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The Crystal Crown Trilogy #1
Princess of Dawn
7 days, 5 suitors, 3 enemies...but she only needs 1 elemental gift to become queen.
Galdinia Elderwin, the nineteen-year-old Princess of Crysterra, has lived in the safety of her father’s shadow her whole life. When the king unexpectedly dies, Galdinia is left with the task of becoming queen, but she is missing the key to her ascension to the her gift of elemental power from the Gods. After the king’s death, the capital of Crysterra observes the Week of Mourning, which is full of ceremonies and celebrations in honour of the late king, and on the Seventh Day of Mourning, Princess Galdinia is set to be coronated as queen. In the span of one week, Galdinia must navigate the throes of training for a gift she has not yet been given, gain the respect of the capital’s Syndicate—who still view her as a child—and overcome the heartache of past forbidden love as she is presented with five powerful and charming suitors who could help legitimise her claim to the throne. All the while, she is wary of her enemies on the horizon—her loathsome uncle and aunt, and the exiled Valah Pyrin—who all believe they have a claim to the throne and would do anything to take it from the young princess.
Galdinia struggles to deal with the rising pressure and anxieties of becoming queen on her own merit, doing right by the citizens of Crysterra, and having faith in the Gods, and more importantly, herself.
Princess of Dawn is the first book in The Crystal Crown Trilogy. With its fast-paced story and expansive world, Princess of Dawn is perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Victoria Aveyard.
Crafted Press is an imprint by Megan Gilbert.
Galdinia Elderwin, the nineteen-year-old Princess of Crysterra, has lived in the safety of her father’s shadow her whole life. When the king unexpectedly dies, Galdinia is left with the task of becoming queen, but she is missing the key to her ascension to the her gift of elemental power from the Gods. After the king’s death, the capital of Crysterra observes the Week of Mourning, which is full of ceremonies and celebrations in honour of the late king, and on the Seventh Day of Mourning, Princess Galdinia is set to be coronated as queen. In the span of one week, Galdinia must navigate the throes of training for a gift she has not yet been given, gain the respect of the capital’s Syndicate—who still view her as a child—and overcome the heartache of past forbidden love as she is presented with five powerful and charming suitors who could help legitimise her claim to the throne. All the while, she is wary of her enemies on the horizon—her loathsome uncle and aunt, and the exiled Valah Pyrin—who all believe they have a claim to the throne and would do anything to take it from the young princess.
Galdinia struggles to deal with the rising pressure and anxieties of becoming queen on her own merit, doing right by the citizens of Crysterra, and having faith in the Gods, and more importantly, herself.
Princess of Dawn is the first book in The Crystal Crown Trilogy. With its fast-paced story and expansive world, Princess of Dawn is perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Victoria Aveyard.
Crafted Press is an imprint by Megan Gilbert.
364 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 26, 2023
153 people are currently reading
1542 people want to read
About the author
Megan Gilbert
2 books91 followersMegan Gilbert is a writer, reader, English teacher and peppermint tea drinker from Sydney, Australia. Through her post-graduate studies in creative writing, she has delved into a variety of genres, text types and mediums. Her first love is speculative fiction, particularly fantasy. She seeks to write stories that inspire young and new adults to read more avidly.
Megan is passionate about writing stories for young people, especially young women, through fantasy stories with strong female leads and challenging plots. Having worked with teenagers for many years, she believes it is imperative to provide young adults with stories that promote positive representations of managing mental health and body inclusivity, in particular.
‘Princess of Dawn’ is Megan’s first foray in the publishing world and looks forward to exploring Galdinia’s story further in the remaining books of the Crystal Crown Trilogy.
Megan is passionate about writing stories for young people, especially young women, through fantasy stories with strong female leads and challenging plots. Having worked with teenagers for many years, she believes it is imperative to provide young adults with stories that promote positive representations of managing mental health and body inclusivity, in particular.
‘Princess of Dawn’ is Megan’s first foray in the publishing world and looks forward to exploring Galdinia’s story further in the remaining books of the Crystal Crown Trilogy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
July 18, 2023
Great book, hot author!
September 27, 2023
So ah book 2... when's that gonna be ready to read because I need answers and I need to see what else is in store for these characters and see where this story line goes!!
My goodness, that escalated quickly! The story started off, with really nice pacing, as we were getting to know everyone and going through the world building aspect of this fantasy story. As I'm reading I'm thinking, Oh, this is pretty nice fantasy read theres some elements in there that's interesting, characters seem pretty cool and the story is progressing well. I'm enjoying this type of storytelling, and loving the world that we're in, and of course when it's too good to be true, that's when everything turned! I was captivated throughout the whole story and in the last 20% is when things really kicked off and oh my goodness, the plot twists, the character developments, wow!
Thank you Megan, I am now in need of more of your work and will be on the look out for book 2!
Thank you for this ARC opportunity! So glad I found your book through tik tok and have been able to share your book through booksta🫶🏻
My goodness, that escalated quickly! The story started off, with really nice pacing, as we were getting to know everyone and going through the world building aspect of this fantasy story. As I'm reading I'm thinking, Oh, this is pretty nice fantasy read theres some elements in there that's interesting, characters seem pretty cool and the story is progressing well. I'm enjoying this type of storytelling, and loving the world that we're in, and of course when it's too good to be true, that's when everything turned! I was captivated throughout the whole story and in the last 20% is when things really kicked off and oh my goodness, the plot twists, the character developments, wow!
Thank you Megan, I am now in need of more of your work and will be on the look out for book 2!
Thank you for this ARC opportunity! So glad I found your book through tik tok and have been able to share your book through booksta🫶🏻
July 18, 2023
I was privileged enough to pre-read this book prior to its release, and I loved it so much I even dreamt about the characters.
Fantasy isn’t typically my genre, but this story, its charming characters and all their witty moments, captured me from the start.
I won’t say too much more for fear of spoilies, but I promise you, if you love brilliant storytelling, fantasy, and a sprinkling of romance, you’ll love this book.
And I hope you love Lord Bentley (who I like to call ‘Benners’) as much as I do xo
Fantasy isn’t typically my genre, but this story, its charming characters and all their witty moments, captured me from the start.
I won’t say too much more for fear of spoilies, but I promise you, if you love brilliant storytelling, fantasy, and a sprinkling of romance, you’ll love this book.
And I hope you love Lord Bentley (who I like to call ‘Benners’) as much as I do xo
January 10, 2026
2026-01-07: Reread because I got the ARC of Crown of Dusk (book 2) and needed a little refresh! 3 stars after rereading
⭐️3.75⭐️ Firstly, I want to say thank you to Megan for giving me an ARC of Princess of Dawn💛 Secondly, WOW. I loved the character building in this book. I’m excited to see how the characters progress even more in the next books. I loved the elemental magic in this book and the younger perspective (although I did find it could be a little childish at points). Definitely a book I’d recommend!
⭐️3.75⭐️ Firstly, I want to say thank you to Megan for giving me an ARC of Princess of Dawn💛 Secondly, WOW. I loved the character building in this book. I’m excited to see how the characters progress even more in the next books. I loved the elemental magic in this book and the younger perspective (although I did find it could be a little childish at points). Definitely a book I’d recommend!
September 29, 2023
Wow, wow, wow!!
This past week I have been lost inside the brave and courageous mind of Princess Galdinia. I have followed her through grief, confusion, frustration, betrayal, love and have enjoyed every single second of it. The characters are magnetic, and the world building is absolutely unmatched, I implore you to join us all in obsessing over this incredible story.
Megan, we are so proud of you - thank you for taking this leap of faith and publishing such an amazing book. Please, please, PLEASE tell me that you we get the next one soon 😭
This past week I have been lost inside the brave and courageous mind of Princess Galdinia. I have followed her through grief, confusion, frustration, betrayal, love and have enjoyed every single second of it. The characters are magnetic, and the world building is absolutely unmatched, I implore you to join us all in obsessing over this incredible story.
Megan, we are so proud of you - thank you for taking this leap of faith and publishing such an amazing book. Please, please, PLEASE tell me that you we get the next one soon 😭
August 31, 2023
It took a bit to get in to, but once I did, I enjoyed it. It was, however, a bit predictable. I am looking forward to reading the sequel to see how things progress
December 17, 2023
A more of a cosy high fantasy with beautiful writing
Princess Galdinia is the heir to the throne, but she is not yet possesses her powers which means she can’t ascend. With enemies lurking she only has 7 days to get her powers and claim her fathers throne.
I loved this book a lot! It starts very cosy and end in screaming which I felt like a good gradual progression of things. I already have praised Megan’s writing on my BookTok, but again, it's so easy to read!
It is a descriptive world building that is setting the book series up so everything is IMPORTANT! The FMC goes from already strong-minded princess to a strong-willed baddie in this book and I love the character growth. Loved the side characters in this book as well.
However there is no explicit romance on the pages of this book I still LOVED it! I loved the bachelorette style courting and I was very entertained by it!
ANYWAYS! If you want a cosy and no spice fantasy romance that is just really entertaining to read, you should definitively pick this book up!
Princess Galdinia is the heir to the throne, but she is not yet possesses her powers which means she can’t ascend. With enemies lurking she only has 7 days to get her powers and claim her fathers throne.
I loved this book a lot! It starts very cosy and end in screaming which I felt like a good gradual progression of things. I already have praised Megan’s writing on my BookTok, but again, it's so easy to read!
It is a descriptive world building that is setting the book series up so everything is IMPORTANT! The FMC goes from already strong-minded princess to a strong-willed baddie in this book and I love the character growth. Loved the side characters in this book as well.
However there is no explicit romance on the pages of this book I still LOVED it! I loved the bachelorette style courting and I was very entertained by it!
ANYWAYS! If you want a cosy and no spice fantasy romance that is just really entertaining to read, you should definitively pick this book up!
October 5, 2023
So beautiful!! I loved the world that was created in Crysterra, so stunning, so grand, so dreamy 🫶🏼
The way that Megan wove in Christian themes and revelations into this story made me so emotional, I loved it all!
Also, Team Bentley all the way 🥹✨
The way that Megan wove in Christian themes and revelations into this story made me so emotional, I loved it all!
Also, Team Bentley all the way 🥹✨
October 12, 2023
WHAT THIS IS AMAZING!
Beautifully written and plotted, I was quite literally giggling and kicking my feet at a number of these scenes. At first I was skeptical of the book only taking place over 7 days and I was very wrong because It had the perfect pace. Read it insanely quickly bc I couldn’t put it down. I NEED BOOK 2 IN MY HANDS RIGHT NOW.
Beautifully written and plotted, I was quite literally giggling and kicking my feet at a number of these scenes. At first I was skeptical of the book only taking place over 7 days and I was very wrong because It had the perfect pace. Read it insanely quickly bc I couldn’t put it down. I NEED BOOK 2 IN MY HANDS RIGHT NOW.
September 23, 2023
was so very lucky that Megan shared this wonderful story with me a few months ago, and I have re-read it again in honour of its release! The way she has weaved this world is brilliant - highly recommend listening to her Spotify playlist for ultimate vibes!
emojis that capture my thoughts: 🫶🫠👀🪦🤌👑💜
emojis that capture my thoughts: 🫶🫠👀🪦🤌👑💜
September 8, 2023
Firstly, a HUGE thank you to Megan for allowing me to read this incredible story as an ARC.
Secondly, a HUGE thank you again to Megan for crafting this captivating book, bringing to life a tale filled with remarkable characters and an enchanting narrative.
This book unequivocally deserves a perfect 5-star rating from me. It effortlessly combines all the elements of an engaging and delightful fantasy read: royalty, resilient female leads, enchanting magic, charismatic suitors, a tapestry of romance, intricate politics, and multi-dimensional characters, each contributing their unique essence to the storyline.
Prepare yourself for a rollercoaster of emotions as this story will have you laughing, shedding tears (and plenty of them if you're anything like me), screaming at the pages, and experiencing a plethora of feelings you never knew you could.
We know fantasy and world-building can be a slog to get through as readers, but this book was so well written. The world-building and character introductions seamlessly weave into the plot, ensuring that readers do not find themselves lost or questioning, as is sometimes the case with new high fantasy tales.
Megan has gifted us with a story that ranks among the most cherished reading experiences I have ever encountered. For fear of spoilers I will stop here. But just one more thing...
Bentley forever xoxoxo
Secondly, a HUGE thank you again to Megan for crafting this captivating book, bringing to life a tale filled with remarkable characters and an enchanting narrative.
This book unequivocally deserves a perfect 5-star rating from me. It effortlessly combines all the elements of an engaging and delightful fantasy read: royalty, resilient female leads, enchanting magic, charismatic suitors, a tapestry of romance, intricate politics, and multi-dimensional characters, each contributing their unique essence to the storyline.
Prepare yourself for a rollercoaster of emotions as this story will have you laughing, shedding tears (and plenty of them if you're anything like me), screaming at the pages, and experiencing a plethora of feelings you never knew you could.
We know fantasy and world-building can be a slog to get through as readers, but this book was so well written. The world-building and character introductions seamlessly weave into the plot, ensuring that readers do not find themselves lost or questioning, as is sometimes the case with new high fantasy tales.
Megan has gifted us with a story that ranks among the most cherished reading experiences I have ever encountered. For fear of spoilers I will stop here. But just one more thing...
Bentley forever xoxoxo
September 6, 2023
WOW.
Firstly a BIG thank you to Megan for sending me a copy to read and review as a part of her ARC team! I’m so grateful to have been able to read this!
Have you ever been SO engrossed in a book that you forgo eating? Or at least forgo cooking dinner and order in instead, because you can’t put the book down for long enough to cook and eat dinner? Because I have. That was me. Reading the last 30% of this book.
I won’t say much in my review as to avoid spoilers, but this book had me on the edge of my seat! It’s very well paced, high stakes, and so tense at the end that my heart was pounding!! I devoured this book, and found myself day dreaming about these characters while I was at work, urging the clock to tick by faster so I could get home to read! In my eyes that’s a sign of a five star read.
The Princess of Dawn has quickly become one of the best books I’ve read this year, if you’re a fan of strong female leads, forbidden romance, an elemental based magic system, a ride or die best friend, a princess searching for an unwanted suitor and the enemies pov as they battle for the throne then this is for you!
Firstly a BIG thank you to Megan for sending me a copy to read and review as a part of her ARC team! I’m so grateful to have been able to read this!
Have you ever been SO engrossed in a book that you forgo eating? Or at least forgo cooking dinner and order in instead, because you can’t put the book down for long enough to cook and eat dinner? Because I have. That was me. Reading the last 30% of this book.
I won’t say much in my review as to avoid spoilers, but this book had me on the edge of my seat! It’s very well paced, high stakes, and so tense at the end that my heart was pounding!! I devoured this book, and found myself day dreaming about these characters while I was at work, urging the clock to tick by faster so I could get home to read! In my eyes that’s a sign of a five star read.
The Princess of Dawn has quickly become one of the best books I’ve read this year, if you’re a fan of strong female leads, forbidden romance, an elemental based magic system, a ride or die best friend, a princess searching for an unwanted suitor and the enemies pov as they battle for the throne then this is for you!
October 10, 2023
I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to read an ARC of Princess of Dawn.
My only regret? Now I have to wait for book 2!! This was a 5 star read for me. I fell in love with the characters, the world building, the magic system, and the incredible story writing. It’s also super accessible for anyone newer to the fantasy genre. Megan writes so descriptively and intentionally and I loved every minute of this debut!
We have a fierce, bad ass FMC with a heart of gold and we are here for it! Princess Galdinia, goes through a beautiful journey of self discovery and healing from grief. I became so emotionally invested in her story and the surrounding characters.
The tropes? Impeccable. We’ve got some forbidden love, found family, and forced proximity action. It does read YA at times and I’m not normally a YA girly but I was completely engaged! There are some predictable elements but that did not take away from my enjoyment of the story at all. There are clues planted within the storyline if you watch for them.
I’ll leave it at that to avoid any spoilers! I would absolutely recommend this to other readers!
My only regret? Now I have to wait for book 2!! This was a 5 star read for me. I fell in love with the characters, the world building, the magic system, and the incredible story writing. It’s also super accessible for anyone newer to the fantasy genre. Megan writes so descriptively and intentionally and I loved every minute of this debut!
We have a fierce, bad ass FMC with a heart of gold and we are here for it! Princess Galdinia, goes through a beautiful journey of self discovery and healing from grief. I became so emotionally invested in her story and the surrounding characters.
The tropes? Impeccable. We’ve got some forbidden love, found family, and forced proximity action. It does read YA at times and I’m not normally a YA girly but I was completely engaged! There are some predictable elements but that did not take away from my enjoyment of the story at all. There are clues planted within the storyline if you watch for them.
I’ll leave it at that to avoid any spoilers! I would absolutely recommend this to other readers!
September 3, 2023
Megan Gilbert’s first debut fantasy novel is nothing short of brilliant. From the world building, character growth and the plot development - I was hooked from start to finish.
This book was well-paced and well-written- which I prefer in a book in my opinion. Sometimes slow burns fizzle out for me, personally- and this book was written so very thoughtfully.
I really loved Galdinia’s inner-strength upon claiming her right to the throne and awaiting her gift. Not to mention her patience upon dealing with the constant assumptions of men and their decision making for her. I loved her character immensely by the end of the book.
I was lucky enough to become an ARC reader and I can’t wait for others to read this, come September. And I absolutely can’t wait for book two after that cliffhanger.
This book was well-paced and well-written- which I prefer in a book in my opinion. Sometimes slow burns fizzle out for me, personally- and this book was written so very thoughtfully.
I really loved Galdinia’s inner-strength upon claiming her right to the throne and awaiting her gift. Not to mention her patience upon dealing with the constant assumptions of men and their decision making for her. I loved her character immensely by the end of the book.
I was lucky enough to become an ARC reader and I can’t wait for others to read this, come September. And I absolutely can’t wait for book two after that cliffhanger.
September 4, 2023
Oh this book is such a great read! I was lucky enough to be one of the ARC readers and I’m so glad to have this opportunity- the book is one of the best fantasy ones I’ve read in ages! It’s different, there’s a relatable female lead, the character development and plot twists were great and I throughly enjoyed getting lost in it!
If you like fantasy, female leads and a dash of romance, then I think this book will be right up your alley!
I can’t wait for book 2!!
If you like fantasy, female leads and a dash of romance, then I think this book will be right up your alley!
I can’t wait for book 2!!
September 6, 2023
The book is definitely different from most high fantasy that I read. It’s more YA fantasy in how it reads, I felt myself struggling to get into it but once I was in it then it started to pick up.
There is forced proximity, found family and heavy world building. It will sometimes piss you off and also make you smirk with the witty characters.
Solid 4 stars for me, great ARC I was happy to read!
There is forced proximity, found family and heavy world building. It will sometimes piss you off and also make you smirk with the witty characters.
Solid 4 stars for me, great ARC I was happy to read!
August 24, 2023
it is so good to say that the storyline was so cool and somewhat unique that it immediately piqued my interest i couldn't put my kindle down— princess of dawn is such a refreshing take on a whole new fantasy world where elements of wind, water, and fire also exist
princess galdinia is so fierce knowing that she has to suffer through things at an early age, i am very much thankful for neryda for being there with her (i love them sm) ALSO bentley is just full of surprises 🔥
thank you, author megan for giving me the opportunity to read this book this early before the publication! great work!
princess galdinia is so fierce knowing that she has to suffer through things at an early age, i am very much thankful for neryda for being there with her (i love them sm) ALSO bentley is just full of surprises 🔥
thank you, author megan for giving me the opportunity to read this book this early before the publication! great work!
January 3, 2024
I was hooked into this world from the very beginning. I couldn’t put the book down. It was easy to read and I was emotionally attached to the characters and themes throughout. I am eagerly waiting for the second book to be released.
March 1, 2024
I loved this book, it was the ultimate in escapism. It is beautifully written with lots of twists and turns. My only complaint is I now have to wait for book 2 of the trilogy as I am so invested.
January 1, 2024
So enjoyed reading this book- well done Megan! Can’t wait for book 2!
January 3, 2025
Princess of Dawn is a YA Fantasy/Romantasy book by Megan Gilbert, an Aussie Indie author. I picked this up at the Australian Book Fair in 2024.
Set in the Kingdom of Crysterra, Galdinia is next in line to take the throne after her father passes. But in order for her to do so, she must wield a power gifted by the gods, a power that she has yet to unleash. The entire book takes place over seven days, and it was an interesting way to divide the book up into parts.
The main character's struggles with Imposter Syndrome were uncomfortably relatable. I was a little bit disappointed in Neryda, she felt a little 2D and I feel she would probably fail the Bechdel test. Parts of it were predictable, but given this book's intended audience, that is to be expected, and honestly it didn't bother me that much.
There was a lot of time spent on world building, which lovers of Fantasy will appreciate, though I will say I wanted the magic system to have more of an impact on the world beyond neat tricks and a handy way to keep dry in the rain. This is the first of the series, and the young Princess does seem naive to the world beyond her castle walls, so part of me thinks that this will develop as the character herself grows throughout the series.
Set in the Kingdom of Crysterra, Galdinia is next in line to take the throne after her father passes. But in order for her to do so, she must wield a power gifted by the gods, a power that she has yet to unleash. The entire book takes place over seven days, and it was an interesting way to divide the book up into parts.
The main character's struggles with Imposter Syndrome were uncomfortably relatable. I was a little bit disappointed in Neryda, she felt a little 2D and I feel she would probably fail the Bechdel test. Parts of it were predictable, but given this book's intended audience, that is to be expected, and honestly it didn't bother me that much.
There was a lot of time spent on world building, which lovers of Fantasy will appreciate, though I will say I wanted the magic system to have more of an impact on the world beyond neat tricks and a handy way to keep dry in the rain. This is the first of the series, and the young Princess does seem naive to the world beyond her castle walls, so part of me thinks that this will develop as the character herself grows throughout the series.
October 27, 2023
I was totally engrossed in this book. I can’t wait to read the next one!
June 30, 2024
This was a read I did in between others. I think the character development was weaker than many of the other fantasy books I’ve read recently. The last chapters were by far the most interesting
October 15, 2023
Captivating! Loved reading this and can’t wait for the next book!
August 24, 2023
I was given an arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
To start, I will say that if you’re into fantasy books with heavy descriptive world building, and a slow build up, then this is a good book for you. In light of that, I don’t think this book was for me. When I say slow build up, I really mean slow. I’m a fast reader, but this book was hard for me to get through. Everything was overly descriptive, and the small amount of romance was underwhelming for me. When things started to take a turn for the better, I found myself predicting what was going to happen which made it less enjoyable for me to want to continue. After everything the FMC goes through to get her gift, and the exchange she has in the temple with the gods, I felt like I was expecting her to be more than what she ends up being. While her gift proves to be powerful, I just feel like I was expecting more. The book ends on a cliffhanger and if you enjoy this style of writing and fantasy, I do recommend you reading the next book when it’s released.
To start, I will say that if you’re into fantasy books with heavy descriptive world building, and a slow build up, then this is a good book for you. In light of that, I don’t think this book was for me. When I say slow build up, I really mean slow. I’m a fast reader, but this book was hard for me to get through. Everything was overly descriptive, and the small amount of romance was underwhelming for me. When things started to take a turn for the better, I found myself predicting what was going to happen which made it less enjoyable for me to want to continue. After everything the FMC goes through to get her gift, and the exchange she has in the temple with the gods, I felt like I was expecting her to be more than what she ends up being. While her gift proves to be powerful, I just feel like I was expecting more. The book ends on a cliffhanger and if you enjoy this style of writing and fantasy, I do recommend you reading the next book when it’s released.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2023
Such an interesting and refreshing read. First off a huge thanks to the wonderful author Megan Gilbert for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
I really enjoyed the story and was a different kind of high fantasy that I have not encountered before. I enjoyed the elemental magic and the way this was portrayed in the book.
I will admit that this did take me a while to get into but the story really begins to pick up and was really intriguing. I also struggled to connect with the characters at times. However there was some interesting twists and turns throughout the book that kept me pretty hooked. This was an impressive debut novel!!
I really enjoyed the story and was a different kind of high fantasy that I have not encountered before. I enjoyed the elemental magic and the way this was portrayed in the book.
I will admit that this did take me a while to get into but the story really begins to pick up and was really intriguing. I also struggled to connect with the characters at times. However there was some interesting twists and turns throughout the book that kept me pretty hooked. This was an impressive debut novel!!
September 26, 2023
4 ⭐️
What a journey was reading this book, first of all thank you to Megan for letting me be a part of the e-arc team. I really enjoyed this story, it was a little bit slow at first and there’s a lot of introduction to the world that Megan built but the writing made everything really enjoyable.
I LOVE princess Galdinia and I can’t wait to read more about her in book 2
What a journey was reading this book, first of all thank you to Megan for letting me be a part of the e-arc team. I really enjoyed this story, it was a little bit slow at first and there’s a lot of introduction to the world that Megan built but the writing made everything really enjoyable.
I LOVE princess Galdinia and I can’t wait to read more about her in book 2
February 2, 2024
I enjoyed it, a great set up, great build up. End was a bit rushed.
Characters were strong and very individual, I would say the characters were the strongest aspect of this story.
The ending was disappointing for me. I just felt it was too fast and certain things were too convenient.
For an author debut, it was quite good. A solid 3/5 for me.
Characters were strong and very individual, I would say the characters were the strongest aspect of this story.
The ending was disappointing for me. I just felt it was too fast and certain things were too convenient.
For an author debut, it was quite good. A solid 3/5 for me.
September 17, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. It is a fantasy series that centers around a person's magical abilities. They can either a wielder of fire, water and air. There are also light lenders but those are typically priestesses, and that gift is bestowed by the gods when they dedicate themselves to the gods while the other abilities, they are just born with them and manifest when the time is right. A person's abilities can help determine a lot in their life and holds great significance. If a person is in a position of power is seen worthy by the gods, then their gifts would only intensify but if there was no increase in ability, they are deemed unworthy of the position and lose the job.
This is important as the story starts off with the princess of the kingdom tending to her father who is on the brink of death and dealing with her feelings about his possible death and what that means for her and her ascension to the throne. See she technically can't inherit the throne legally as her ability has not yet manifested so some would see her as unworthy of the throne. Shortly into the book her father passes and that sets off a chain of events where other contenders with abilities make themselves known to try and take the throne from her and in an effort to solidify her claim to the throne, she is courted by several men who can help lend power to her claim to the throne.
I really enjoyed the balance of magic and political intrigue as well as this young girl coming into herself while dealing with grief, self-worth and the pressure of not just the prospect of becoming queen but the pressure she feels to manifest her gift as soon as possible. While she is courted by 5 suitors in the story, I would say that the romance is not the main focus of this story but rather the princess and her place in the kingdom. I will say that if someone is looking for a spicy book this is not that book, but I don't think it took away from the story. I enjoyed reading about the princess's journey of coming into her abilities and discovering her worth.
This does leave on a cliffhanger of sorts, and I am excited to read more of the story.
This is important as the story starts off with the princess of the kingdom tending to her father who is on the brink of death and dealing with her feelings about his possible death and what that means for her and her ascension to the throne. See she technically can't inherit the throne legally as her ability has not yet manifested so some would see her as unworthy of the throne. Shortly into the book her father passes and that sets off a chain of events where other contenders with abilities make themselves known to try and take the throne from her and in an effort to solidify her claim to the throne, she is courted by several men who can help lend power to her claim to the throne.
I really enjoyed the balance of magic and political intrigue as well as this young girl coming into herself while dealing with grief, self-worth and the pressure of not just the prospect of becoming queen but the pressure she feels to manifest her gift as soon as possible. While she is courted by 5 suitors in the story, I would say that the romance is not the main focus of this story but rather the princess and her place in the kingdom. I will say that if someone is looking for a spicy book this is not that book, but I don't think it took away from the story. I enjoyed reading about the princess's journey of coming into her abilities and discovering her worth.
This does leave on a cliffhanger of sorts, and I am excited to read more of the story.
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