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Of Metals and Curses #1
A Broken Throne of Bronze
Being bound to him can only mean one of two things—that he is my destiny, or he will be my undoing.
A human living in a world that bows to the fae, Cryssa Thurdred survives by keeping her head down and staying out of trouble. Well, mostly. Only, when the goddess of fate throws her into the wolves’ den, Cryssa learns she can no longer hide in the shadows.
Torn from her old life and brought to High Keep—the Inatian seat of power and residence of the royal family—all Cryssa wants is to escape and go back to the only home she’s ever known. Instead, she discovers she was hand-picked by the Crown Prince with only one reason in to be his bride.
Yet Crown Prince Viridian Avanos is far from welcoming. Cold, powerful, and difficult to read, marrying him is the last thing Cryssa swears she’ll ever do. When dark magic threatens to consume her and everything she loves, Cryssa finds an unlikely ally in her betrothed. Together, they just might unravel the deceit that shrouds High Keep and its residents.
But if Cryssa doesn’t shield her heart, death will surely swallow her whole.
A Broken Throne of Bronze is the first book in a new series featuring rivals-to-lovers romance, forced marriage, fated mates, and plot twists you’ll never see coming, perfect for readers that enjoy romantasy and fantasy romance. Each book in the series features one couple, a HEA, and an overarching plot that builds with each installment. Any cliffhangers pertain to the continuing plot, and not the couple's love story.
A human living in a world that bows to the fae, Cryssa Thurdred survives by keeping her head down and staying out of trouble. Well, mostly. Only, when the goddess of fate throws her into the wolves’ den, Cryssa learns she can no longer hide in the shadows.
Torn from her old life and brought to High Keep—the Inatian seat of power and residence of the royal family—all Cryssa wants is to escape and go back to the only home she’s ever known. Instead, she discovers she was hand-picked by the Crown Prince with only one reason in to be his bride.
Yet Crown Prince Viridian Avanos is far from welcoming. Cold, powerful, and difficult to read, marrying him is the last thing Cryssa swears she’ll ever do. When dark magic threatens to consume her and everything she loves, Cryssa finds an unlikely ally in her betrothed. Together, they just might unravel the deceit that shrouds High Keep and its residents.
But if Cryssa doesn’t shield her heart, death will surely swallow her whole.
A Broken Throne of Bronze is the first book in a new series featuring rivals-to-lovers romance, forced marriage, fated mates, and plot twists you’ll never see coming, perfect for readers that enjoy romantasy and fantasy romance. Each book in the series features one couple, a HEA, and an overarching plot that builds with each installment. Any cliffhangers pertain to the continuing plot, and not the couple's love story.
541 pages, Paperback
First published August 7, 2023
14 people are currently reading
3620 people want to read
About the author
Renna Ashley
9 books57 followersRenna Ashley is a headstrong New Englander who’d rather be at home, wrapped in a fuzzy blanket, while reading a good book. She loves anything chocolate and has a soft spot for swoon-worthy love interests and women with swords.
If you would jump into a fantasy world the first chance you got, then head over to Renna’s website for updates on new releases, freebies, and more!
When she’s not out swooning or swashbuckling, you can find her on:
Instagram: @rennaashleyauthor
Facebook: @rennaashleyauthor
Twitter: @rennaashauthor
TikTok: @rennashleyauthor
If you would jump into a fantasy world the first chance you got, then head over to Renna’s website for updates on new releases, freebies, and more!
When she’s not out swooning or swashbuckling, you can find her on:
Instagram: @rennaashleyauthor
Facebook: @rennaashleyauthor
Twitter: @rennaashauthor
TikTok: @rennashleyauthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
August 10, 2023
Thank you to the team for allowing me to be on the ARC team for this wonderful book!
I loved seeing the story between the two main characters because they faced obstacles and didn't just fall in love, it was actually believable (well, as believable as a romantasy can be)! The characters were easy to fall in love with, which just shows you how beautifully this was written.
ALSO, this plot could stand alone without the romance, which I absolutely love. These courts were very different than other Fae court stories. It was very refreshing because of that! The world building was kind of thrown at you all at once, and I feel like I had to read it a couple of times to understand it, which is why it was not a 5 star read.
I will be continuing to read this series! I already can't wait for the next one!
I loved seeing the story between the two main characters because they faced obstacles and didn't just fall in love, it was actually believable (well, as believable as a romantasy can be)! The characters were easy to fall in love with, which just shows you how beautifully this was written.
ALSO, this plot could stand alone without the romance, which I absolutely love. These courts were very different than other Fae court stories. It was very refreshing because of that! The world building was kind of thrown at you all at once, and I feel like I had to read it a couple of times to understand it, which is why it was not a 5 star read.
I will be continuing to read this series! I already can't wait for the next one!
August 27, 2023
Spoilers for the ACOTAR series as well as ABToB
Thank you to the author and their team for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Viridian locking Cryssa in her room after hours was another thing that jumped out at me. After she is caught sneaking into the dungeon to see Lorian, Viridian punishes her by locking the door to her room each night at sunset. In ACOTAR Tamlin punished Feyre repeatedly by locking her in the Spring Court manor because he is afraid she’ll run or hurt herself or does this in retaliation to her going to see Rhysand. Tamlin also forces Feyre to have dinners with him in a similar way that Cryssa is told to have dinners with Viridian. This is two examples of means that the man uses to take control over basic daily tasks that these women need to do to survive. Another similarity being that Cryssa is sent back to her village when her father gets sick immediately after they are married and she realizes that she is in love with Viridian is strikingly similar to when Fryre is sent back to her village after she begins to realize that she has strong feelings for Tamlin.
Thank you to the author and their team for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I want to start off by saying that just because I did not like this book, it is by no means a bad book. This book is just lacking in several important areas that I cannot overlook and has lots of room for improvement; To me it is quite obvious that this is a book that is written by a first time author which again isn’t a bad thing but it’s not quite as tight as a seasoned author would be. The story and the ideas are interesting but they could be executed better and I think that it would be best executed if it was done as a YA book. This book has a level of simplicity to it that leaves a lot to be desired. The level of world building, character information and plot devices that we the readers are given causes it to read more like a YA book with a little bit of spice mixed in that would very easily be taken out. Something that I also want to address is the feeling I had that this book took a little too much ACOTAR inspiration. In the second half of the book I noticed there were a lot of parallels that I feel are a little too close to ACOTAR to not be addressed.
The first thing that I want to address is the lack of worldbuilding. The first real miss for me was how the Goddess of Fate deems Cyrssa and Viridian as tied to each other, but we never get a breakdown of the Gods. We have little to no idea what the God's history is, what they're capable of or even how many there are or what they look like. Something in this same realm is the lack of discussion on the world's magic system. There is only one instance where I can remember magic being mentioned - How Lorian is kept in his cell. Lorian being kept in his cell without a lock is very matter-of-fact and it’s not stated how the magic that appears to be keeping this dungeon running is in place. It’s never explained who has what powers, who can do what or even if somehow none of the named characters have magic how the system would theoretically work outside of simply that high fae are most commonly magic users while for humans it’s extremely rare. This book also commits one of my top three cardinal book sins in that the characters who die don’t stay dead and it's so much worse when they're dead for like, a chapter. Due to the lack of magic and deity system explanation this makes it even more frustrating that when Cryssa takes the arrow to the chest she dies but then comes straight back.
I also had a few gripes with the characters and the characterization. Cryssa somewhat contradicts herself in some places, one being that she’s described as a “a simple girl that keeps her head down and stays out of trouble” but then she gets upset when Lorian suggests that he wants to live a simple life with her. I also don’t think it’s believable that Cryssa accomplishes anything that she attempts to do simply because there's little to no background information given about her. It’s established that she stays out of trouble, and if that’s true then how is she able to easily have a knife at Viridian’s throat during one of their first dining experiences? How does she know how to pick locks as well as she does? Does she have training in combat or was she a thief? Was it her job to hunt in her village? Who knows. Something similar goes for Viridian, we don’t get much of his background as to why he acts the way that he does. There's not much discussion that I remember about his training both physically or socially as the prince or about his memories of his mother. Overall, I feel as if the characters all lack a lot of depth. Tiffy, Myrdin and Lymseia are given what feels like the same level of development as Cryssa and Viridian but it's hard to excuse the two main characters being so two dimensional.
Aside from my issues with worldbuilding and characterization, this entire book just feels underdeveloped. The biggest gripe I have is how often dialogue would just end with “Yes.” There was no elaboration, no emotion tied to it, just “yes” and it really kills the entire momentum of the scene when in the middle it’s cut so abruptly due to a lack of well thought out dialogue. There are also a few big moments where the details are lacking, for example, the part when Cryssa goes to find Lorian’s cell in the dungeon. It's incredibly convenient that she walks straight to it despite the fact that she has no idea where it is and she’s been in the castle for such a short time. This convenience is also seen at the tavern when Cryssa and Viridian are bartering for information about the King and they only end up going to one tavern and bribing one bartender and they get exactly what they want. Both of these instances had the potential to be much more impactful. If Cryssa had gotten lost in the castle and there was a deeper explanation as to where she was going this could have given the reader a better idea of the look and feel of the castle. Having Viridian and Cryssa go to multiple taverns and barter with multiple bartenders could have allowed for more banter between them and also elaborated on the idea that he’s never left the castle before. The fact that Viridian was a virgin was also really interesting and had so much potential but it just didn’t go anywhere. I would have loved a deeper look into his background and how he was raised that led him to non-traditional things such as never having experienced intimacy before.
Before getting into the similarities I saw between this and ACOTAR I would like to establish that I am in no way trying to say that this book is a rip off of ACOTAR. I just personally feel that there are too many similarities to not address it. Let’s get a few obvious ones out of the way first. Cryssa being a human that is destined to marry a fae to break a curse as well as the artistic similarities. Viridian gives her the extensive art kit in an attempt to begin to win Cryssa’s favor. The obvious similarity is that Cryssa and Feyre both use art as an outlet for their feelings but also that Viridian and Tamlin use it as a means to buy their companionship. They're not giving them art supplies because it’s their hobby, they’re using it as a means to control them via what these women are and are not allowed to enjoy. If they were never gifted art supplies then they’d never have been allowed by their male counterparts to enjoy it. Feyre is often seen covering the insides of buildings with art as a means to express her emotions and Cryssa covers her room in pages of art as an outlet for her emotions. My gripe is less that the same plot devices are used here, it’s more that the same plot devices are used in what is also a very similar way / on a similar timeline.
Viridian locking Cryssa in her room after hours was another thing that jumped out at me. After she is caught sneaking into the dungeon to see Lorian, Viridian punishes her by locking the door to her room each night at sunset. In ACOTAR Tamlin punished Feyre repeatedly by locking her in the Spring Court manor because he is afraid she’ll run or hurt herself or does this in retaliation to her going to see Rhysand. Tamlin also forces Feyre to have dinners with him in a similar way that Cryssa is told to have dinners with Viridian. This is two examples of means that the man uses to take control over basic daily tasks that these women need to do to survive. Another similarity being that Cryssa is sent back to her village when her father gets sick immediately after they are married and she realizes that she is in love with Viridian is strikingly similar to when Fryre is sent back to her village after she begins to realize that she has strong feelings for Tamlin.
The way that Cryssa is brought back to life mirrors ACOTAR in the sense that all of the highlords had to “give a piece of themselves” in order to bring Feyre back and they decide to do so for her sacrifice that she made to break Amarantha’s curse and save all of the fae. Later in the series Feyre does the same for Rhysand when she realizes that he’s gone because the mating bond is silent. Cryssa gave her life to break the King's curse and Viridian knew Cryssa was gone because the mating bond was silent. The gods told him that he would need to give a piece of himself to save her in the form of a death bond, meaning if one of them dies then the other does as well. Just like Feyre and Rhysand have in ACOTAR… Again, it’s not so much that these same plot devices were used, it's more that these plot devices are used in the same way in a similar timeline. And there are way too many connections that can easily be made without me even picking ACOTAR up to reread to look for similarities.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 20, 2024
Book of tropes! Literally had all the tropes that I love most in a fantasy book. This is not high fantasy to say the least, but it wasn’t boring and I flew through the pages so quick! This is great for beginners starting out with fantasy. The terms and tropes are still there, but very easy to understand and not confusing. The tension and angst between Cryssa and Viridian was palpable and I love the switch that goes off in the MCs head when they realize that their feelings towards each other has turned to love. The sarcastic banter between the two had me laughing and wanting more of their interactions. The cliffy left me wanting more and I can’t wait until the next book!
“Oh, but I care for her too much, you see. I would worship her, if she’d allow it. I would fall to my knees at her feet and if she commanded that I burn the whole realm to the ground for her, I would. And then I would follow her into hell, gladly.”
•Enemies to lovers
•Burn the world for her
•Forced marriage
•Fated mates/mate bond
•One bed trope
•Dark curse
•Fae
•One horse trope
•Smart and witty FMC
•Snarky banter
•Third act breakup
•Virgin MMC
•”Look at me”
•Secret identities
“Oh, but I care for her too much, you see. I would worship her, if she’d allow it. I would fall to my knees at her feet and if she commanded that I burn the whole realm to the ground for her, I would. And then I would follow her into hell, gladly.”
•Enemies to lovers
•Burn the world for her
•Forced marriage
•Fated mates/mate bond
•One bed trope
•Dark curse
•Fae
•One horse trope
•Smart and witty FMC
•Snarky banter
•Third act breakup
•Virgin MMC
•”Look at me”
•Secret identities
December 21, 2023
Entertaining read. Was more like arranged marriage/romance than fantasy which was slightly disappointing. Overall, enjoyed though
August 22, 2023
I received this book from Ashley and the team as my first arc review! I’m very grateful and was so excited to do this!
I also want to add that I am not a person who knows how to write a review nor am I good at writing my feelings about books down. Please bare with me.
I enjoyed the book, I liked the beginning and how it reminded me of sleeping beauty.
I liked seeing the story of both main characters as they fell in love. They had their own personal battles to fight. I love romantasy stories and this one definitely made me happy.
The plot of the book was super interesting and I didn’t feel like I could guess what would happen next (as I usually can). I also enjoyed how different the courts were compared to most Fae storylines.
World building tends to be difficult to me as a neurodivergent. I did find myself having to go back and read certain things over and over again until I understand and that’s why I gave it four stars.
I’m excited to read the next book when it comes about!
I also want to add that I am not a person who knows how to write a review nor am I good at writing my feelings about books down. Please bare with me.
I enjoyed the book, I liked the beginning and how it reminded me of sleeping beauty.
I liked seeing the story of both main characters as they fell in love. They had their own personal battles to fight. I love romantasy stories and this one definitely made me happy.
The plot of the book was super interesting and I didn’t feel like I could guess what would happen next (as I usually can). I also enjoyed how different the courts were compared to most Fae storylines.
World building tends to be difficult to me as a neurodivergent. I did find myself having to go back and read certain things over and over again until I understand and that’s why I gave it four stars.
I’m excited to read the next book when it comes about!
May 18, 2024
It's been a little over two weeks since release day, and I wanted to thank everyone for all of the love and support you've shown for this book! As a newer author, I still have room to learn and improve my craft, but I have so much love for this story and these characters. (I'm completely biased, so do with this what you will) but I am absolutely obsessed with the angst, tension, and banter in this book, and hope that you will be, too!
If you love books with beauty and the beast vibes, and all of your favorite fantasy romance/romantasy tropes, then you'll definitely want to read this one! Thank you so, so much for deciding to pick up this book, and I hope you love it!
Happy reading,
Renna :)
If you love books with beauty and the beast vibes, and all of your favorite fantasy romance/romantasy tropes, then you'll definitely want to read this one! Thank you so, so much for deciding to pick up this book, and I hope you love it!
Happy reading,
Renna :)
August 30, 2024
OMG I loved this book so muchhh!! Cryssa was such an amazing character, feisty and headstrong. A human taken because of a destiny sealed by Theelia, the Goddess of Fate herself. She meets Viridian, the Crown Prince and a noble fae. She defies him at all times, refusing to succumb to her new life. I loved her growth in this book and the way she was so caring to those around her, realizing she could make a difference. Viridian, oh my gosh, Viridian Avanos was just 🥹 such a dark and brooding man but when it came to Cryssa, he was so soft. He even made her an art studio in the castle which was soooo CUTE!!!! The way they teased each other and grew together, learning to love each other as they uncovered the mystery of the illness spreading around the kingdom ugh I loved him so much!! And Tiffy! Ahhh the friendship she and Cryssa developed was adorable! I'm always a sucker for a bit of a found family vibe 🥰
I loved the vibe of this book, the fantasy elements, the stakes, the adventure! I loved the idea of each court being named after a different type of metal too!
I can't wait to read book 2, A Shattered Kingdom of Steel!!!!
I loved the vibe of this book, the fantasy elements, the stakes, the adventure! I loved the idea of each court being named after a different type of metal too!
I can't wait to read book 2, A Shattered Kingdom of Steel!!!!
August 8, 2023
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review and I’ve never been more excited to do so!
Cryssa is a typical girl from a small town who has the love of her life by her side and all the content in the world; or does she?
This book perfectly captures the complicated emotions that one goes through when making their way through life following a path they never thought they’d cross. This book isn’t about a damsel in distress or a morally gray Fae prince who swoops in the save the day. This is about a female and a male fighting battles within themselves to determine what path they want to take and if they can accept that they are enough just because of who they are. It’s about how not all men are always so confident and set in who they are and even someone as mighty as a prince can struggle with self doubt and questioning his worth. As well as how independent women can be strong and independent whether or not they have someone at their side. But being independent doesn’t mean you don’t want someone to share your life with.. and could that be with the one person she swore to hate?
The side characters are just as likeable as the man ones and you never have a chapter where you feel bored. Everyone has their own personality that gives more magic to this book and leaves you wanting more.
Will love truly endure all or will Cryssa be left picking up the pieces left behind by a self absorbed prince?
Cryssa is a typical girl from a small town who has the love of her life by her side and all the content in the world; or does she?
This book perfectly captures the complicated emotions that one goes through when making their way through life following a path they never thought they’d cross. This book isn’t about a damsel in distress or a morally gray Fae prince who swoops in the save the day. This is about a female and a male fighting battles within themselves to determine what path they want to take and if they can accept that they are enough just because of who they are. It’s about how not all men are always so confident and set in who they are and even someone as mighty as a prince can struggle with self doubt and questioning his worth. As well as how independent women can be strong and independent whether or not they have someone at their side. But being independent doesn’t mean you don’t want someone to share your life with.. and could that be with the one person she swore to hate?
The side characters are just as likeable as the man ones and you never have a chapter where you feel bored. Everyone has their own personality that gives more magic to this book and leaves you wanting more.
Will love truly endure all or will Cryssa be left picking up the pieces left behind by a self absorbed prince?
March 15, 2025
Had several elements i enjoyed in the book. And the main character was fun to read, but there were a few things that felt like they were supposed to have built to something and didnt. Also some of the character growth felt like it happened because the outline said it did, not because it was built up to or necessarily made sense within the established narrative. Overall though it was a fun read.
May 5, 2025
This was actually so bad. It was supposed to be like a retelling of beauty and the beast, but Belle would NEVER be as dumb as the fmc was. There was also no chemistry and the attempt at plot was pathetic. Nothing really made sense and it was cliche in a bad way. Would not recommend.
September 6, 2023
I received an ARC copy of this book and am providing my honest review.
This book could have been 5 stars. It has all the potential to be great. I feel like if the book were twice as big, with the same lines of plot, it would be a phenomenal story, i just needed more from it. I'll get to the "why is it 3 stars" from my perspective after I say what I loved about it.
Positives:
I loved the tropes - forced marriage, one horse, one bed, fated mates.
I loved the way it touches on a beauty and the beast retelling.
I enjoyed most of the conversations with the characters, but some of it did feel so open-ended, like more could have been said. I did like the sort of pander between the two MCs.
The spice was enjoyable, though sometimes a bit out of place, which I'll elaborate on later.
The writer did a good job of getting me to root for the two MCs, and I even teared up at the end. It was overall a wholesome read.
I read through this so fast, the pace was very quick, and I really enjoyed that. It drew me in and kept my attention.
Negatives:
I wanted more from the world building. I wanted to know more about the goddesses and gods, the magic system, how the mining and everything came to be. I just found myself wanting more on this front instead of being dropped into "they've been blessed," and the story quickly moves on. How are God's appearing to them out of nowhere? Where is Viridian's magic coming from?
I needed more building from the plot. We never get a true answer about how this all came about. Maybe it's planned for the second book? Why on earth are they having a spicy time (though yes, I was rooting for it to happen) when they have this huge issue going on and people are dying? Who is going to be jumping into bed when they know their dad is going to die any minute? This didn't make sense to me.
More backgrounds on characters. Where does Viridian's magic come from? How on earth does Cyrssa know how to wield a knife and a sword? How did she get so resourceful, like good a picking locks? What did the king do that caused all of this to happen?
Some things just didn't line up? Cyrssa is less than 9 months older than her sister. Why isn't anyone wondering about this? It's just mentioned in passing, and nothing more is really said about it.
Overall, it felt slightly underdeveloped. If the book were twice the size with the same timeline, it would have done so much more for me.
Honestly, I liked the characters and the core of the story enough that I'll read the second book. It was still enjoyable, but I just needed more.
This book could have been 5 stars. It has all the potential to be great. I feel like if the book were twice as big, with the same lines of plot, it would be a phenomenal story, i just needed more from it. I'll get to the "why is it 3 stars" from my perspective after I say what I loved about it.
Positives:
I loved the tropes - forced marriage, one horse, one bed, fated mates.
I loved the way it touches on a beauty and the beast retelling.
I enjoyed most of the conversations with the characters, but some of it did feel so open-ended, like more could have been said. I did like the sort of pander between the two MCs.
The spice was enjoyable, though sometimes a bit out of place, which I'll elaborate on later.
The writer did a good job of getting me to root for the two MCs, and I even teared up at the end. It was overall a wholesome read.
I read through this so fast, the pace was very quick, and I really enjoyed that. It drew me in and kept my attention.
Negatives:
I wanted more from the world building. I wanted to know more about the goddesses and gods, the magic system, how the mining and everything came to be. I just found myself wanting more on this front instead of being dropped into "they've been blessed," and the story quickly moves on. How are God's appearing to them out of nowhere? Where is Viridian's magic coming from?
I needed more building from the plot. We never get a true answer about how this all came about. Maybe it's planned for the second book? Why on earth are they having a spicy time (though yes, I was rooting for it to happen) when they have this huge issue going on and people are dying? Who is going to be jumping into bed when they know their dad is going to die any minute? This didn't make sense to me.
More backgrounds on characters. Where does Viridian's magic come from? How on earth does Cyrssa know how to wield a knife and a sword? How did she get so resourceful, like good a picking locks? What did the king do that caused all of this to happen?
Some things just didn't line up? Cyrssa is less than 9 months older than her sister. Why isn't anyone wondering about this? It's just mentioned in passing, and nothing more is really said about it.
Overall, it felt slightly underdeveloped. If the book were twice the size with the same timeline, it would have done so much more for me.
Honestly, I liked the characters and the core of the story enough that I'll read the second book. It was still enjoyable, but I just needed more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2024
DNF at 84%
Pros: spicy
That’s it. I really tried with this book. There were a lot of inconsistencies and things that drove me crazy. One was that she waited so long to ask for Loren to be released. She has all the super fun times while he was in the dungeon. She forgot about him quick after he mentioned having a simple life that she all of a sudden didn’t want. And she never asked if her family could join her. Like when Viridian asked what she wanted, that would have been a good time to ask for her family. But she asked for a sketch book. For it being a “fantasy”, there wasn’t a whole lot. I often forgot that viridian was a fae and she was human.
I had to take a walk when I read the part where she said she couldn’t write a letter. They never explained what held her back from learning to write but that was something I also hated in ACOTAR (that Feyra couldn’t read and than was a pain in the ass when offered help). She’s apparently this great artist but can’t write.
Viridian also being a virgin but having this BDSM vibe and wanting to be called “sir” was super random and didn’t make sense. He’s a virgin but does everything like he’s done it a bunch.
This book was just frustrating
Pros: spicy
That’s it. I really tried with this book. There were a lot of inconsistencies and things that drove me crazy. One was that she waited so long to ask for Loren to be released. She has all the super fun times while he was in the dungeon. She forgot about him quick after he mentioned having a simple life that she all of a sudden didn’t want. And she never asked if her family could join her. Like when Viridian asked what she wanted, that would have been a good time to ask for her family. But she asked for a sketch book. For it being a “fantasy”, there wasn’t a whole lot. I often forgot that viridian was a fae and she was human.
I had to take a walk when I read the part where she said she couldn’t write a letter. They never explained what held her back from learning to write but that was something I also hated in ACOTAR (that Feyra couldn’t read and than was a pain in the ass when offered help). She’s apparently this great artist but can’t write.
Viridian also being a virgin but having this BDSM vibe and wanting to be called “sir” was super random and didn’t make sense. He’s a virgin but does everything like he’s done it a bunch.
This book was just frustrating
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2024
the one thing about reading obscure indy fantasy is you can’t always find a gem. this was a dnf for me, which is rare. it’s clearly a first time author with an underdeveloped plot made up entirely of tropes that don’t make sense or further the plot at all…and yeah, i skimmed the entire thing to be sure.
April 25, 2025
Excuse me??!! That CLIFFHANGER!! RUDE 😂😂😂
I really loved Lymseia so I’m excited to see her be all badass in the next book!!
I really loved Lymseia so I’m excited to see her be all badass in the next book!!
August 12, 2023
Thank you so much to the author and team for sharing a free eARC for this book in exchange for an honest review.
I found Renna and this book through TikTok and was instantly intrigued by the concept of this story. I'm a sucker for grumpy fae men, the enemies-to-lovers trope, and spicy fantasy novels. So I already knew that I'd love this book before I even had a chance to read it. And after reading only the prologue I was already hooked into the story.
The world-building in this book was so good. Initially, get a lot of names of cities and things thrown at you but even so, I never felt very confused about anything that was going on. I also really liked the addition of the glossary of terms. It's really nice to have something to refer to if needed. The concept of the fae courts in this book was so interesting and unique. I love the idea of each court having a representative precious metal (bronze, silver, gold...).
So this book is about Cryssa Thurdred, a small-town girl with big dreams, who thought she had her whole life planned and figured out. That is, until a run-in with Viridian, the Crown Prince, in which the Gods indicated that their lives were linked together in some way. Because of this, Cryssa is taken and forced to marry Viridian. Cryssa thinks that she and Viridian are entirely different, but when she gets to know him she realizes that they may have more in common than she originally thought.
I absolutely loved the characters in this book. Cryssa is a strong woman who knows what she deserves. She's also very selfless and is willing to sacrifice her happiness for the greater good. Viridian is the classic handsome dutiful Fae prince who can be difficult to read, which causes some issues between him and Cryssa. Their relationship felt mostly natural in the way it progressed from enemies to lovers. And when they finally truly got together it was literally perfect. The tension between them throughout most of the story was so worth the wait.
The side characters were great. I really liked Tiffy and really enjoyed the friendship that she and Cryssa forged in their time together. I wish we saw more of the relationship between Lymseia and Cryssa. When Cryssa came to court, Lymseia made it clear that she was an ally but there was very little interaction between them until later in the story.
As for the writing of this book, I really thought that Renna did a great job describing the setting and events in this book. I liked that it was written in the present tense because a lot of the fantasy books that I've been reading are written in the past tense, so to see it written in the present tense was refreshing. My only critique of the writing would be that certain phrases felt overused. For example, "save for" was a phrase that stuck out to me because you don't often see it used but it was used eight different times in the book. But other than that, I really thought the writing was very good.
A Broken Throne of Bronze wraps up Cryssa and Viridian’s story so nicely. Toward the end I was getting worried, I won’t spoil anything but it gets intense and their outlook doesn’t look too good. But it wraps up very nicely and I’m very excited that the following books will feature the other noble courts and other characters.
I loved reading this book and thought it was extremely entertaining. I’ll be eagerly awaiting the next installment.
I found Renna and this book through TikTok and was instantly intrigued by the concept of this story. I'm a sucker for grumpy fae men, the enemies-to-lovers trope, and spicy fantasy novels. So I already knew that I'd love this book before I even had a chance to read it. And after reading only the prologue I was already hooked into the story.
The world-building in this book was so good. Initially, get a lot of names of cities and things thrown at you but even so, I never felt very confused about anything that was going on. I also really liked the addition of the glossary of terms. It's really nice to have something to refer to if needed. The concept of the fae courts in this book was so interesting and unique. I love the idea of each court having a representative precious metal (bronze, silver, gold...).
So this book is about Cryssa Thurdred, a small-town girl with big dreams, who thought she had her whole life planned and figured out. That is, until a run-in with Viridian, the Crown Prince, in which the Gods indicated that their lives were linked together in some way. Because of this, Cryssa is taken and forced to marry Viridian. Cryssa thinks that she and Viridian are entirely different, but when she gets to know him she realizes that they may have more in common than she originally thought.
I absolutely loved the characters in this book. Cryssa is a strong woman who knows what she deserves. She's also very selfless and is willing to sacrifice her happiness for the greater good. Viridian is the classic handsome dutiful Fae prince who can be difficult to read, which causes some issues between him and Cryssa. Their relationship felt mostly natural in the way it progressed from enemies to lovers. And when they finally truly got together it was literally perfect. The tension between them throughout most of the story was so worth the wait.
The side characters were great. I really liked Tiffy and really enjoyed the friendship that she and Cryssa forged in their time together. I wish we saw more of the relationship between Lymseia and Cryssa. When Cryssa came to court, Lymseia made it clear that she was an ally but there was very little interaction between them until later in the story.
As for the writing of this book, I really thought that Renna did a great job describing the setting and events in this book. I liked that it was written in the present tense because a lot of the fantasy books that I've been reading are written in the past tense, so to see it written in the present tense was refreshing. My only critique of the writing would be that certain phrases felt overused. For example, "save for" was a phrase that stuck out to me because you don't often see it used but it was used eight different times in the book. But other than that, I really thought the writing was very good.
A Broken Throne of Bronze wraps up Cryssa and Viridian’s story so nicely. Toward the end I was getting worried, I won’t spoil anything but it gets intense and their outlook doesn’t look too good. But it wraps up very nicely and I’m very excited that the following books will feature the other noble courts and other characters.
I loved reading this book and thought it was extremely entertaining. I’ll be eagerly awaiting the next installment.
October 15, 2023
"I would worship her, if she'd allow it. I would fall to my knees at her feet and if she commanded that I burn the whole realm to the ground for her, I would. And then I would follow her into hell, gladly."
Rating: 2/5
Spice: 2/5 (A few short intimate scenes)
First off, let me start by saying that this wasn't a bad book, but it was obvious that this was a debut novel and lacked some of the refinement that seasoned fantasy authors have. That being said, I am so confident that as the author continues to produce more books, she's going to become a force to be reckoned with. I see all the potential for her to become an amazing romantasy author.
With that being said, my biggest critique of this book is that it was just underdeveloped. A lot of times I feel like fantasy authors overdo it with their 800+ page books, but this book had the opposite problem, coming in at a little less than 400 pages. The concept for this world was interesting, but I would have appreciated some more detail/background that would have really rounded out the story. For instance:
How does the mating bond work? Is mating a purely fae thing or can humans have mates too? How do you accept the mating bond? Some of these things were lightly touched on or you could try and piece it together yourself, but it would have been great if we could have gotten some more explanation or maybe even seen a mated pair besides Cryssa and Viridian.
Do fae have powers? What kind of powers do they have? There was very little demonstration of powers through this book, so I was shocked when in the last 100 pages Viridian revealed that he had lightning-like powers. It wasn't that those powers were a secret; the author just didn't really mention it.
In addition to the world-building being underdeveloped, the chemistry between the two main characters was a little lacking as well. It is so difficult to write enemies to lovers and have a well paced slow burn, and unfortunately, I don't think the author was completely successful. There were a handful of romantic moments between these two throughout the beginning of the book, but they were so brief. It just wasn't enough to spark a consistent flame between these two, so it was super jarring when they finally started getting hot and heavy.
Overall, I think this book, this series, and this author have a lot of potential. There were sparks of brilliance throughout, and I already know that in a couple of years once the author has gained some more experience that she's going to be an amazing fantasy author, and I can't wait to see what she comes up with.
To end this review, let me share one of those sparks of brilliance - aka some of the hottest words to come out of Viridian's mouth and the ones that completely sold me on this book:
The gods are not looking, little fawn. There is only me and my mercy.
Rating: 2/5
Spice: 2/5 (A few short intimate scenes)
First off, let me start by saying that this wasn't a bad book, but it was obvious that this was a debut novel and lacked some of the refinement that seasoned fantasy authors have. That being said, I am so confident that as the author continues to produce more books, she's going to become a force to be reckoned with. I see all the potential for her to become an amazing romantasy author.
With that being said, my biggest critique of this book is that it was just underdeveloped. A lot of times I feel like fantasy authors overdo it with their 800+ page books, but this book had the opposite problem, coming in at a little less than 400 pages. The concept for this world was interesting, but I would have appreciated some more detail/background that would have really rounded out the story. For instance:
How does the mating bond work? Is mating a purely fae thing or can humans have mates too? How do you accept the mating bond? Some of these things were lightly touched on or you could try and piece it together yourself, but it would have been great if we could have gotten some more explanation or maybe even seen a mated pair besides Cryssa and Viridian.
Do fae have powers? What kind of powers do they have? There was very little demonstration of powers through this book, so I was shocked when in the last 100 pages Viridian revealed that he had lightning-like powers. It wasn't that those powers were a secret; the author just didn't really mention it.
In addition to the world-building being underdeveloped, the chemistry between the two main characters was a little lacking as well. It is so difficult to write enemies to lovers and have a well paced slow burn, and unfortunately, I don't think the author was completely successful. There were a handful of romantic moments between these two throughout the beginning of the book, but they were so brief. It just wasn't enough to spark a consistent flame between these two, so it was super jarring when they finally started getting hot and heavy.
Overall, I think this book, this series, and this author have a lot of potential. There were sparks of brilliance throughout, and I already know that in a couple of years once the author has gained some more experience that she's going to be an amazing fantasy author, and I can't wait to see what she comes up with.
To end this review, let me share one of those sparks of brilliance - aka some of the hottest words to come out of Viridian's mouth and the ones that completely sold me on this book:
The gods are not looking, little fawn. There is only me and my mercy.
October 27, 2023
This is the first book by this author and I am so glad that I saw other people recommend this book and I took the chance to read it.
We meet Cryssa for the first time as she escapes through her bedroom window, climbs out onto the tree and makes her way to a stable to meet her boyfriend Lowen, however as they are spending time together they are interrupted my a man opening the stable door. As Cryssa makes a move to leave, both she and the man glow in an orange light sealing their fates.
It is only a week later, when guards come to her house, does she find out that the man is not only a noble fan, but the crown prince. But Cryssa is not the only one taken away from her home, Lowen is also taken, but in a jail cart.
At the palace in the Bronze court, Cryssa learns more of the fae, makes new friends and finds that all is not well at the palace, just like at home, but she also wants to escape and find Lowen and get him home. Only somewhere along the way, she finds that she likes the crown prince and she also changes as a person.
Both Viridian and Cryssa learn more about the other, but there are also times where they do not communicate properly leading to hurt and misunderstandings. It is in a dream however that she finds out that she may be the answer to the problems the courts face, but how that will take place, only time will tell.
Both characters got through a lot of growth and eventually get to have some happiness before the world crumbles around them. But it is their strong bond that manages to bring them back together and to face the world together stronger than ever.
I really enjoyed this book. There was good world building, description, growth of characters and a little spice thrown into the mix along with mystery and a small cliff hanger to lead us into the next book and the next FMC that we love from this book which I cannot wait to read.
Would certainly recommend this book to others.
We meet Cryssa for the first time as she escapes through her bedroom window, climbs out onto the tree and makes her way to a stable to meet her boyfriend Lowen, however as they are spending time together they are interrupted my a man opening the stable door. As Cryssa makes a move to leave, both she and the man glow in an orange light sealing their fates.
It is only a week later, when guards come to her house, does she find out that the man is not only a noble fan, but the crown prince. But Cryssa is not the only one taken away from her home, Lowen is also taken, but in a jail cart.
At the palace in the Bronze court, Cryssa learns more of the fae, makes new friends and finds that all is not well at the palace, just like at home, but she also wants to escape and find Lowen and get him home. Only somewhere along the way, she finds that she likes the crown prince and she also changes as a person.
Both Viridian and Cryssa learn more about the other, but there are also times where they do not communicate properly leading to hurt and misunderstandings. It is in a dream however that she finds out that she may be the answer to the problems the courts face, but how that will take place, only time will tell.
Both characters got through a lot of growth and eventually get to have some happiness before the world crumbles around them. But it is their strong bond that manages to bring them back together and to face the world together stronger than ever.
I really enjoyed this book. There was good world building, description, growth of characters and a little spice thrown into the mix along with mystery and a small cliff hanger to lead us into the next book and the next FMC that we love from this book which I cannot wait to read.
Would certainly recommend this book to others.
Read
September 9, 2024I'm not going to rate this book because I just couldn't finish it. From here I'm going to spoiler tag the rest of my review as to not spoil it for anyone wanting to read this book...and you should read it...everyone interprets books differently. So, while I couldn't finish it, this could be your next favorite read!
Needless to say, this series is not for me, but lovers of romantasy, you may want to give it a go.
Needless to say, this series is not for me, but lovers of romantasy, you may want to give it a go.
August 9, 2023
I just wanted to state that I am SO grateful to have been an eARC reader for this book as I’ve been watching for it’s release since TikTok brought it to my feed. I want to make it clear that these are my honest thoughts and my overall rating of ABTOB is a 4.5!
I wanted to state that this book had me laughing and made me SO. GIDDY. I loved the banter between Cryssa and Viridian and on the flip side, I really loved the way these two were a different side of the same coin and both so incredibly stubborn. They are more alike than they realize and butt heads because of it. But it works so well and I found myself unable to put this book down. It’s been a long time since I engrossed myself in a book the way I did for this one. It was a beautiful, beautiful read.
I only knocked half a star off because I wanted more intimate moments. Not spice or smut, but unfiltered intimacy and connection. What was written was amazing, but I found myself wanting it to be carried on just a teensy bit longer in these scenes or more of it in general.
The world building was actually VERY well done, and I could place myself in every single scene in this book which already makes a 5 star read for me as I’m a very visual reader. There is a glossary at the end of all the names, ranks, god/goddesses, court names, etc. which is something I wish we had more of in fantasy books.
Overall, I genuinely cannot wait for the next installment of this series and I will absolutely be getting myself a physical copy!
I wanted to state that this book had me laughing and made me SO. GIDDY. I loved the banter between Cryssa and Viridian and on the flip side, I really loved the way these two were a different side of the same coin and both so incredibly stubborn. They are more alike than they realize and butt heads because of it. But it works so well and I found myself unable to put this book down. It’s been a long time since I engrossed myself in a book the way I did for this one. It was a beautiful, beautiful read.
I only knocked half a star off because I wanted more intimate moments. Not spice or smut, but unfiltered intimacy and connection. What was written was amazing, but I found myself wanting it to be carried on just a teensy bit longer in these scenes or more of it in general.
The world building was actually VERY well done, and I could place myself in every single scene in this book which already makes a 5 star read for me as I’m a very visual reader. There is a glossary at the end of all the names, ranks, god/goddesses, court names, etc. which is something I wish we had more of in fantasy books.
Overall, I genuinely cannot wait for the next installment of this series and I will absolutely be getting myself a physical copy!
October 18, 2023
I’m not sure of this book. I found the main character quite unbearable. As much as I love an enemies to lovers, sharing a bed and male character falls first I thought it was a bit rushed and inauthentic. I thought the writing was quite incoherent in places too but I can’t quite work out why. The storyline of course was predictable but I didn’t mind that. I thought the whole abandoning her family and previous lover so quickly was really unbelievable and I think it would have been better to make the female main character a bit more compassionate and loyal to her family for me it would make her more likeable. I couldn’t believe the love scene while her father was ill either I felt so uncomfortable reading it picturing her poor sick father who she’d seen for only a few minutes in months. Also the man has never gotten it on with anyone but somehow he’s tying up his first lover’s wrists with a hair tie? It didn’t feel real to me so I struggled to be on board. I suppose I’m being picky. I didn’t hate it but I also didn’t love it. The High King’s storyline was a bit pointless too there was no depth to it and all a bit rushed. The ending was a bit of a let down though the whole sacrifice was mentioned so often but was a bit pointless and I don’t understand how that undid the curse? The whole last chapter I thought was so childish. I think Lymseia is behind the murder too but I think it might have been made as a red herring. I loved Viridian though. Maybe since it had a cliff hanger it would be better to read as a series when there’s more to the plot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2024
✨The Broken Throne of Bronze✨
This fast-paced fantasy was read in one day. It’s starts right off in some spicy action and I was so eager to see how things worked out through these pages, before I knew it we were wrapping it up.
In TBTOB, we follow human Cryssa as she is suddenly blessed by a goddess with a mate she has never seen or met. Her entire world and love life are turned upside down as she is drug from her home and into an arranged marriage to a handsome fae whose father harbors a dark secret that they think is related to all the kingdom’s dying from a mining illness and a foreboding prophecy.
Cryssa helps Viridian seek answers to this plague and their relationship soon moves forward from forced marriage… to maybe something more. But Cryssa’s heart still belongs to her first love. In the end, there are still some questions to be solved and I look forward to reuniting with these characters and hopefully learning more of the history of this curse.
This story has delightfully sassy banter with a grumpy cinnamon roll who has a dirty mouth. Some tropes are: he falls first and harder, fated mates, arranged marriage, touch her and die, forced proximity, one horse/one bed, some language, and spice is 3/5 with an adorable surprise.
I’m proud of @rennaashleyauthor for her debut novel. Great work!
This fast-paced fantasy was read in one day. It’s starts right off in some spicy action and I was so eager to see how things worked out through these pages, before I knew it we were wrapping it up.
In TBTOB, we follow human Cryssa as she is suddenly blessed by a goddess with a mate she has never seen or met. Her entire world and love life are turned upside down as she is drug from her home and into an arranged marriage to a handsome fae whose father harbors a dark secret that they think is related to all the kingdom’s dying from a mining illness and a foreboding prophecy.
Cryssa helps Viridian seek answers to this plague and their relationship soon moves forward from forced marriage… to maybe something more. But Cryssa’s heart still belongs to her first love. In the end, there are still some questions to be solved and I look forward to reuniting with these characters and hopefully learning more of the history of this curse.
This story has delightfully sassy banter with a grumpy cinnamon roll who has a dirty mouth. Some tropes are: he falls first and harder, fated mates, arranged marriage, touch her and die, forced proximity, one horse/one bed, some language, and spice is 3/5 with an adorable surprise.
I’m proud of @rennaashleyauthor for her debut novel. Great work!
July 22, 2025
A Broken Throne of Bronze, the first book in Renna Ashley’s Of Metals and Curses series, published in 2023, is a Beauty and the Beast-inspired romantasy that delivers on your love for Avatar-style vibes, enemies-to-lovers romance, a strong female main character (FMC), and “touch her and die” dynamics. Set in the fae-filled Inatian world, it follows Cryssa, a human artist uprooted from her simple life and taken to High Keep to marry Crown Prince Viridian, a cold, powerful fae.
Cryssa’s development is compelling, transforming from a defiant captive to a resilient heroine who challenges her fate, perfect for fans of strong FMCs. The Avatar-like elemental magic, tied to fae powers and a mysterious curse, feels vibrant but underdeveloped, with sparse magical creatures compared to Fourth Wing’s dragons. The enemies-to-lovers romance between Cryssa and Viridian sizzles with banter and slow-burn tension, evolving into fierce “touch her and die” protectiveness that echoes Zuko-Katara dynamics. The kidnapping trope adds intrigue, thrusting Cryssa into a court of deceit and dark magic.
World-building is immersive yet cliched, with some rushed plot points and thin side characters. Pacing falters mid-book but picks up with twisty reveals. Ideal for ACOTAR fans craving fae romance and curses, A Broken Throne of Bronze is a solid, trope-filled read with sequel potential.
Cryssa’s development is compelling, transforming from a defiant captive to a resilient heroine who challenges her fate, perfect for fans of strong FMCs. The Avatar-like elemental magic, tied to fae powers and a mysterious curse, feels vibrant but underdeveloped, with sparse magical creatures compared to Fourth Wing’s dragons. The enemies-to-lovers romance between Cryssa and Viridian sizzles with banter and slow-burn tension, evolving into fierce “touch her and die” protectiveness that echoes Zuko-Katara dynamics. The kidnapping trope adds intrigue, thrusting Cryssa into a court of deceit and dark magic.
World-building is immersive yet cliched, with some rushed plot points and thin side characters. Pacing falters mid-book but picks up with twisty reveals. Ideal for ACOTAR fans craving fae romance and curses, A Broken Throne of Bronze is a solid, trope-filled read with sequel potential.
August 9, 2023
I really enjoyed the plot of this book and the banter with the two main characters. I found that both Cryssa and Viridian were two sides of the same coin, with very similar personalities. I enjoyed watching them navigate how hard that can be within a relationship/friendship. Overall it was a very great read and I'm excited for the future additions to the series. I took off a star because I would have liked to see more world building and a slower pace. The story feels rushed at times and could use more detail pertaining to the surroundings, atmosphere and also the characters. Simple things like how someone smells, what their wearing looks like.. even if it's not a main character helps me get more engrossed in the story. When I read it's like a movie is playing in my head but when there isn't enough detail sometimes it looks more like a sketch in motion than a full on feature film. Something I wish was touched on more was how Viridian was a virgin, which is SUCH A GREAT trope that isn't used often enough. I could totally see Cryssa teasing him hardcore before they consummated the marriage. I hope we can see into Viridian's head in future books! Also I hope to see more of the other houses heir apparents! This book arc was given to me for free for my honest review.
December 5, 2023
This was a very interesting world. But, it was much more focused on the characters and not the world. I would have liked to get more world development. There is potential in the world, but we didn’t see much of it or the magic system. There is Fae here, but other than towards the end, they don’t seem to be any different than the humans. There is a little talk of magic and something about the metals of the world doing things, but this isn’t developed or really even a part of the story. There is a lot of opportunity to grow and get some really cool stuff, if we could just get out of the castle.
Viridian felt a little unbelievable. He’s over 100 years old and he’s never spent real time outside of the castle? But in other parts he travels to other areas? He’s also never been in part of the castle, because his daddy said no? He’s also a virgin? We didn’t get much about him. He wasn’t developed very well. Cryssa just spends superficial time with him and falls in love. Honestly if it weren’t needing the enemie to lovers aspect, the prince could be lifted out of this story as completely unnecessary. Loren, her childhood sweetheart is also unnecessary to the plot .
This is a beauty and the beast retelling, but the “beast” is very lamely beast like.
Viridian felt a little unbelievable. He’s over 100 years old and he’s never spent real time outside of the castle? But in other parts he travels to other areas? He’s also never been in part of the castle, because his daddy said no? He’s also a virgin? We didn’t get much about him. He wasn’t developed very well. Cryssa just spends superficial time with him and falls in love. Honestly if it weren’t needing the enemie to lovers aspect, the prince could be lifted out of this story as completely unnecessary. Loren, her childhood sweetheart is also unnecessary to the plot .
This is a beauty and the beast retelling, but the “beast” is very lamely beast like.
August 23, 2023
Thank you so much to Renna for the opportunity to ARC read A broken Throne of Bronze!
I first came across this book on TikTok and was immediately intrigued.
It has all of my favorite tropes.
1. Fated mates
2. one bed (giggles)
3. Enemies to lovers
It reminded me of a sleeping beauty retelling but with a twist of course.
We have our amazing strong FMC Cryssa who lived a normal and predictable life. She tended to her family and had a boy who she's loved since they were kids. She was living the life she thought she was meant to have. That is until Viridian appears and changes everything.
With a turn of events Cryssa is uprooted from her life and taken to live with... you guessed it the Crown Prince. As Viridian and Cryssa start to get closer he begins to show her a different life she could have. One filled with adventure and things she never once dared to dream of.
With a curse plaguing the realm the two must figure out what secrets are being kept and Cryssa must decide which life it is she truly wants. Either the one back home that suddenly looked much smaller to her or the one by Viridian’s side.
I enjoyed this book so much and is a must add to your TBR list.
I first came across this book on TikTok and was immediately intrigued.
It has all of my favorite tropes.
1. Fated mates
2. one bed (giggles)
3. Enemies to lovers
It reminded me of a sleeping beauty retelling but with a twist of course.
We have our amazing strong FMC Cryssa who lived a normal and predictable life. She tended to her family and had a boy who she's loved since they were kids. She was living the life she thought she was meant to have. That is until Viridian appears and changes everything.
With a turn of events Cryssa is uprooted from her life and taken to live with... you guessed it the Crown Prince. As Viridian and Cryssa start to get closer he begins to show her a different life she could have. One filled with adventure and things she never once dared to dream of.
With a curse plaguing the realm the two must figure out what secrets are being kept and Cryssa must decide which life it is she truly wants. Either the one back home that suddenly looked much smaller to her or the one by Viridian’s side.
I enjoyed this book so much and is a must add to your TBR list.
August 17, 2023
Cryssa is a beautiful young lady living in Slyfell with her father and younger sister. Little does she know that a chance meeting with Prince Viridian, will change not only her life and his, but the lives of everyone around them!
Prince Viridian and Cryssa are fated mates brought on by a curse they had nothing to do with. It is Prince Viridian’s father who has brought this curse on himself, his family and Cryssa..with no way to stop it; their fate is sealed!!
OMG…Definitely did not see that one coming!! I got asked to Arc read A Broken Throne of Bronze by Renna Ashley ( book 1 of 5) and holy cow! This book had me riveted to the pages. I could not put it down.. to say that I enjoyed this book would be a huge understatement! The emotional roller coaster this book had me on was incredible! I laughed, I cried, I got angry! I devoured this book in one day!
The characters were dynamic, the writing was superb..I cannot recommend this book enough and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book in this addictive series! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Prince Viridian and Cryssa are fated mates brought on by a curse they had nothing to do with. It is Prince Viridian’s father who has brought this curse on himself, his family and Cryssa..with no way to stop it; their fate is sealed!!
OMG…Definitely did not see that one coming!! I got asked to Arc read A Broken Throne of Bronze by Renna Ashley ( book 1 of 5) and holy cow! This book had me riveted to the pages. I could not put it down.. to say that I enjoyed this book would be a huge understatement! The emotional roller coaster this book had me on was incredible! I laughed, I cried, I got angry! I devoured this book in one day!
The characters were dynamic, the writing was superb..I cannot recommend this book enough and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book in this addictive series! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 18, 2024
This book was entertaining. Will it be my favorite book of all time? No, but the author clearly has potential and has great ideas. The idea for the world with the different parts of the kingdom relying on metals, that was an interesting idea that I really enjoyed. Had a bit too much of BIG paragraphs describing multiple characters or just going on about the politics of the world, which made me zone out and not retain the information at all. I feel like we were given too many details in places where maybe we didn't need, and given not enough where I wish we could have had more.
This could have been a 5/5 for me because it has a lot of tropes I love, but there was a couple issues as mentioned. Also I think there was not enough of the fantasy part for me, but I am used to reading high fantasy novels. Would have loved some more world building and history of the MC's (especially Viridian). The magic... how does it work? I want more details!
Overall, this is a great first book for the author (I believe?), the ideas are there, just needs some fine tuning. Enormous amount of potential.
This could have been a 5/5 for me because it has a lot of tropes I love, but there was a couple issues as mentioned. Also I think there was not enough of the fantasy part for me, but I am used to reading high fantasy novels. Would have loved some more world building and history of the MC's (especially Viridian). The magic... how does it work? I want more details!
Overall, this is a great first book for the author (I believe?), the ideas are there, just needs some fine tuning. Enormous amount of potential.
January 12, 2025
The idea of this book sounded great, but the execution was just meh for me. There is a glaring lack of world building and character building. We don’t get enough backstory on the MMC to truly understand him. The story just feels like it’s missing so much and it felt like things (like the MMC having some weird magical power) were just thrown in randomly without being built upon. Not going to lie, the fact that he was a 100 year old Fae yet was a virgin also gave me the ick, and made the spicy scenes seem totally unrealistic.
I also find myself not liking the FMC much of this book because she is so wishy washy and she forgives the MMC too easily, while treating her supposed best friend and lover so poorly. She is in the castle for weeks, if not months, and not once does she even ask for Loren to be released. It made me not like her at all.
Overall, this book felt amateurish because of the plot and execution, although I appreciate that I didn’t notice typos. I had to really push through to finish this book, so I will lot be continuing this series.
I also find myself not liking the FMC much of this book because she is so wishy washy and she forgives the MMC too easily, while treating her supposed best friend and lover so poorly. She is in the castle for weeks, if not months, and not once does she even ask for Loren to be released. It made me not like her at all.
Overall, this book felt amateurish because of the plot and execution, although I appreciate that I didn’t notice typos. I had to really push through to finish this book, so I will lot be continuing this series.
August 2, 2024
This book had me SO wrapped up in the characters that I COULD NOT put it down!
Cryssa is a human in a world ruled by the Fae. The kingdoms thrive off the power that the metals they mine provides. However, a long forgotten curse is slowly depleting the mines & causing disease across the lands.
In a twist of fate Cryssa is matched with the, very fae, Crown Prince Viridian…who just so happens to meet her when he catches her & her local-love-interest in the barn together.
As any normal, sane, stable, and morally sound individual would do…he takes her lover prisoner & locks her away in his castle. A castle where she is surrounded by books, and art supplies, and lavish food….it’s truly a hardship for her.
The hardest part, is that she has to endure the presence of the ever grumpy & wildly attractive prince, who has been declared her fiance by the king. Oh no…how truly horrible…how ever will she endure???
I enjoyed this, Beauty & the Beast inspired, Romantasy & I hope you do to!
Cryssa is a human in a world ruled by the Fae. The kingdoms thrive off the power that the metals they mine provides. However, a long forgotten curse is slowly depleting the mines & causing disease across the lands.
In a twist of fate Cryssa is matched with the, very fae, Crown Prince Viridian…who just so happens to meet her when he catches her & her local-love-interest in the barn together.
As any normal, sane, stable, and morally sound individual would do…he takes her lover prisoner & locks her away in his castle. A castle where she is surrounded by books, and art supplies, and lavish food….it’s truly a hardship for her.
The hardest part, is that she has to endure the presence of the ever grumpy & wildly attractive prince, who has been declared her fiance by the king. Oh no…how truly horrible…how ever will she endure???
I enjoyed this, Beauty & the Beast inspired, Romantasy & I hope you do to!
November 5, 2024
This book is full of some very popular tropes that make this a fun and easy read. There are a lot of common themes in this book and other popular fantasy books right now. Fated mates, the FMC is human, the MMC is fae, FMC is an artist, forced proximity with MMC. But…although there was commonality between this and other stories, there was also a lot of things that I haven’t seen before in other fantasy novel. Most importantly, the theme surrounding the metal courts, each of which individually provides certain materials that keep their courts afloat. This was really fascinating to me and very well written. I was anticipating a little more spice just due to spoilers I had seen online. I feel like the spice just scratched the surface but there was so much going on with the plot line that I understand the hesitancy to have too much spice involved. Overall I really liked this story. I can’t wait to hop right into book 2!
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