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Crescent Queens #1
Queen of Earth and Stone
Eve Darrow seeks to take the throne in a kingdom where women aren’t permitted to rule.
Split into three kingdoms, the continent of Aestera is divided by more than just geography. In contrast to her southern neighbors, the kingdom of Darkegrove has not seen a ruling queen in five centuries.
Following her father’s unexpected death, Eve aims to turn a kingdom resistant to change on its head, whether they agree or not. Her path is fraught with danger, and a mysterious warrior is called upon to protect her.
Callan Thorne, answering a plea for aid that he is bound to answer, finds himself protecting a princess determined to make history. Unexpected danger lurks around every corner, challenging even his resilience.
As she finds even people she trusts stand against her solitary revolution and will attempt to deter her by any means necessary, she must rely on the mysterious warrior summoned to keep her safe.
Friendships are made, secrets are revealed and hearts are broken. On her quest to forge her own destiny, Eve will discover that none can stand against fate and that not everything is as it seems.
Split into three kingdoms, the continent of Aestera is divided by more than just geography. In contrast to her southern neighbors, the kingdom of Darkegrove has not seen a ruling queen in five centuries.
Following her father’s unexpected death, Eve aims to turn a kingdom resistant to change on its head, whether they agree or not. Her path is fraught with danger, and a mysterious warrior is called upon to protect her.
Callan Thorne, answering a plea for aid that he is bound to answer, finds himself protecting a princess determined to make history. Unexpected danger lurks around every corner, challenging even his resilience.
As she finds even people she trusts stand against her solitary revolution and will attempt to deter her by any means necessary, she must rely on the mysterious warrior summoned to keep her safe.
Friendships are made, secrets are revealed and hearts are broken. On her quest to forge her own destiny, Eve will discover that none can stand against fate and that not everything is as it seems.
363 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 4, 2023
140 people are currently reading
1375 people want to read
About the author
Tricia Meyers
3 books37 followersI am a caffeine addicted, Type C mom
who collects far too many pens and
journals.
I’m just a smidge obsessed with
cows, and if I’m not looking at adorable
cow pics online, I’m probably reading a
romance novel, or writing one.
who collects far too many pens and
journals.
I’m just a smidge obsessed with
cows, and if I’m not looking at adorable
cow pics online, I’m probably reading a
romance novel, or writing one.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
August 9, 2023
Let me start this review off by saying reading is subjective. Just because one person does not like certain aspects of a book, does not mean that you will not. So if you read a synopsis of a book and it sounds amazing to you, please check it out for yourself before making any judgments as one persons 1 star could be your 5 star.
Now on to how I personally rate books. 5 stars are reserved for books that made me absolutely fall in love and will be a definite re-read for me. 4 stars are books that I did enjoy and have/had potential but I didn’t love it and will probably not re-read. This book was a 4 star for me. Now on to the why’s.
There were quite a few reasons for my 4 star rating for this book:
- The first reason is a PERSONAL preference. It was in third person pov. Now this is not a deal breaker for me, I do have a few other books with the same pov, but it is not my favorite and I do tend to read more books with a first person pov.
- It took me 10 chapters to even start getting in to it, and even then it was still barely. I understand the first few chapters from any series needs to be mainly world building and lore explanations. But it just felt like the lore and world building took up those first 10 chapters and not in a fun way.
- It did start getting exciting but then when it did, it moved TOO fast. Like nothing would be happening and then 20 things would happen at once and some of it just didn’t make much sense.
I did still complete the book and I do feel like this series has so much potential for the future books. So I will still be buying it when it comes out to have and will still read the next books in the series to check those out. But this book just did not bring me excitement. But the author’s writing is phenomenal, I absolutely loved their writing style and verbiage. It was because of the writing style that I rated it 4 stars instead of 3.
Again, this all PERSONAL experience!!! So please, do not take my review to heart. Still check out the book and form your own opinions. Happy Reading <3
I received this ARC for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Now on to how I personally rate books. 5 stars are reserved for books that made me absolutely fall in love and will be a definite re-read for me. 4 stars are books that I did enjoy and have/had potential but I didn’t love it and will probably not re-read. This book was a 4 star for me. Now on to the why’s.
There were quite a few reasons for my 4 star rating for this book:
- The first reason is a PERSONAL preference. It was in third person pov. Now this is not a deal breaker for me, I do have a few other books with the same pov, but it is not my favorite and I do tend to read more books with a first person pov.
- It took me 10 chapters to even start getting in to it, and even then it was still barely. I understand the first few chapters from any series needs to be mainly world building and lore explanations. But it just felt like the lore and world building took up those first 10 chapters and not in a fun way.
- It did start getting exciting but then when it did, it moved TOO fast. Like nothing would be happening and then 20 things would happen at once and some of it just didn’t make much sense.
I did still complete the book and I do feel like this series has so much potential for the future books. So I will still be buying it when it comes out to have and will still read the next books in the series to check those out. But this book just did not bring me excitement. But the author’s writing is phenomenal, I absolutely loved their writing style and verbiage. It was because of the writing style that I rated it 4 stars instead of 3.
Again, this all PERSONAL experience!!! So please, do not take my review to heart. Still check out the book and form your own opinions. Happy Reading <3
I received this ARC for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 5, 2025
I'm starting to think I actually just dislike romantasy, especially the current booktok frenzy over any story that contains a shadow wielding Fae and a clueless female main character - because guess what? this book is no different...
Eve Darrow is a princess about to be Queen and unlike every female predecessor before her, she chooses not to marry a man and rule by herself - okay fine. But apparently she can't do that because 500 or 600 years ago one of her ancestors did that and everything went tits up...
except she didn't rule by herself it seems, she fell in love with a Fae so the premise about the fact that it's cursed for a woman to be on the throne alone is inherently incorrect but apparently no one seems to pick up on this? plus it happened centuries ago you would think maybe times have changed but nay!
moving on to the fact her mother hires specialised "body guards" for Eve, one being (you guessed it) our shadow daddy MMC. it's instalove from the get go and I had whiplash by how fast their feelings developed (within 2 days Eve was frantic after they couldn't find Callan (the MMC) and then when he turned up injured in the evening she rushed into his arms demanding what had happened and how worried she had been). this is all explained away by being fated mates (seriously give a girl a break I actually just despise this trope now) but not once did they have a meaningful convo or actually display anything other than severe lust which they act on very quickly.
there's no character development whatsoever, very lacking motives for everything and honestly I just didn't care about anyone.
there were also continuity errors and maybe I'm harsh but having a characters eyes change from sky blue to nutty brown within TWO PAGES is a little too much for one to handle. let's not forget about the fact that (spoiler: eve is blessed by a goddess just chilling in a room under a pool and gets a cool arm long tattoo) her tattoo must be covered up for her coronation because everyone cannot see this, to then a few days later when the author has seemingly forgotten the tattoo exists and puts her in an off-the-shoulder gown where the entire court is at the ball to see (but obviously no one says anything because the tattoo plot point is forgotten about).
anyways I've rambled enough.
Eve Darrow is a princess about to be Queen and unlike every female predecessor before her, she chooses not to marry a man and rule by herself - okay fine. But apparently she can't do that because 500 or 600 years ago one of her ancestors did that and everything went tits up...
except she didn't rule by herself it seems, she fell in love with a Fae so the premise about the fact that it's cursed for a woman to be on the throne alone is inherently incorrect but apparently no one seems to pick up on this? plus it happened centuries ago you would think maybe times have changed but nay!
moving on to the fact her mother hires specialised "body guards" for Eve, one being (you guessed it) our shadow daddy MMC. it's instalove from the get go and I had whiplash by how fast their feelings developed (within 2 days Eve was frantic after they couldn't find Callan (the MMC) and then when he turned up injured in the evening she rushed into his arms demanding what had happened and how worried she had been). this is all explained away by being fated mates (seriously give a girl a break I actually just despise this trope now) but not once did they have a meaningful convo or actually display anything other than severe lust which they act on very quickly.
there's no character development whatsoever, very lacking motives for everything and honestly I just didn't care about anyone.
there were also continuity errors and maybe I'm harsh but having a characters eyes change from sky blue to nutty brown within TWO PAGES is a little too much for one to handle. let's not forget about the fact that (spoiler: eve is blessed by a goddess just chilling in a room under a pool and gets a cool arm long tattoo) her tattoo must be covered up for her coronation because everyone cannot see this, to then a few days later when the author has seemingly forgotten the tattoo exists and puts her in an off-the-shoulder gown where the entire court is at the ball to see (but obviously no one says anything because the tattoo plot point is forgotten about).
anyways I've rambled enough.
August 8, 2023
Not use to third person but I enjoyed it in this book! The world building and background took a bit to get into and get use to but I feel like it is always like that with a series. So much happens in the second half so pay attention! Cannot wait for more!
I received this ARC for an honest review, all thoughts/opinions above are completely my own.
I received this ARC for an honest review, all thoughts/opinions above are completely my own.
August 8, 2023
I'm very picky when it comes to fantasy books but I loved this book.
It does have a slow start with world building but that's the same with almost any book I've read. The world building wasn't tedious or boring like in some books I've read though and I actually enjoyed it.
The characters are very well written, you love the ones you love and despise others. Their personalities are all well written.
A lot happens in the book but it only made me want to keep reading to find out what would happen next.
I look forward to reading more books from this author, their writing is amazing.
I was given an ARC copy to give an honest review. All opinion are honest and my own.
It does have a slow start with world building but that's the same with almost any book I've read. The world building wasn't tedious or boring like in some books I've read though and I actually enjoyed it.
The characters are very well written, you love the ones you love and despise others. Their personalities are all well written.
A lot happens in the book but it only made me want to keep reading to find out what would happen next.
I look forward to reading more books from this author, their writing is amazing.
I was given an ARC copy to give an honest review. All opinion are honest and my own.
August 27, 2023
I received an arc of Queen of Earth and Stone and this is my honest review.
It releases on KU 14th November!
“I will be here for you for as long as you’ll have me. Not a single hair on your head will ever be harmed.” He stepped closer, gripping her chin gently with his fingers. “I will burn this entire fucking kingdom to the ground before I let them touch you.”
Ok the cover? 👌🏻 It’a stunning. Bonus points as always for the content warnings, map and pronunciation guide at the front! I find this book quite mild in terms of the triggers but please check to make sure it’s ok for you to read.
Evelyn our FMC is the Princess of Darkegrove, from the offset we find out that her father has been killed. Although the mystery around how and why is still unknown. As the only child of the King, Eve is thrust into a whole world of politics and outdated traditions whilst grieving the loss of her father. Though, the Council of Ninearseholes are sympathetic to his death, they’re adamant that Eve needs to marry. They want their King and she absolutely cannot be Queen on her own. Why? Because they have tradition and that means what they say, goes. And Eve? She says fuck that. She’s having none of that attitude, thank you. She refuses to marry anyone of their choosing and hand over her throne just because she’s female and I love that for her. Eve will not bow to the Council, she will not marry and she will take her throne regardless of what they say.
“I believe ‘no’ is a complete sentence.”
As you can imagine.. that doesn’t do well. Tradition has been around for a long time due to..”reasons” and the C.o.N are refusing to back down. They’re not the only ones. Eve’s blatant disregard for these archaic rules thrusts her into far more danger than she even understands herself. Danger lurks in all corners, even from those you never expected it from.
Insert Callan, our MMC. Tasked by Eve’s supportive mother- Riona, to protect Eve. But as we know.. things are never that easy. I liiiiveeeee for the drama. We also meet Leysa, Valerian a little later on. These two are super cute together.
“Well,” he replied with a light laugh. “You’re confusing. Sometimes you seem… so naive. But I’ve also seen you handle shit that would have people much older than you crumbling. You’re kind, even to those that many of your station consider beneath them. Other times you’re a total smartass. And,” he pressed on as she started to object, “you’re doing this really incredible thing. This world-changing thing. I can’t figure out how to make all of that fit together into the person I see. Frankly, I think that while you’re wholly unprepared for what you’ve done, you’re incredibly brave for doing what you think is right.”
I absolutely adored this world. I fell into it. The writing is immaculate, the story is great. There’s definitely a lot of twists to keep you on your toes. Even some light spice that happens later on. I have so much I could say about this but then I’ll have to pop a spoiler and that’s never any fun but just add it to your tbr. I really hope this book gets the hype it deserves. 👏🏻
It releases on KU 14th November!
“I will be here for you for as long as you’ll have me. Not a single hair on your head will ever be harmed.” He stepped closer, gripping her chin gently with his fingers. “I will burn this entire fucking kingdom to the ground before I let them touch you.”
Ok the cover? 👌🏻 It’a stunning. Bonus points as always for the content warnings, map and pronunciation guide at the front! I find this book quite mild in terms of the triggers but please check to make sure it’s ok for you to read.
Evelyn our FMC is the Princess of Darkegrove, from the offset we find out that her father has been killed. Although the mystery around how and why is still unknown. As the only child of the King, Eve is thrust into a whole world of politics and outdated traditions whilst grieving the loss of her father. Though, the Council of Nine
“I believe ‘no’ is a complete sentence.”
As you can imagine.. that doesn’t do well. Tradition has been around for a long time due to..
Insert Callan, our MMC. Tasked by Eve’s supportive mother- Riona, to protect Eve. But as we know.. things are never that easy. I liiiiveeeee for the drama. We also meet Leysa, Valerian a little later on. These two are super cute together.
“Well,” he replied with a light laugh. “You’re confusing. Sometimes you seem… so naive. But I’ve also seen you handle shit that would have people much older than you crumbling. You’re kind, even to those that many of your station consider beneath them. Other times you’re a total smartass. And,” he pressed on as she started to object, “you’re doing this really incredible thing. This world-changing thing. I can’t figure out how to make all of that fit together into the person I see. Frankly, I think that while you’re wholly unprepared for what you’ve done, you’re incredibly brave for doing what you think is right.”
I absolutely adored this world. I fell into it. The writing is immaculate, the story is great. There’s definitely a lot of twists to keep you on your toes. Even some light spice that happens later on. I have so much I could say about this but then I’ll have to pop a spoiler and that’s never any fun but just add it to your tbr. I really hope this book gets the hype it deserves. 👏🏻
July 30, 2025
2.5 ⭐️ - DNF at 65%
I really tried with this one but I’m tapping out at 65%. I don’t usually rate books I don’t finish but I’ve read enough to know this just isn’t for me. The premise had so much promise: a feminist-leaning fantasy with a determined heir trying to change a misogynistic system and a mysterious warrior protector thrown into the mix. I wanted to love it but I just didn’t.
Everything felt surface level … I couldn’t connect with the characters and I found myself zoning out constantly. The writing style didn’t work for me personally - it felt like things were happening to the characters not with them. The pacing was slow, then suddenly way too fast and I was left feeling both bored and overwhelmed somehow. Not a great combo.
Like another review I read said (and fully agree with), this felt like a rehash of every fae romantasy trope we’ve seen before. Insta-love. Court politics with no real teeth. Big reveals with not much emotional impact. The worldbuilding had potential but was bogged down in telling rather than showing. I think the author had some solid ideas and I really respect the feminist angle she tried to bring in, but it wasn’t enough to carry the rest for me.
Honestly I wish I’d connected more. Maybe it’ll land better for other readers who love fae-based fantasy or are newer to the genre but this one just didn’t hit for me
I really tried with this one but I’m tapping out at 65%. I don’t usually rate books I don’t finish but I’ve read enough to know this just isn’t for me. The premise had so much promise: a feminist-leaning fantasy with a determined heir trying to change a misogynistic system and a mysterious warrior protector thrown into the mix. I wanted to love it but I just didn’t.
Everything felt surface level … I couldn’t connect with the characters and I found myself zoning out constantly. The writing style didn’t work for me personally - it felt like things were happening to the characters not with them. The pacing was slow, then suddenly way too fast and I was left feeling both bored and overwhelmed somehow. Not a great combo.
Like another review I read said (and fully agree with), this felt like a rehash of every fae romantasy trope we’ve seen before. Insta-love. Court politics with no real teeth. Big reveals with not much emotional impact. The worldbuilding had potential but was bogged down in telling rather than showing. I think the author had some solid ideas and I really respect the feminist angle she tried to bring in, but it wasn’t enough to carry the rest for me.
Honestly I wish I’d connected more. Maybe it’ll land better for other readers who love fae-based fantasy or are newer to the genre but this one just didn’t hit for me
May 29, 2024
CW: death of family, violence, spice, some others
Raise your hand if you’d like to help our FMC overthrow archaic patriarchal practices because you can do this just fine on your own, dang it!
With the banishment of the fae and the disappearance of the gods 500 years prior, the kingdom of Darkegrove vowed to never again allow a woman to reign alone as queen. After the death of her father, Princess Evelynis expected to uphold this tradition and marry before taking the throne as Queen Consort. Eve, however, intends to change these archaic traditions.Threatening forces, displeased with Eve’s decision, wait for their chance to strike, and, most inconveniently, her newest guard commands her attention in a way that Eve never expected to find.
You know what I love more than a good fae/magic/love story? One that’s laced with heaps of feminine rage. And boy oh boy, does this one have absolute *mountains* of the stuff. It’s such a good story, and I’m already trying to decide if it’s too soon for a re-read.
Let’s start with the characters. Eve, our FMC, is amazing. She’s terrified, and flawed, and having to struggle her way through things, but she’s doing her best. She’s got a temper, but always tries to point it at the right person, and to not let it overly cloud her judgment. She asks questions and communicates and she never backs down from what she feels is right. She’s the sort of person you’d want to be friends with, and I didn’t find myself becoming annoyed with any aspect of her personality (which is a refreshing change from the ‘default’ FMC I think we see fairly frequently). Our MMC is deliciously angsty, and while he could stand to work on his communication skills, it feels more like an “I legitimately can’t but I want to” and less of a “I simply am incapable of sharing feelings.” And the tension, the exact right amount of possessiveness, the “I’d burn it all down for you” vibes, the “watch her do it on her own because she’s incredible?” Immaculate; no notes.
Oh, and don’t even get me started on the world building. The detail and the magic and the pure life breathed into this story made it so, so immersive, and I absolutely did not want to leave that world. It’s in all the little things, the outfits and the side characters and the creatures; everywhere you look there’s something that makes this story jump off the page. It’s a wonderful backdrop for an incredible story, and I loved every bit of it.
Speaking of the story— the plot? The writing itself? 10/10, I’m going to be raving about this book for ages. The story is told in the third person, with the focus predominantly on our FMC. Every so often we’re given chapters with the focus on a different character, usually the MMC, and they’ve been placed so perfectly that the shift between the two does nothing but highlight some of the best or most important moments. It’s a really nice way of delivering the right information at the right time without info dumping via character conversations at a later point. The pacing is brilliant, and I found I just couldn’t put the book down. The whole thing just starts off at a nice clip and ramps up constantly until the very end. While it’s not a cliffhanger ending, there are still a lot of questions left to be answered, and I wanted to launch myself immediately into book 2 because I have *questions.* It’s a nice pause point, though, and it doesn’t feel like an abruptly unsatisfying halt. The entire foundation for our FMC’s actions, that she is capable and strong and that she doesn’t need to wait in a man’s shadow, is delivered with the perfect balance between “I can do it on my own” and “I am allowed to lean on others.” It never comes across as hateful or preachy or over the top. It’s just a woman being every bit as amazing as she knows she can be, full stop.
Overall, this was a fantastic book, and I’m so excited to jump into the second one. It’s got a little bit of everything I enjoy, and it held my attention the entire time. If you like a fantasy story where the romance and the plot are equally important, where the FMC gets to truly shine in her own right and not just because of her love interest, where fae and magic and fate and forces unseen all have a hand in the action, and where the archetype of a male-dominated kingdom is being actively fought against by a woman you’ll have no problem rooting for, then this is the book for you!
Raise your hand if you’d like to help our FMC overthrow archaic patriarchal practices because you can do this just fine on your own, dang it!
With the banishment of the fae and the disappearance of the gods 500 years prior, the kingdom of Darkegrove vowed to never again allow a woman to reign alone as queen. After the death of her father, Princess Evelynis expected to uphold this tradition and marry before taking the throne as Queen Consort. Eve, however, intends to change these archaic traditions.Threatening forces, displeased with Eve’s decision, wait for their chance to strike, and, most inconveniently, her newest guard commands her attention in a way that Eve never expected to find.
You know what I love more than a good fae/magic/love story? One that’s laced with heaps of feminine rage. And boy oh boy, does this one have absolute *mountains* of the stuff. It’s such a good story, and I’m already trying to decide if it’s too soon for a re-read.
Let’s start with the characters. Eve, our FMC, is amazing. She’s terrified, and flawed, and having to struggle her way through things, but she’s doing her best. She’s got a temper, but always tries to point it at the right person, and to not let it overly cloud her judgment. She asks questions and communicates and she never backs down from what she feels is right. She’s the sort of person you’d want to be friends with, and I didn’t find myself becoming annoyed with any aspect of her personality (which is a refreshing change from the ‘default’ FMC I think we see fairly frequently). Our MMC is deliciously angsty, and while he could stand to work on his communication skills, it feels more like an “I legitimately can’t but I want to” and less of a “I simply am incapable of sharing feelings.” And the tension, the exact right amount of possessiveness, the “I’d burn it all down for you” vibes, the “watch her do it on her own because she’s incredible?” Immaculate; no notes.
Oh, and don’t even get me started on the world building. The detail and the magic and the pure life breathed into this story made it so, so immersive, and I absolutely did not want to leave that world. It’s in all the little things, the outfits and the side characters and the creatures; everywhere you look there’s something that makes this story jump off the page. It’s a wonderful backdrop for an incredible story, and I loved every bit of it.
Speaking of the story— the plot? The writing itself? 10/10, I’m going to be raving about this book for ages. The story is told in the third person, with the focus predominantly on our FMC. Every so often we’re given chapters with the focus on a different character, usually the MMC, and they’ve been placed so perfectly that the shift between the two does nothing but highlight some of the best or most important moments. It’s a really nice way of delivering the right information at the right time without info dumping via character conversations at a later point. The pacing is brilliant, and I found I just couldn’t put the book down. The whole thing just starts off at a nice clip and ramps up constantly until the very end. While it’s not a cliffhanger ending, there are still a lot of questions left to be answered, and I wanted to launch myself immediately into book 2 because I have *questions.* It’s a nice pause point, though, and it doesn’t feel like an abruptly unsatisfying halt. The entire foundation for our FMC’s actions, that she is capable and strong and that she doesn’t need to wait in a man’s shadow, is delivered with the perfect balance between “I can do it on my own” and “I am allowed to lean on others.” It never comes across as hateful or preachy or over the top. It’s just a woman being every bit as amazing as she knows she can be, full stop.
Overall, this was a fantastic book, and I’m so excited to jump into the second one. It’s got a little bit of everything I enjoy, and it held my attention the entire time. If you like a fantasy story where the romance and the plot are equally important, where the FMC gets to truly shine in her own right and not just because of her love interest, where fae and magic and fate and forces unseen all have a hand in the action, and where the archetype of a male-dominated kingdom is being actively fought against by a woman you’ll have no problem rooting for, then this is the book for you!
September 11, 2023
"Nothing less than the promise of utter disaster would keep me from you."
Let me just say, Tricia Meyers really popped off with that quote.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. I'd probably give it 3.5 stars if I was able. Honestly I'm pretty impressed with it considering this is Meyers' debut novel, but I just didn't love it. Of course reading is subjective, but I personally felt like there was a serious lack of world building. I had a hard time picturing scenes because I was just given basically nothing when it came to the area surrounding the characters. I really would have liked for that to be more fleshed out. That is also my qualm with the romance; I just didn't feel like it was fully fleshed out. I wouldn't say it's insta-love (although it sort of was for a later-in-the-plot reason) but I had a hard time connecting with the love interest because I just felt like the MC didn't have enough interactions with him before she suddenly would die for him. Like other than him being her hot guard, why does she even like him? I just would've liked to see a more gradual relationship form.
I also thought there were a few weird time jumps, that I think were meant to be intentionally off-putting perhaps? But I felt like it was giving me whiplash, or like a piece of the book was missing or something. A chapter would end abruptly and then suddenly it was a few days later. I also felt like the feminism in this novel was just a little too on the nose, and could have been a little more complex. Also, considering that was a huge plot point I would've liked to see some genuine female rage moments or something in regards to the situation at hand, and while there were some attempts at that I felt like it fell a little flat.
My last criticism is I felt like the big reveal/plot twist that happened about 75% of the way through the book should have been the end of the book. The continuation of the plot after that just seemed to drone on, and I found myself becoming bored with it. I think that the book should have ended there, and then the last 25% of the book should have been the beginning of the next one.
All that being said, I did enjoy this book. I thought it was a pretty solid start to a series, and impressive for a debut novel. I honestly found the "villain" that is revealed toward the end of the book to be extremely interesting and charming (very on brand for me) and I would definitely like more of his story or just more engagement with him in the series. I saw lots of comments about the book being in third person, which surprised me because it's honestly my preference for a fantasy novel, especially one with a dual pov. The smut wasn't too cringey or too frequent like some romantasy books; I thought it was done really well.
I definitely enjoyed this book enough that I would like to read the sequel when it comes out next year. If you're a fan of From Blood & Ash, I think you'll really enjoy this book for multiple reasons. Again, reading is subjective and if this book sounds like something you'd enjoy then I would definitely give it a shot! It's always a good idea to try out indie authors! I'm grateful to have gotten the opportunity to read this book early!
P.S. Oh also, the cover is GORGEOUS!
Let me just say, Tricia Meyers really popped off with that quote.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. I'd probably give it 3.5 stars if I was able. Honestly I'm pretty impressed with it considering this is Meyers' debut novel, but I just didn't love it. Of course reading is subjective, but I personally felt like there was a serious lack of world building. I had a hard time picturing scenes because I was just given basically nothing when it came to the area surrounding the characters. I really would have liked for that to be more fleshed out. That is also my qualm with the romance; I just didn't feel like it was fully fleshed out. I wouldn't say it's insta-love (although it sort of was for a later-in-the-plot reason) but I had a hard time connecting with the love interest because I just felt like the MC didn't have enough interactions with him before she suddenly would die for him. Like other than him being her hot guard, why does she even like him? I just would've liked to see a more gradual relationship form.
I also thought there were a few weird time jumps, that I think were meant to be intentionally off-putting perhaps? But I felt like it was giving me whiplash, or like a piece of the book was missing or something. A chapter would end abruptly and then suddenly it was a few days later. I also felt like the feminism in this novel was just a little too on the nose, and could have been a little more complex. Also, considering that was a huge plot point I would've liked to see some genuine female rage moments or something in regards to the situation at hand, and while there were some attempts at that I felt like it fell a little flat.
My last criticism is I felt like the big reveal/plot twist that happened about 75% of the way through the book should have been the end of the book. The continuation of the plot after that just seemed to drone on, and I found myself becoming bored with it. I think that the book should have ended there, and then the last 25% of the book should have been the beginning of the next one.
All that being said, I did enjoy this book. I thought it was a pretty solid start to a series, and impressive for a debut novel. I honestly found the "villain" that is revealed toward the end of the book to be extremely interesting and charming (very on brand for me) and I would definitely like more of his story or just more engagement with him in the series. I saw lots of comments about the book being in third person, which surprised me because it's honestly my preference for a fantasy novel, especially one with a dual pov. The smut wasn't too cringey or too frequent like some romantasy books; I thought it was done really well.
I definitely enjoyed this book enough that I would like to read the sequel when it comes out next year. If you're a fan of From Blood & Ash, I think you'll really enjoy this book for multiple reasons. Again, reading is subjective and if this book sounds like something you'd enjoy then I would definitely give it a shot! It's always a good idea to try out indie authors! I'm grateful to have gotten the opportunity to read this book early!
P.S. Oh also, the cover is GORGEOUS!
April 19, 2024
DNF @ 20%
I was so intrigued by the plot but unfortunately I absolutely hated the writing style. I found it so over-descriptive and honestly the book would probably be half as long if the author stopped describing everything in such detail…
I was so intrigued by the plot but unfortunately I absolutely hated the writing style. I found it so over-descriptive and honestly the book would probably be half as long if the author stopped describing everything in such detail…
October 15, 2023
“Do not ever let them see you cry.”
This book follows Princess Evelyn “Eve” Darrow, who after the sudden death of her father, must take the throne. However, there has not been a Queen in her kingdom, Darkgrove, in centuries; previous princess’ made to marry in order to provide Darkgrove a king. Deciding to pull away from tradition, Eve is thrust into many a dangerous situations as she aims to make history. She is protected on her journey by a new and mysterious bodyguard who, she finds out, is not what she believes him to be.
I really did enjoy this book, especially the characters within it. Eve was someone I really liked, especially at the start of the book. Her feminist attitude and willingness to stand firm on her beliefs was something I greatly enjoyed. When she dealt with the councillors I found my self deeply engrossed in the storyline and found her behaviour admirable. Another thing I liked was the relationships between background characters. Notably the relationships between Sylvie and Dallin and Valerian and Leysa. I thought it was well done and a cute edition to the story which made me smile throughout.
One thing I didn’t enjoy as much in this book was the pacing. I found that everything seemed to happen very quickly and that situations seemed to go from 0 to 100 almost instantly. In my opinion the story felt a bit rushed in places due to how fast everything was happening. This was prevalent in the relationship between Eve and Callan, her bodyguard. To me it just didn’t feel very authentic as they seemed to be in love and infatuated with each other in practically no time at all.
Overall, I thought the book was good. Other than the pacing issue, which is just due personal preference, I liked the book. I would recommend to people who love a strong fmc and a mmc with the vibe of “touch her and you die”. This was a brilliant debut novel and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next.
Thank you to Tricia Meyers who provided me an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
This book follows Princess Evelyn “Eve” Darrow, who after the sudden death of her father, must take the throne. However, there has not been a Queen in her kingdom, Darkgrove, in centuries; previous princess’ made to marry in order to provide Darkgrove a king. Deciding to pull away from tradition, Eve is thrust into many a dangerous situations as she aims to make history. She is protected on her journey by a new and mysterious bodyguard who, she finds out, is not what she believes him to be.
I really did enjoy this book, especially the characters within it. Eve was someone I really liked, especially at the start of the book. Her feminist attitude and willingness to stand firm on her beliefs was something I greatly enjoyed. When she dealt with the councillors I found my self deeply engrossed in the storyline and found her behaviour admirable. Another thing I liked was the relationships between background characters. Notably the relationships between Sylvie and Dallin and Valerian and Leysa. I thought it was well done and a cute edition to the story which made me smile throughout.
One thing I didn’t enjoy as much in this book was the pacing. I found that everything seemed to happen very quickly and that situations seemed to go from 0 to 100 almost instantly. In my opinion the story felt a bit rushed in places due to how fast everything was happening. This was prevalent in the relationship between Eve and Callan, her bodyguard. To me it just didn’t feel very authentic as they seemed to be in love and infatuated with each other in practically no time at all.
Overall, I thought the book was good. Other than the pacing issue, which is just due personal preference, I liked the book. I would recommend to people who love a strong fmc and a mmc with the vibe of “touch her and you die”. This was a brilliant debut novel and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next.
Thank you to Tricia Meyers who provided me an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
September 10, 2023
I was very fortunate to receive this arc in exchange for an honest review.
3.75 ⭐️ rounded up to 4⭐️
I found the 3rd person took me a little while to get into. I found the characters very likeable and I was intrigued with what was going to happen. I did find myself getting lost a few times but I think that's down to my concentration. I liked how we got more information about more than just the main two characters.
Eve was my favourite character I loved her energy and development! Cannot wait to see what happens in the next book!
3.75 ⭐️ rounded up to 4⭐️
I found the 3rd person took me a little while to get into. I found the characters very likeable and I was intrigued with what was going to happen. I did find myself getting lost a few times but I think that's down to my concentration. I liked how we got more information about more than just the main two characters.
Eve was my favourite character I loved her energy and development! Cannot wait to see what happens in the next book!
August 29, 2023
Princess Evelyn Darrow of Darkegrove has lost her father and is now thrust into a do or die situation: to follow tradition and put aside her own freedom, or to pursue the throne, her freedom, and more. When a stranger finds his way to Darkegrove, Eve must unravel this thread of mysteries and secrets, but will she have the courage to keep up this fight and solve these mysteries, or will she die trying?
Queen of Earth and Stone is fantasy romance with wonderful tropes that include: Fated mates, Touch her and die, Fae, Slowburn, Strong Female Characters, and so much more.
In my personal opinion, this book is an easy recommendation to someone who enjoys fantasy romance and is enthralled with political intrigue, fae, and so much more. While the beginning of the book takes its time building a most vivid world, the second half is a nonstop rollercoaster of events and filled with brilliant moments. I am greatly looking forward to this author's next book, Cresent Queens 2.
Queen of Earth and Stone is fantasy romance with wonderful tropes that include: Fated mates, Touch her and die, Fae, Slowburn, Strong Female Characters, and so much more.
In my personal opinion, this book is an easy recommendation to someone who enjoys fantasy romance and is enthralled with political intrigue, fae, and so much more. While the beginning of the book takes its time building a most vivid world, the second half is a nonstop rollercoaster of events and filled with brilliant moments. I am greatly looking forward to this author's next book, Cresent Queens 2.
May 18, 2024
I applied to be one of the authors ARC readers even though I had not read the first book. I loved this book. It had all the things i love in a romantasy book. A simple magic system, love, fae, humans. It was well written and cannot wait to get started on my first ever ARC by same author Queen of Light and Solace.
July 21, 2025
"Nothing less than the promise of utter disaster would keep me from you."
3.25⭐️
I had been reading a lot of contemporary romances and wanted something magical and fantastical to win me over, and the premise of this novel seemed intriguing, but unfortunately this book didn't do it for me. I was hoping for a sweeping romance, feminist rage and taking back of power, mixed with court politics and long lost fae cities, and from the outside this seems to deliver on that but for me it was just entirely too shallow. There were some inklings of promise to this story, and the writing wasn't too bad for a debut novel, but when it comes down to it, sadly, I was disappointed in this and just a little bit bored. I could also tell this was likely heavily inspired by ACOTAR and because of that this story didn't feel unique. I found many of the plot points very predictable because it followed the tropes and romantasy formula to the tee.
The first 100ish pages of this novel are a slow start, filled with world building and the basic set up of the storyline, which is to be expected, but it didn't really pull me in like I was hoping it would. Eve has just lost her father, the king of Darkegrove, and she is the only heir. Due to an incident 600 or so years prior where a queen fell in love with a fae male and it wrecked havoc on their kingdom, women are no longer permitted to rule Forest Haven without marrying a man and becoming consort, but Eve is determined to change that. I really liked this feminist side to the story, the way Eve rises above the misogyny and sexism thrown at her by her courtiers and council members was great, but ultimately is just wasn't enough for me. I wanted just a bit more passion and shows of leadership and prowess, but instead I found that Eve was mostly very unprepared and naive. This is mentioned a lot within the book and Eve is aware of this, but it really makes it hard to root for her when it's clear she isn't fit to rule. Most of the court politics in this book happen whispered behind gossiping hands or behind the closed doors of the Council of Nine while Eve isn't present and so that side wasn't really intriguing either. Later on the story becomes more action packed, but the change from the slow start to suddenly one thing happening after another without any moment for a breather and reflection just gets tiresome and confusing, too many things are thrown at us without ay proper explanation, and I know most of this will be covered in the second book, but it didn't make the reading experience very enjoyable for me, unfortunately.
The characters are all pretty one dimensional too, Callan, the MMC and love interest, is introduced and Eve quickly goes from being annoyed that she needs a personal guard to falling for him within the space of a few days. The romance happens very quickly and is almost an insta-love trope, and I just did not feel the chemistry or connection between the two. The few human friends that Eve does have aren't even very close to her and she introduces them to the reader in fairly negative light each time, seemingly exhausted by their presence. Her connection to her mother is probably the deepest one in this book and even then when certain plot points occur involving her I didn't really feel like I cared much about her character. Things like action scenes, deaths, their first kiss are all moved on from very quickly, ending abruptly at the end of the chapter and then the next starts with: "the next few days passed". Many of the characters seem to be able to read minds as well, always guessing exactly what the other is thinking based on the look on their face with just didn't feel realistic. It all just added up to a very "meh" read sadly.
I am not sure if I will pick up the second book in this series, but for now I have added it to my TBR as a possibility, but I'm just not sure this story will really stick with me or hold enough interest for me to continue. I could see how good this book could've been with just a few changes to characterisation, with a bit of added depth and a more ironing out of the pacing and the plot, but these were lacking for me. I think if you really love fae romantasy and want more books similar to ACOTAR then this could be a good read for you, but even though I didn't love those books either, I still found them more comelling than this. To me this just felt like a rehash of what we've already seen many times before. I'm sad to be giving an indie book such a negative review, and want to commend Tricia Meyers for her hard work creating this novel, but this just really wasn't the book for me, I'm afraid.
3.25⭐️
I had been reading a lot of contemporary romances and wanted something magical and fantastical to win me over, and the premise of this novel seemed intriguing, but unfortunately this book didn't do it for me. I was hoping for a sweeping romance, feminist rage and taking back of power, mixed with court politics and long lost fae cities, and from the outside this seems to deliver on that but for me it was just entirely too shallow. There were some inklings of promise to this story, and the writing wasn't too bad for a debut novel, but when it comes down to it, sadly, I was disappointed in this and just a little bit bored. I could also tell this was likely heavily inspired by ACOTAR and because of that this story didn't feel unique. I found many of the plot points very predictable because it followed the tropes and romantasy formula to the tee.
The first 100ish pages of this novel are a slow start, filled with world building and the basic set up of the storyline, which is to be expected, but it didn't really pull me in like I was hoping it would. Eve has just lost her father, the king of Darkegrove, and she is the only heir. Due to an incident 600 or so years prior where a queen fell in love with a fae male and it wrecked havoc on their kingdom, women are no longer permitted to rule Forest Haven without marrying a man and becoming consort, but Eve is determined to change that. I really liked this feminist side to the story, the way Eve rises above the misogyny and sexism thrown at her by her courtiers and council members was great, but ultimately is just wasn't enough for me. I wanted just a bit more passion and shows of leadership and prowess, but instead I found that Eve was mostly very unprepared and naive. This is mentioned a lot within the book and Eve is aware of this, but it really makes it hard to root for her when it's clear she isn't fit to rule. Most of the court politics in this book happen whispered behind gossiping hands or behind the closed doors of the Council of Nine while Eve isn't present and so that side wasn't really intriguing either. Later on the story becomes more action packed, but the change from the slow start to suddenly one thing happening after another without any moment for a breather and reflection just gets tiresome and confusing, too many things are thrown at us without ay proper explanation, and I know most of this will be covered in the second book, but it didn't make the reading experience very enjoyable for me, unfortunately.
The characters are all pretty one dimensional too, Callan, the MMC and love interest, is introduced and Eve quickly goes from being annoyed that she needs a personal guard to falling for him within the space of a few days. The romance happens very quickly and is almost an insta-love trope, and I just did not feel the chemistry or connection between the two. The few human friends that Eve does have aren't even very close to her and she introduces them to the reader in fairly negative light each time, seemingly exhausted by their presence. Her connection to her mother is probably the deepest one in this book and even then when certain plot points occur involving her I didn't really feel like I cared much about her character. Things like action scenes, deaths, their first kiss are all moved on from very quickly, ending abruptly at the end of the chapter and then the next starts with: "the next few days passed". Many of the characters seem to be able to read minds as well, always guessing exactly what the other is thinking based on the look on their face with just didn't feel realistic. It all just added up to a very "meh" read sadly.
I am not sure if I will pick up the second book in this series, but for now I have added it to my TBR as a possibility, but I'm just not sure this story will really stick with me or hold enough interest for me to continue. I could see how good this book could've been with just a few changes to characterisation, with a bit of added depth and a more ironing out of the pacing and the plot, but these were lacking for me. I think if you really love fae romantasy and want more books similar to ACOTAR then this could be a good read for you, but even though I didn't love those books either, I still found them more comelling than this. To me this just felt like a rehash of what we've already seen many times before. I'm sad to be giving an indie book such a negative review, and want to commend Tricia Meyers for her hard work creating this novel, but this just really wasn't the book for me, I'm afraid.
May 16, 2024
4.5 rounded up to a 5 for here.
Let me start out by saying, I really loved this story, and will 100% dive into book two.
The beginning of the book is a little slow, as a forewarning if you're looking to give this book a try. I'm not saying this to put anyone off, but more to curb expectations. For me, it picked up about chapter 8-9 and once I hit that mark, I didn't want to stop and put the book down. I ended up spending my entire Saturday finishing the book off, not doing anything else because by that point I was that invested in Eve and Callan.
Now, you may be going, why is the book slow to start but still good and worth giving it a chance, right? Let me tell you, it's because the world building took time. There's care given to the world building, and the slow is partially, in my option and how I took it, done so in order to let it evolve organically. Because of that care, I think I had a deeper investment to our Princess and what she was going through.
My only mild irritation was that a couple things were repeated over and over again, like the author didn't want me to forget, this is part of the lore. This is important. Don't forget this. And for that, I wanted to go, yes! I got it! Please don't repeat this again! Trust us as a reader, that we'll remember it. Maybe something important warrants being said a second time, but when we get to fourth, sixth, tenth, my brain wants to remind people that it can retain information. Please don't treat us like we'll forget after a hundred pages THIS ONE THING.
But, I mean, it took me four days to read the book, and I spent an entire day consuming the end of it to make sure I didn't have to deal with work while itching to read it.
If you like fantasy, badass Princesses, a bodyguard with secrets, and an immersive world that's waiting for you to give right in with a rich lore, definitely give this book a try. You won't be sorry. I certainly wasn't.
Let me start out by saying, I really loved this story, and will 100% dive into book two.
The beginning of the book is a little slow, as a forewarning if you're looking to give this book a try. I'm not saying this to put anyone off, but more to curb expectations. For me, it picked up about chapter 8-9 and once I hit that mark, I didn't want to stop and put the book down. I ended up spending my entire Saturday finishing the book off, not doing anything else because by that point I was that invested in Eve and Callan.
Now, you may be going, why is the book slow to start but still good and worth giving it a chance, right? Let me tell you, it's because the world building took time. There's care given to the world building, and the slow is partially, in my option and how I took it, done so in order to let it evolve organically. Because of that care, I think I had a deeper investment to our Princess and what she was going through.
My only mild irritation was that a couple things were repeated over and over again, like the author didn't want me to forget, this is part of the lore. This is important. Don't forget this. And for that, I wanted to go, yes! I got it! Please don't repeat this again! Trust us as a reader, that we'll remember it. Maybe something important warrants being said a second time, but when we get to fourth, sixth, tenth, my brain wants to remind people that it can retain information. Please don't treat us like we'll forget after a hundred pages THIS ONE THING.
But, I mean, it took me four days to read the book, and I spent an entire day consuming the end of it to make sure I didn't have to deal with work while itching to read it.
If you like fantasy, badass Princesses, a bodyguard with secrets, and an immersive world that's waiting for you to give right in with a rich lore, definitely give this book a try. You won't be sorry. I certainly wasn't.
August 21, 2023
I would like to thank Tricia Meyers for my copy of her ARC. Due to this kind gesture, I have decided to leave an honest review.
Can I just say how much I enjoyed this book?! Was it a slow start? Yes… were there lots happening? Also, yes. But! Booooooy, does this pick.. and I loved every second of it!
I must admit, I’m not used to the third person POV but I actually really enjoyed it once I got used to it. I think everything was explained well enough to keep you interested. The world building was solid enough for you to get a picture in your mind without it being over complicated.
I absolutely loved Eve’s character. A young girl thrust into being a queen after dealing with her fathers untimely death must be one of the hardest things ever. But this princess shined. Likeable, fearless, moving through a path without a husband that everyone expects her to take? That’s my sort of queen!
We also have our mysterious guardians who have you sitting at the edge of your seat wondering what their deal is, especially our Mr Thorne. Dark, broody and radiating shadowy danger is certainly something I can get on board with. Our other main characters are dangerous but sweet and you find yourself wishing you were fated for a mate.
Also, I want to give a huge congratulations and admiration to Tricia as this is her debut novel! When I find out it’s a debut I don’t really go into the book with high hopes, but by god, this did goooood.
I don’t really want to give anything away, so I try to stay clear of going into too much in reviews. I will however say that I have high hopes for this series as it continues and I cannot wait to see what fate has in store for our likeable band of characters.
Can I just say how much I enjoyed this book?! Was it a slow start? Yes… were there lots happening? Also, yes. But! Booooooy, does this pick.. and I loved every second of it!
I must admit, I’m not used to the third person POV but I actually really enjoyed it once I got used to it. I think everything was explained well enough to keep you interested. The world building was solid enough for you to get a picture in your mind without it being over complicated.
I absolutely loved Eve’s character. A young girl thrust into being a queen after dealing with her fathers untimely death must be one of the hardest things ever. But this princess shined. Likeable, fearless, moving through a path without a husband that everyone expects her to take? That’s my sort of queen!
We also have our mysterious guardians who have you sitting at the edge of your seat wondering what their deal is, especially our Mr Thorne. Dark, broody and radiating shadowy danger is certainly something I can get on board with. Our other main characters are dangerous but sweet and you find yourself wishing you were fated for a mate.
Also, I want to give a huge congratulations and admiration to Tricia as this is her debut novel! When I find out it’s a debut I don’t really go into the book with high hopes, but by god, this did goooood.
I don’t really want to give anything away, so I try to stay clear of going into too much in reviews. I will however say that I have high hopes for this series as it continues and I cannot wait to see what fate has in store for our likeable band of characters.
April 30, 2024
This was good and really nicely done for a debut, I love the cover, topic warnings, map and pronunciation guide— all really well formatted.
I found it lacking a little in plot and world building, but I was invested and the characters were engaging enough on their own to keep my attention.
It was definitely a little slow and building itself up carefully, a lot more plot, background and action toward the end and I’m very intrigued to see if this picks up the pace from the second book.
Really nicely written, with short chapters and switching/dual POV. It seems to have taken a lot of inspiration from Cruel Prince and Throne of glass/ACOTAR.
I do like Eve but she is niave as hell, often fooling for the dumbest tricks and making daft decisions, Callan at times also seemed a bit suspicious. The background characters, particularly Callans friends, were brilliant though and I hope to see more of them.
Some great feminist moments and takes as well, which I loved.
It really is a lovely book, just very slow and it has its flaws, but I recommend and can’t wait for the next book!
I found it lacking a little in plot and world building, but I was invested and the characters were engaging enough on their own to keep my attention.
It was definitely a little slow and building itself up carefully, a lot more plot, background and action toward the end and I’m very intrigued to see if this picks up the pace from the second book.
Really nicely written, with short chapters and switching/dual POV. It seems to have taken a lot of inspiration from Cruel Prince and Throne of glass/ACOTAR.
I do like Eve but she is niave as hell, often fooling for the dumbest tricks and making daft decisions, Callan at times also seemed a bit suspicious. The background characters, particularly Callans friends, were brilliant though and I hope to see more of them.
Some great feminist moments and takes as well, which I loved.
It really is a lovely book, just very slow and it has its flaws, but I recommend and can’t wait for the next book!
October 26, 2023
I'm so happy right now. I completely devoured the last quarter of this book. At last concerning adventure and seeing new places instead of being stuck at a castle.
Evelyn's journey is just perfect. I love everything about this, except for the politics. That's not my cup of tea. It all make sense though. The counsel not wanting changes and Evelyn being stubborn - fighting for what she believes in. Fae and magic is however exactly what I ache for.
Callan is definitely one of my favorite book boy friends. Protecting Evelyn but still respecting her. The romance and the smut is a subplot but still vital to the story. The side characters are lovely and funny.
I'm so excited to see where this is going. Thank you for gifting me this ARC Tricia ❤️
Evelyn's journey is just perfect. I love everything about this, except for the politics. That's not my cup of tea. It all make sense though. The counsel not wanting changes and Evelyn being stubborn - fighting for what she believes in. Fae and magic is however exactly what I ache for.
Callan is definitely one of my favorite book boy friends. Protecting Evelyn but still respecting her. The romance and the smut is a subplot but still vital to the story. The side characters are lovely and funny.
I'm so excited to see where this is going. Thank you for gifting me this ARC Tricia ❤️
December 22, 2024
3.5
Charged thru first half- loving the slow burn and build up of tension in the plot. No foul language first third of book, and then it's like the author was like "oh ya- I can throw in F words!" So lost points there.
A couple plot points bugged
"You're keeping secrets! Tell me!"
"I can't tell you yet."
"Tell me!"
"...OK I'll tell you."
"No- don't tell me yet."
"But I need to."
"Let me just have this time not knowing."
"But you need to know."
*big secret revealed by secondary character *
"Why didn't you tell me?!"
...seriously?
Lots of shifting of focus of the plot that was a little whiplash-ish, but good enough to make me want to zoom thru the book.
Charged thru first half- loving the slow burn and build up of tension in the plot. No foul language first third of book, and then it's like the author was like "oh ya- I can throw in F words!" So lost points there.
A couple plot points bugged
"You're keeping secrets! Tell me!"
"I can't tell you yet."
"Tell me!"
"...OK I'll tell you."
"No- don't tell me yet."
"But I need to."
"Let me just have this time not knowing."
"But you need to know."
*big secret revealed by secondary character *
"Why didn't you tell me?!"
...seriously?
Lots of shifting of focus of the plot that was a little whiplash-ish, but good enough to make me want to zoom thru the book.
April 18, 2024
3.5⭐️
June 14, 2024
Unsure how to rate between a 3 and a 4. I wish GoodReads had a more complex rating system since this way doesn't really tell you much. This isn't a bad book and I can see a lot of people enjoying it. I think I may just be very burnt out.
October 3, 2023
✨ARC Review✨
As far as debut fantasy novels go, this was satisfactory. It had potential and I think with some better world building and plot tweaking's, it could have been more captivating for me.
This started off pretty good and I was genuinely intrigued. Eve is taking on the crown and is refusing a husband which is causing pandemonium in the kingdom. Due to the reactions, her mother has sent a guard, Callan, to stand by and protect her. This hunky guard just so happens to be carrying around secrets that could change the way Eve views her future while also sneaking glances at the princess. All making for a good romantasy book.
Where this fell a little short for me was between the world building, ending, and romance. With a world as complex as this, I did tend to feel a little confused as to who was who and where was where. We're told about how Fae no longer exist but the whole backstory to that kind of left no impression with me. I honestly didn't know what happened to the Fae because the story just didn't stick out to me. Eve also barely addressed her people and it was made clear that she needed to be this outspoken queen who would tell it like it is. I felt like we were really far in before she actually committed to her job title. For a future queen, she didn't spend a lot of time...queening. I felt like she just hid a lot.
Then we had some plots and characters that just disappeared and fell flat. Eve's friend in the beginning was there to spend time with her but then disappeared for the rest of the book. I, for sure, thought she'd play a bigger role after constantly talking about how important it was to get in touch with her father. Was she only there to talk about the prophecy? Speaking of the prophecy - I actually forgot that was a thing until like 50% in. I just felt like things were discussed and then dropped. Or felt like we'd been given a lot of info at once for it to barely be talked about. We were told the whole time was, "there's so much you don't know but I can't tell you" from almost every character which got frustrating at times. I just wanted answers.
The romance between Callan and Eve was alluring, at first. Once they had their moment, I just expected things to pick up quicker, chemistry wise, but it just felt a little lackluster. I was getting the vibe that the romance would be a big part of this but then the world of politics took over and it was hard to see where the romance was going. We kind of went from, "we can't do this" to "I think I'd give everything for you" but I just didn't ~feel~ it.
Once we got to the big plot twist, things really slowed down for me. I started to grow bored but I really wanted to give this the benefit of the doubt. I felt like the last 25% could have been cut out and saved for a sequel. Once we found out who everyone truly was and what the game plan was, there was the whole added fight at the end that I really didn't understand. Too many character names were being thrown out and I just couldn't follow.
I know I've listed all negatives and I don't want this to be a negative review BECAUSE THIS WASN'T BAD. For a while, I was really enjoying it and was curious to find out who was behind what. I liked all the twists and things I didn't see coming. Each MC had their moments and I did enjoy Eve as a character. I do wish there was a little more oomph to Callan but I did like him.
Overall, this was an okay read. I didn't hate it but I didn't love it. It wasn't written bad by any means; there was just something missing for me. There were definitely moments that shone whereas others needed a little...adjusting. This had a decent base for a storytelling...it just didn't captivate me like I wanted it to.
Thank you so much to Tricia Meyers for the ARC copy!
As far as debut fantasy novels go, this was satisfactory. It had potential and I think with some better world building and plot tweaking's, it could have been more captivating for me.
This started off pretty good and I was genuinely intrigued. Eve is taking on the crown and is refusing a husband which is causing pandemonium in the kingdom. Due to the reactions, her mother has sent a guard, Callan, to stand by and protect her. This hunky guard just so happens to be carrying around secrets that could change the way Eve views her future while also sneaking glances at the princess. All making for a good romantasy book.
Where this fell a little short for me was between the world building, ending, and romance. With a world as complex as this, I did tend to feel a little confused as to who was who and where was where. We're told about how Fae no longer exist but the whole backstory to that kind of left no impression with me. I honestly didn't know what happened to the Fae because the story just didn't stick out to me. Eve also barely addressed her people and it was made clear that she needed to be this outspoken queen who would tell it like it is. I felt like we were really far in before she actually committed to her job title. For a future queen, she didn't spend a lot of time...queening. I felt like she just hid a lot.
Then we had some plots and characters that just disappeared and fell flat. Eve's friend in the beginning was there to spend time with her but then disappeared for the rest of the book. I, for sure, thought she'd play a bigger role after constantly talking about how important it was to get in touch with her father. Was she only there to talk about the prophecy? Speaking of the prophecy - I actually forgot that was a thing until like 50% in. I just felt like things were discussed and then dropped. Or felt like we'd been given a lot of info at once for it to barely be talked about. We were told the whole time was, "there's so much you don't know but I can't tell you" from almost every character which got frustrating at times. I just wanted answers.
The romance between Callan and Eve was alluring, at first. Once they had their moment, I just expected things to pick up quicker, chemistry wise, but it just felt a little lackluster. I was getting the vibe that the romance would be a big part of this but then the world of politics took over and it was hard to see where the romance was going. We kind of went from, "we can't do this" to "I think I'd give everything for you" but I just didn't ~feel~ it.
Once we got to the big plot twist, things really slowed down for me. I started to grow bored but I really wanted to give this the benefit of the doubt. I felt like the last 25% could have been cut out and saved for a sequel. Once we found out who everyone truly was and what the game plan was, there was the whole added fight at the end that I really didn't understand. Too many character names were being thrown out and I just couldn't follow.
I know I've listed all negatives and I don't want this to be a negative review BECAUSE THIS WASN'T BAD. For a while, I was really enjoying it and was curious to find out who was behind what. I liked all the twists and things I didn't see coming. Each MC had their moments and I did enjoy Eve as a character. I do wish there was a little more oomph to Callan but I did like him.
Overall, this was an okay read. I didn't hate it but I didn't love it. It wasn't written bad by any means; there was just something missing for me. There were definitely moments that shone whereas others needed a little...adjusting. This had a decent base for a storytelling...it just didn't captivate me like I wanted it to.
Thank you so much to Tricia Meyers for the ARC copy!
January 7, 2024
Honestly this is more a 3.5 or even 3.75 for me. I did enjoy the book and did like the concept. I liked the authors writing style and found it to be a very easy read. I don't know what kept it from being a 4 for me but it just felt like something was missing. I think this was a really good start for the series and a really good debut novel for the author. But I think maybe it just felt a little safe. There wasn't anything super exciting about the book and that was making me rush to finish it because I had to know what happens next. But it was an easy enjoyable read that I think lots of people will enjoy and I think with the story really picking up towards the end that the next book if it carries the momentum into it, I think that book can easily be a 4
The book is about Princess Eve who has recently loss her father the king. In her part of the kingdom princesses can't be queens (because of a past queen mistake) instead they marry and give their power to their husbands. However, Eve doesn't want to marry and give away her power so with the support of her mother she refuses to marry and will keep her power and become queen of her kingdom. However, there are many who oppose her rule and want to force her to marry by any means necessary. So, her mother brings in a mysterious guard to keep her safe. Though both of them try to fight their attraction for one another while also trying to keep the princess safe from danger her accession to the throne brings secrets and prophecies to light changing not just her kingdom but possible her world.
The book is about Princess Eve who has recently loss her father the king. In her part of the kingdom princesses can't be queens (because of a past queen mistake) instead they marry and give their power to their husbands. However, Eve doesn't want to marry and give away her power so with the support of her mother she refuses to marry and will keep her power and become queen of her kingdom. However, there are many who oppose her rule and want to force her to marry by any means necessary. So, her mother brings in a mysterious guard to keep her safe. Though both of them try to fight their attraction for one another while also trying to keep the princess safe from danger her accession to the throne brings secrets and prophecies to light changing not just her kingdom but possible her world.
November 15, 2023
Eve is a strong, brave and resilient character who isn't afraid to make her own path as future Queen on her own terms. This meets resistance from some traditionalists in the Kingdom and puts her life at risk, queue the introduction of the handsome and mysterious Lord Callan Thorne, hired protector for Eve.
This was well paced, had suspenseful action scenes, some unexpected twists, magic, romance and a touch of spice.
It has creative world building, an intriguing storyline with secrets revealed along the way, forbidden romance and interesting characters.
This is a great epic fantasy and the start of an exciting saga with betrayals, revenge, hidden identities, embracing destiny and saving kingdoms.
This was well paced, had suspenseful action scenes, some unexpected twists, magic, romance and a touch of spice.
It has creative world building, an intriguing storyline with secrets revealed along the way, forbidden romance and interesting characters.
This is a great epic fantasy and the start of an exciting saga with betrayals, revenge, hidden identities, embracing destiny and saving kingdoms.
August 18, 2025
It took me a while to read this book, longer than it has for most of what I've read recently, so I think that bears some thinking about as I review this one! But let's begin, shall we?
POV: Third person
POV Character(s): Primarily Eve Darrow, some Callan, one with her mother
Verb Tense: Past
Trigger Warnings: Kidnapping, assault, bullying, physical attacks, death
Spice Rating: A few intimate open door scenes, like 3 total
I initially grabbed this book to fill a square on my Bookish Bingo card this year, and it also worked for my summer reading challenge, too. The premise was good, too.
I'm gonna go out on a limb and say I love the premise of a woman deciding she's not gonna play the status quo princess-crowned-queen in the aftermath of her father's death. Eve Darrow's got guts for going against the Darkegrove kingdom's rules for succession. In Darkegrove, the council presents a princess with suitors who would be king and the princess must choose a husband from the list before she can be crowned queen. It all stems from a former queen's fall from grace when she was seduced by a fae who came to her kingdom and fell in love with her only to be the catalyst for a war that nearly destroyed the kingdom.
Now Darkegrove believes all women are incapable of ruling and must be bound to a man in marriage who can be king.
The feminist themes are strong in this at the beginning of the story and resonate throughout as Eve makes choices. There are multiple places where she discusses how she will not be bossed around by a man. She refuses to choose a husband and insists to the council she'll be crowned queen without a man by her side. She tells herself again and again that she will never marry if only to save future princesses from having to choose between a set of old men who just want power. She wants to bring about a future where women are considered equal and capable, and her choices reflect that, at least at the start.
Then she meets Callan.
Her mother hires Callan to come guard Eve in the in-between time of having made her decision not to wed clear and the ceremony that will crown her queen. She believes--rightfully so--that Eve is in grave danger and has hired three people of dubious reputation and background to come and protect her daughter. Eve doesn't understand at first, and her ignorance is her undoing when things start going haywire.
But I digress... let's talk about Callan. Callan's one of those obviously magical types of folks who keeps his magic a secret. In Darkegrove, it's long been believed the fae are gone, having disappeared in the aftermath of the ancient war. So Callan is this imposing figure who Eve's immediately a bit attracted to, and he's also rather intimidating. He comes in and immediately tries to make it clear there will be no shenanigans between himself and Eve, but of course, that's never gonna stick, and we know it.
This story is a bit of a "insta-love" take, and that's not my favorite trope. I would say it's not quite insta-love but insta-lust, perhaps, is more accurate. Either way, it leaves me a bit off-footed because Eve's sense of attraction to Callan comes on a bit too strong too fast for my tastes, especially in light of her initial desire to never marry and be a strong, single queen to bring hope to her people.
I also will note there's a "fated mates" trope at play here, and I haven't read a whole lot of fated mates stories as of yet, but I know I have quite a few on my Kindle. Perhaps I'm more of a slow-burn fan, but the idea that someone would just instantly fall for their mate once they find them is a bit much for me. (It gives Jacob and Renesme vibes from Twilight.) I understand the trope and why people like it, but I'll have to read a few more to really decide how I feel about this particular trope.
The story was good, and the plot was solid. I liked how the gods played into this book. It's a world where the gods have left the inhabitants of the world to essentially build their own lives. But it doesn't mean the gods aren't still at work, as Eve finds out.
I think this was a solid entry to a series, and I'd be curious to check out book 2 and see where it goes from here, especially given the way this story ended. It wasn't on a cliffhanger, per se, but it did end with me asking, "Okay, what's Eve going to do now?" And I like when I don't feel cheated by an ending and want to know more rather than being blindsided by a sudden ending.
So overall, it was a good beginning! I might pick up the sequel and see where it goes eventually.
POV: Third person
POV Character(s): Primarily Eve Darrow, some Callan, one with her mother
Verb Tense: Past
Trigger Warnings: Kidnapping, assault, bullying, physical attacks, death
Spice Rating: A few intimate open door scenes, like 3 total
I initially grabbed this book to fill a square on my Bookish Bingo card this year, and it also worked for my summer reading challenge, too. The premise was good, too.
I'm gonna go out on a limb and say I love the premise of a woman deciding she's not gonna play the status quo princess-crowned-queen in the aftermath of her father's death. Eve Darrow's got guts for going against the Darkegrove kingdom's rules for succession. In Darkegrove, the council presents a princess with suitors who would be king and the princess must choose a husband from the list before she can be crowned queen. It all stems from a former queen's fall from grace when she was seduced by a fae who came to her kingdom and fell in love with her only to be the catalyst for a war that nearly destroyed the kingdom.
Now Darkegrove believes all women are incapable of ruling and must be bound to a man in marriage who can be king.
The feminist themes are strong in this at the beginning of the story and resonate throughout as Eve makes choices. There are multiple places where she discusses how she will not be bossed around by a man. She refuses to choose a husband and insists to the council she'll be crowned queen without a man by her side. She tells herself again and again that she will never marry if only to save future princesses from having to choose between a set of old men who just want power. She wants to bring about a future where women are considered equal and capable, and her choices reflect that, at least at the start.
Then she meets Callan.
Her mother hires Callan to come guard Eve in the in-between time of having made her decision not to wed clear and the ceremony that will crown her queen. She believes--rightfully so--that Eve is in grave danger and has hired three people of dubious reputation and background to come and protect her daughter. Eve doesn't understand at first, and her ignorance is her undoing when things start going haywire.
But I digress... let's talk about Callan. Callan's one of those obviously magical types of folks who keeps his magic a secret. In Darkegrove, it's long been believed the fae are gone, having disappeared in the aftermath of the ancient war. So Callan is this imposing figure who Eve's immediately a bit attracted to, and he's also rather intimidating. He comes in and immediately tries to make it clear there will be no shenanigans between himself and Eve, but of course, that's never gonna stick, and we know it.
This story is a bit of a "insta-love" take, and that's not my favorite trope. I would say it's not quite insta-love but insta-lust, perhaps, is more accurate. Either way, it leaves me a bit off-footed because Eve's sense of attraction to Callan comes on a bit too strong too fast for my tastes, especially in light of her initial desire to never marry and be a strong, single queen to bring hope to her people.
I also will note there's a "fated mates" trope at play here, and I haven't read a whole lot of fated mates stories as of yet, but I know I have quite a few on my Kindle. Perhaps I'm more of a slow-burn fan, but the idea that someone would just instantly fall for their mate once they find them is a bit much for me. (It gives Jacob and Renesme vibes from Twilight.) I understand the trope and why people like it, but I'll have to read a few more to really decide how I feel about this particular trope.
The story was good, and the plot was solid. I liked how the gods played into this book. It's a world where the gods have left the inhabitants of the world to essentially build their own lives. But it doesn't mean the gods aren't still at work, as Eve finds out.
I think this was a solid entry to a series, and I'd be curious to check out book 2 and see where it goes from here, especially given the way this story ended. It wasn't on a cliffhanger, per se, but it did end with me asking, "Okay, what's Eve going to do now?" And I like when I don't feel cheated by an ending and want to know more rather than being blindsided by a sudden ending.
So overall, it was a good beginning! I might pick up the sequel and see where it goes eventually.
September 9, 2024
Spoilers
Look I just really didn't like the main character. She keeps saying that she's smart and strong and all this other stuff but we never actually see her be smart or strong. She does what her mom, the queen, tells her to do, she's clumsy and trips over her own feet just because she's a little startled, and she's defiant without any real reason to be.
I appreciated the map, character name pronunciation guide and everything she added to make the story easier to connect with but the slow start really almost caused me to DNF. Nothing really caught my interest until about 30% through.
The romance was break neck quick. Like on page 66 (17%) through the book Thorne thinks
"He needed to know why he’d been so drawn to her, why he’d felt pulled to this place, and why, when he thought about leaving when all of this was done, an ache settled deep in the center of his chest."
I get the author is going for the fated mates thing but they haven't really had any meaningful conversations or exhibits of trust/ showing of their true souls for him to be getting this deep this quick.
I can appreciate that there was a hidden romance with Eve's mother and she ended up being part fae but it made the rest of the story too easy.
Like eve having doubts about her powers and saying she's a coward for not wanting to succumb to them and suddenly a goddess pops up and gives her a pep talk. I didn't know goddesses graced random subjects to help them with a bit of anxiety. She's having a minor internal conflict and is being babied like crazy from the goddess that gave her her gifts. It was just way over the top for me.
Eve is getting everything handed to her on a silver platter and gets upset when occasionally she's given a gold spoon that doesn't match the set.
There's no character development because there's no character growth so even though the story is progressing nothing interesting is being produced from it.
I won't be reading the second book in the series. I may try another piece of work later on but for right now I'm taking a break from this author.
Look I just really didn't like the main character. She keeps saying that she's smart and strong and all this other stuff but we never actually see her be smart or strong. She does what her mom, the queen, tells her to do, she's clumsy and trips over her own feet just because she's a little startled, and she's defiant without any real reason to be.
I appreciated the map, character name pronunciation guide and everything she added to make the story easier to connect with but the slow start really almost caused me to DNF. Nothing really caught my interest until about 30% through.
The romance was break neck quick. Like on page 66 (17%) through the book Thorne thinks
"He needed to know why he’d been so drawn to her, why he’d felt pulled to this place, and why, when he thought about leaving when all of this was done, an ache settled deep in the center of his chest."
I get the author is going for the fated mates thing but they haven't really had any meaningful conversations or exhibits of trust/ showing of their true souls for him to be getting this deep this quick.
I can appreciate that there was a hidden romance with Eve's mother and she ended up being part fae but it made the rest of the story too easy.
Like eve having doubts about her powers and saying she's a coward for not wanting to succumb to them and suddenly a goddess pops up and gives her a pep talk. I didn't know goddesses graced random subjects to help them with a bit of anxiety. She's having a minor internal conflict and is being babied like crazy from the goddess that gave her her gifts. It was just way over the top for me.
Eve is getting everything handed to her on a silver platter and gets upset when occasionally she's given a gold spoon that doesn't match the set.
There's no character development because there's no character growth so even though the story is progressing nothing interesting is being produced from it.
I won't be reading the second book in the series. I may try another piece of work later on but for right now I'm taking a break from this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 3, 2023
I just finished Queen of Earth and Stone last night, and I am blown away. I’ve really been enjoying reading indie novels recently, but as most of them are self published, I recognize that grammatical errors and small plot holes are just part of the deal. This was not the case with this one. The editing was flawless, I don’t think I found a single misprint or oddly worded sentence.
The continuity of the story was perfectly paced, the action immediately picking up and staying consistent the whole time. The characters were lovable, multidimensional, and realistic. I found a little of myself in all of them, and the only reason my heart didn’t scream after I put the book down is because I know there’s another coming, and our time isn’t up yet.
The tension between the two main characters is perfectly planned, with a slow burn being achieved in under 300 pages. As to how she managed that, I have no idea, because normally 400 or so pages is the minimum I would constitute as a slow burn.
The tropes that often feel forced in other books flowed naturally here, progressing the plot instead of being an aside, and strengthening the audience’s understanding of the characters. It was a much more natural storytelling than some who simply throw in tropes to check them off a list.
The world building is exactly what it should be for the first book in a series, and I am so excited to see where it goes from here. I was left wanting more, my questions unanswered, but in the best way. I cannot wait to see how this series progresses.
This story kept me on my toes, had me laughing, and I stayed up far past my bedtime to read it. Do yourself a favor; buy this book and go live in this world that is so different from ours, yet so alike in many ways.
September 8, 2023
Thanks to Tricia (Author) for an ARC copy of this book. It was my first time ARC Reading a book and I promised an honest review. (Thoughts and opinions are my own)
Queen of Earth and Stone did not disappoint, but I do have a few things to say about the book. I have given this book 4 stars. Many things I liked and a few things I didn’t. Overall, the story was really good and it shared some things with my favorite books.
* The first thing I will point out is POV. Not the third person. I did like that, but not the changes in view. Mostly throughout the book we would follow Eve and very few chapters Callan. I would have loved to have followed Callan more and had Eve and Callan chapters evened out in the book. (I can’t say much more, because I want to keep this review spoiler free.)
* I missed a bit of character development. Personally, I didn’t invest in them that much, because I felt like they were more or likely the same people in the end. Eve, my favorite character, had been through a lot and go through even more. I didn’t really feel her trauma of what happens throughout the book. I felt like she moved on pretty quickly.
* The world building loved it. It sounded so beautiful, and I wished there had been more description of the world. More to the imagination!
* Last thing. The Cover! SO magnificent. I am ashamed to say, that most books I take from shelfs, covers are the first thing I notice and my reasoning for reading the blurb. If I saw Queen of Earth and Stone, I would 100% have picked it up.
I can wait to read more about this world. Again, Thanks to Tricia for the ARC copy!
Have a wonderful day :)
Queen of Earth and Stone did not disappoint, but I do have a few things to say about the book. I have given this book 4 stars. Many things I liked and a few things I didn’t. Overall, the story was really good and it shared some things with my favorite books.
* The first thing I will point out is POV. Not the third person. I did like that, but not the changes in view. Mostly throughout the book we would follow Eve and very few chapters Callan. I would have loved to have followed Callan more and had Eve and Callan chapters evened out in the book. (I can’t say much more, because I want to keep this review spoiler free.)
* I missed a bit of character development. Personally, I didn’t invest in them that much, because I felt like they were more or likely the same people in the end. Eve, my favorite character, had been through a lot and go through even more. I didn’t really feel her trauma of what happens throughout the book. I felt like she moved on pretty quickly.
* The world building loved it. It sounded so beautiful, and I wished there had been more description of the world. More to the imagination!
* Last thing. The Cover! SO magnificent. I am ashamed to say, that most books I take from shelfs, covers are the first thing I notice and my reasoning for reading the blurb. If I saw Queen of Earth and Stone, I would 100% have picked it up.
I can wait to read more about this world. Again, Thanks to Tricia for the ARC copy!
Have a wonderful day :)
September 10, 2023
ARC Review. Thank you Tricia Meyers for an advanced readers copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Queen of Earth and Stone is an epic fantasy that centers around strong female main character, Evelyn (Eve), and her desire to rule her kingdom without taking a husband. However, there are some very powerful people in the kingdom of Darkgrove that would do anything to make sure that does not happen.
From the beginning, I was very impressed with Eve’s resolve to stick to what she felt was the best choice for her. I admired reading about a FMC that could stand up to a counsel of men, her friends, and the people of her kingdom and eloquently, but firmly, tell them to stay in their lane. 👏
I loved that Eve didn’t always have to be strong, though. Queen Riona, Callan, Valerian, and Leysa were the buffer Eve so desperately needed from the pressures of the counsel. It was in these moments that Eve was able to just be Eve, which added a lot of depth to her character.
Although Eve is resolute in her choice to abstain from marriage, she is not opposed to finding love with a certain bodyguard 🔥. I enjoyed the romantic and spicy nature of their relationship and the lengths they were willing to go to be together.
The only part of the novel that was a miss for me was the amount of secrets that were being kept from Eve. To be clear, this is a trope that I don’t usually vibe with that others may really enjoy.
In the pages, you will find:
✨Touch her and die
✨Princess/bodyguard
✨Hidden identities
✨Betrayal
✨Secrets
✨Spice
✨An ending that leaves the story open for a sequel!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5
The Queen of Earth and Stone is an epic fantasy that centers around strong female main character, Evelyn (Eve), and her desire to rule her kingdom without taking a husband. However, there are some very powerful people in the kingdom of Darkgrove that would do anything to make sure that does not happen.
From the beginning, I was very impressed with Eve’s resolve to stick to what she felt was the best choice for her. I admired reading about a FMC that could stand up to a counsel of men, her friends, and the people of her kingdom and eloquently, but firmly, tell them to stay in their lane. 👏
I loved that Eve didn’t always have to be strong, though. Queen Riona, Callan, Valerian, and Leysa were the buffer Eve so desperately needed from the pressures of the counsel. It was in these moments that Eve was able to just be Eve, which added a lot of depth to her character.
Although Eve is resolute in her choice to abstain from marriage, she is not opposed to finding love with a certain bodyguard 🔥. I enjoyed the romantic and spicy nature of their relationship and the lengths they were willing to go to be together.
The only part of the novel that was a miss for me was the amount of secrets that were being kept from Eve. To be clear, this is a trope that I don’t usually vibe with that others may really enjoy.
In the pages, you will find:
✨Touch her and die
✨Princess/bodyguard
✨Hidden identities
✨Betrayal
✨Secrets
✨Spice
✨An ending that leaves the story open for a sequel!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5
November 22, 2023
QUEEN OF EARTH & STONE is the first book in the Crescent Queens series, and I honestly can't wait to read more!
The prologue gives a nice introduction to the world, and the rest of it is explained as the story continues. Eve is our FMC and she is determined not to marry. This doesn't go down well with the council of advisers who seem determined to run the show. I loved the scene where she tells them of her intentions. Plus that one sentence that is just a mic-drop! - "I believe No is a full sentence." LOVED that!! Callan is our MMC and he is the mystery with secrets. He has been called to help protect her when her life is threatened.
This is a fast-paced story, faster in some places than others, which can lead to it feeling slightly jerky in places. Part of that, for me, was the relationship between Callan and Eve. There was no build-up, or getting to know each other. Callan has seen her before - BOOM! Eve thinks he looks nice - BOOM! And then there's the whole yes/no that goes back and forth. I would have preferred to see them get to know each other a bit more. Yes, it could be cliché, the bodyguard and the princess, but at least there would have been something other than insta-love.
On the whole, I thought this was a great read that has kept my interest and made me look forward to continuing the story. If that is how it has left me, I'd say that it's a success! Definitely recommended by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
The prologue gives a nice introduction to the world, and the rest of it is explained as the story continues. Eve is our FMC and she is determined not to marry. This doesn't go down well with the council of advisers who seem determined to run the show. I loved the scene where she tells them of her intentions. Plus that one sentence that is just a mic-drop! - "I believe No is a full sentence." LOVED that!! Callan is our MMC and he is the mystery with secrets. He has been called to help protect her when her life is threatened.
This is a fast-paced story, faster in some places than others, which can lead to it feeling slightly jerky in places. Part of that, for me, was the relationship between Callan and Eve. There was no build-up, or getting to know each other. Callan has seen her before - BOOM! Eve thinks he looks nice - BOOM! And then there's the whole yes/no that goes back and forth. I would have preferred to see them get to know each other a bit more. Yes, it could be cliché, the bodyguard and the princess, but at least there would have been something other than insta-love.
On the whole, I thought this was a great read that has kept my interest and made me look forward to continuing the story. If that is how it has left me, I'd say that it's a success! Definitely recommended by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
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