge of my seat, emotionally charged and totally satisfied. This book knows how to tug at your heartstrings. The storytelling? Pure genius. It kept me absolutely thrilled from beginning to end. Trust me, you gotta read this one!
Well I wanted more romance in book one and thought I would get it here but (spoiler) kinda didn't because they were apart for a while. I guess when they were together they did make up for it but I honestly was so mad that they were apart in the first place because (also spoiler) she ended up having to be alone while pregnant then having a fae baby on her own. Also one of my least favorite tropes is the secret baby, dislike it with a passion, or even just a baby but this one didn't bother me as much. What bothered me tho was the fact that she kinda forgets about her son for a while when she goes to the palace and sees Voron. I did like the HEA, I still loved the characters and I enjoyed reading their story. Would definitely recommend!
I absolutely loved this series about Sparrow and Zoron, - but - I didn’t like how Sparrow was putting the reveal if their their son Aiden on the back burner, hiding him away with the hag, Sauria who helped her during her pregnancy and afterwards with his care. Until the absolute end of this book.🙄 IMO, she should have rushed him to Aiden to show Zoron his beautiful son and heir. Overall though, the heart-racing plot twists were amazing, and I was on the very edge of my seat wondering what would have to this adorable couple🫨😵💫🫠I hated what happened to Bavius, so sad.😥However I liked the ending of them finally getting married!😅Now to search for my latest fae fantasy obsession.😂
An amazing story! Those fae promises. What a vicious trap they’ve become! Voron’s relationship with Sparrow continues to build, though his hot/cold behavior sure is confusing. I admire Sparrow’s inner strength. She is going through so much in this dramatic, compelling story. By mid-story, I’m in tears, wondering how this can ever be mended. I knew the author wouldn’t leave things in that state, but…whew! So emotionally charged! I’ll leave it to you to read what happens, but I am absolutely thrilled with the outcome. Fantastic storytelling!
I love the world that Simcoe has built. There is so much going on in this book. It's lovely but there is definitely some darkness and confusion and intrigue. Sparrow is so much stronger than I am. I would have been a heap but she has such a great internal strength. And Voron was a bit all over the place. I wanted to punch him and root for him, it was a bit of an emotional see-saw.
The story and characters are so well constructed. I really enjoyed the entire ride, even the stressful moments. Sometimes its so easy to slip into the world I forget that it's not actually real for a moment.
This duet is a MUST read! Crownless King is an intense roller coaster of emotions that had me absolutely riveted to the pages! Love, passion, ambition, devastation, grief, forgiveness - Marina Simcoe broke my heart with this one and somehow pieced it back together and left me smiling. This is a wonderfully crafted, imaginative story that had me completely immersed from beginning to end and one that I will definitely be reading again.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book provided a solid closure to the duet with a happy ending.
However…I did not love the direction the author took the story. I get so, so frustrated when the the biggest thing holding the main characters apart is basically themselves and a set of misunderstandings or assumptions…and this book was rife with them. They were explained at the end but still left me with a bittersweet feeling.
Overall, though, I enjoyed the duet and would likely recommend to others. I don’t think I’ll be reading any other books from this author though.
First off, once I got into this book it was an all night binge read for me. Talk about an emotional rollercoaster. Sparrow and Voron are one of my favorite couples I’ve read in awhile. Voron is complex, flawed, an alpha but a cinnamon roll for Sparrow. The more we learn about his background story the more I love him. I really enjoyed the second chance/redemption story that these two had. Sparrow went through so much and really let her inner strength shine. The paths that these two had to walk separately lead to a very satisfying happy ever after. I highly recommend this duet series.
Grips you hard with the twists and turns and leaves you wanting more.
I read this book because who could possibly read the first and not the second? Not me!. The emotional roller-coaster, the twists, the turns. I went to sleep reading, got up in the middle of the night to read. Sneaked every available time and some were stollen just to read this book. Well written and I'm not disappointed at all with how much time I spent on this fabulous read.
What I liked about Voron was his intense drive to succeed. He put everything on the line to get to his Crown. But does that make him a likeable character, or is his actions less than honorable? Crownless King is written mainly in Sparrow's viewpoint so it makes it interesting to see her thoughts on his actions.
1st reading: Along with part 1, Wingless Crow, this may be my favorite so far of Simcoe's Nerifir books. Apart from the very beginning of the first book, the MFC, Sparrow, has no recollection of her previous life on earth, making this story much more fairytale-like in nature. Looking forward to more of Simcoe's works.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
It gets almost the same rating as the first book, only I didn't round up this time, even though I liked this book better. I deeply resented the fact that the power of love saved everything and all that. I wanted more emotion, more action. It felt rushed. But I don't regret reading this series.
The betrayal and heartache in this book just gutted me!! After reading and becoming completely addicted to the first book in this duet, Wingless Crow, I could not wait to read the final installment! I was not disappointed. This is a rollercoaster of emotions and action that had me glued to the pages! Voron is a keeper ❤️ and I loved how the story turned out! Highly, highly recommend!!
What a discovery! Sparrow can handle the book containing the history of Voron’s family. Lo and behold they discover that he is actually a twin. The first born at that. Which makes him the rightful king. So much happens…such heartache. You must read this for yourself to appreciate what Sparrow and Voron had to endure.
Crownless King, the second in a duet, is absolute perfection!! I'm just bowled over with how good it is.. So intense and dangerous.. With dark intrigue and steamy romance.. A fantastic creation!!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Breathtaking and emotional! I loved this rollercoaster story full of ups and downs. Sparrows’s and Voron’s story was unforgettable and full of so much raw and heartfelt emotion.
For a duet fae series this was pretty good. But one thing that annoyed me was she never got her memories back from her past. It would have been nice to see what her life was like before she left earth.
So many crazy things happened in this book. I couldn't put it down! This has been another incredible addition to the Nerifir world series. I can't wait to read more!
An awesome ending book. We get everything we want in the conclusion of the story. I cried with the Sparrow my heart broke for her but the reunion was worth it. Feel like everything happened the way it needed to.