What do you think?
Rate this book
The Crimson Crown Duology #1
The Crimson Crown
Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who’s the wickedest of them all? Snow White’s dark queen tells her side of the story in the first book of a queer, witchy duology that reimagines the classic fairy tale—from the author of Malice.
“An alluring, vengeful origin story that brings tremendous dimension to a classic fairytale.”—Chloe Gong, New York Times bestselling author of Immortal Longings
Legends tell of a witch who became a queen—the heartless villain in the story of Snow White.
But now the wicked queen is stepping out of Snow White’s shadow to become the heroine of her own legend.
Her real “once upon a time” begins when she is just Ayleth, a young witch who lives in the forest with her coven. The witches practice their magic in secret, hiding from the White King and his brutal war against witchcraft.
Ayleth, however, faces a war of her own. Her magical gifts have yet to reveal themselves, and as the threat of the Royal Huntsmen intensifies, Ayleth fears she will never become the witch her coven needs.
To prove herself, Ayleth sets out on a perilous quest that sends her to the White Palace, a decadent world of drama and deceit. There, Ayleth encounters an unlikely figure from her past: Jacquetta, a witch who once held Ayleth’s heart—and betrayed her.
As events at the palace escalate, Ayleth finds herself caught in the web of the White King, whose dark charisma is as dangerous as the sinister force that seems to be haunting the palace—and perhaps even Ayleth herself. With the threat of discovery looming, Ayleth and Jacquetta must set aside the wounds of their past and work together to survive.
As she uncovers the secrets of the White Court—and those of her own heart—Ayleth must find the strength to transform into someone she never imagined she could be.
A powerful witch, the very wickedest of them all.
Book One in The Crimson Crown series.
“An alluring, vengeful origin story that brings tremendous dimension to a classic fairytale.”—Chloe Gong, New York Times bestselling author of Immortal Longings
Legends tell of a witch who became a queen—the heartless villain in the story of Snow White.
But now the wicked queen is stepping out of Snow White’s shadow to become the heroine of her own legend.
Her real “once upon a time” begins when she is just Ayleth, a young witch who lives in the forest with her coven. The witches practice their magic in secret, hiding from the White King and his brutal war against witchcraft.
Ayleth, however, faces a war of her own. Her magical gifts have yet to reveal themselves, and as the threat of the Royal Huntsmen intensifies, Ayleth fears she will never become the witch her coven needs.
To prove herself, Ayleth sets out on a perilous quest that sends her to the White Palace, a decadent world of drama and deceit. There, Ayleth encounters an unlikely figure from her past: Jacquetta, a witch who once held Ayleth’s heart—and betrayed her.
As events at the palace escalate, Ayleth finds herself caught in the web of the White King, whose dark charisma is as dangerous as the sinister force that seems to be haunting the palace—and perhaps even Ayleth herself. With the threat of discovery looming, Ayleth and Jacquetta must set aside the wounds of their past and work together to survive.
As she uncovers the secrets of the White Court—and those of her own heart—Ayleth must find the strength to transform into someone she never imagined she could be.
A powerful witch, the very wickedest of them all.
Book One in The Crimson Crown series.
544 pages, Hardcover
First published August 27, 2024
About the author
Heather Walter
4 books2,044 followersHeather Walter has been telling stories for as long as she can remember. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with both English and Information Science degrees, books are--and always will be--a definitive part of her life.
As an author, Heather loves writing about what-ifs, flawed protagonists, and re-imagined history. Her favorite characters are usually villains.
When not writing, you can find her reading (duh), knitting, binging TV, and planning her next travel adventure.
As an author, Heather loves writing about what-ifs, flawed protagonists, and re-imagined history. Her favorite characters are usually villains.
When not writing, you can find her reading (duh), knitting, binging TV, and planning her next travel adventure.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 792 reviews
January 18, 2025
First five star of the year and thank god cause I was about to off myself
Lesbians are good, but there's nothing better than a lesbian who just happens to be very very bad
Lesbians are good, but there's nothing better than a lesbian who just happens to be very very bad
on-pause
October 17, 2024Library came through like a champ already - Trying to get to this asap before I run out of time again 😩
ꕤ On pause until I get another loan from the library. So behind lately. ꕤ
⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
My library is breathing down my neck for this loan 😅 I'm feeling all the pressure - from other patrons waiting, to multiple books due around the same time.
On deck to start before my 7 remaining days are up! This isn't related to Malice/Misrule is it? Haven't gotten to those yet 😬
╰⪼ 🍎Snow White Retelling
╰⪼ 🍎LGBTQ+
╰⪼ 🍎Witches
╰⪼ 🍎Dark Queen
⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
My library is breathing down my neck for this loan 😅 I'm feeling all the pressure - from other patrons waiting, to multiple books due around the same time.
On deck to start before my 7 remaining days are up! This isn't related to Malice/Misrule is it? Haven't gotten to those yet 😬
╰⪼ 🍎Snow White Retelling
╰⪼ 🍎LGBTQ+
╰⪼ 🍎Witches
╰⪼ 🍎Dark Queen
December 10, 2024
“choice is a magic in and of itself.”
heather walter is giving the world the sapphic dark fairy tales, with a reclaiming villain povs. malice was one of my favorite reads the year it came out, and i just couldn’t wait to read something else by this author, after obsessing over that duology!
this is a reimagining of snow white, from the “evil” queen’s perspective. we follow a twenty-three year old witch heir, named ayleth, who is the descendant of one of the five ancient covens. In this world, there are five houses, all with five heroes, who come together once a year during an ascension, where you give blood and make an offering to one of the five. ten years ago, her sister’s ascension ended in tragedy, so now that ayleth’s is approaching, she goes on a quest for the coven to try to unlock some mystery, once of which being some information about five bloodstones that were stolen.
the thing is, magic had been abolished ten years ago as well. and now she finds herself at a court filled with secrets, while carrying her own secrets, while trying to figure out what are actual truth, especially involving magic. and… there is the cutest little princess in this story and ahhh i just loved it all.
i think one of the best and wildest parts of this is that i kept forgetting it was a reimagining and then something snow white-y would happen and i would be like “oh yeah!” but this really does stand all on its own. i love a quest story, and i always love exploring a castle. this also has a very good kind of enemies to lovers in it, that really did have me screaming. And the ending was very close to perfection. though, i did sadly feel like this was just a little too long and did drag at parts. but overall, i can’t wait for the next book and just to read all the powerful stories that healthier writes!
trigger + content warnings: a lot of talk of loss of a loved one, blood, abandonment, grief, self harm to get blood, talk of animal death in past, unwanted touching (arm grab), a very brief mention of loss of a pregnancy, death, funeral, anxiety, vomit, hurt pet (by another animal), animal death (magical evil wolf), homophobia (obv in a negative light), illness / poison, and just a lot of really bad parents
blog | instagram | youtube | wishlist | spotify | amazon
➽ Malice ★★★★★
➽ Misrule ★★★★★
♡ bonus offline content: this book is extra special to my collection, because it was my 2024 birthday book (and it actually released on my birthday !!) which my dad not only wrote in, but also felt the need to cosign my mom's birthday message lol
Did Not Finish
September 5, 2024After almost a week where I could not make myself read on I think it's time to admit defeat.
--------------------------------------------------
A book about Snow White’s dark queen, and it's queer? I'm listening
--------------------------------------------------
A book about Snow White’s dark queen, and it's queer? I'm listening
August 25, 2024
3.5/5 ⭐️
This is a sapphic reimagining of Snow White following the Evil Queen before her rise to villainy, back when she was merely a young witch named Ayleth who would do anything for her sister.
This was… fine. It was a pretty solid fantasy, but I never developed any strong feelings towards the plot or characters. The story felt like it wanted to lean more into coven and court politics, but never made the effort to truly dive into them. Everything was merely surface level and very meandering. I never felt the stakes. Even when Ayleth’s life was in danger, I never felt gripped by the story. The book was simply a little too long with not enough direction to really sell it.
The character relationships were also lackluster. Ayleth’s rocky relationship with her mother is the prime motivator behind the plot, and yet their issues come across as a little juvenile. I wasn’t completely sold on their strife being a major cause behind Ayleth choosing the path she did. I also wish we saw more malicious actions committed by the White King. He spends most of the book staring intensely at Ayleth or looking bored. Everything to fear from him is known mainly by reputation rather than actual actions occurring. I feel like Jacquetta wasn’t used to her fullest potential as a love interest. She seemed to just float in and out of the story and I wish they had more conversations with actual weight.
One thing Heather Walter knows how to do is write an ending though. As with Malice, while 99% of this book has a slow simmering atmosphere the last 1% explodes with pent up anger. It definitely hooks you into wanting to pick up the sequel. I simply wish that intensity was found throughout the book to help capture your heart and attention. Again, I think this is a solid book. I just did not care for it as much as I hoped.
Thank you Del Rey for the physical ARC
This is a sapphic reimagining of Snow White following the Evil Queen before her rise to villainy, back when she was merely a young witch named Ayleth who would do anything for her sister.
This was… fine. It was a pretty solid fantasy, but I never developed any strong feelings towards the plot or characters. The story felt like it wanted to lean more into coven and court politics, but never made the effort to truly dive into them. Everything was merely surface level and very meandering. I never felt the stakes. Even when Ayleth’s life was in danger, I never felt gripped by the story. The book was simply a little too long with not enough direction to really sell it.
The character relationships were also lackluster. Ayleth’s rocky relationship with her mother is the prime motivator behind the plot, and yet their issues come across as a little juvenile. I wasn’t completely sold on their strife being a major cause behind Ayleth choosing the path she did. I also wish we saw more malicious actions committed by the White King. He spends most of the book staring intensely at Ayleth or looking bored. Everything to fear from him is known mainly by reputation rather than actual actions occurring. I feel like Jacquetta wasn’t used to her fullest potential as a love interest. She seemed to just float in and out of the story and I wish they had more conversations with actual weight.
One thing Heather Walter knows how to do is write an ending though. As with Malice, while 99% of this book has a slow simmering atmosphere the last 1% explodes with pent up anger. It definitely hooks you into wanting to pick up the sequel. I simply wish that intensity was found throughout the book to help capture your heart and attention. Again, I think this is a solid book. I just did not care for it as much as I hoped.
Thank you Del Rey for the physical ARC
September 15, 2025
The Crimson Crown is a dark gothic romantasy fantasy retelling that will grip you from the first page. Filled with sapphic love and longing, girl power, and all things dark and creepy this novel swept me off my feet.
In this novel, Ayleth is a witch reeling from the loss of her sister and the long-ago betrayal of her lover. In her mothers eyes, she's just a lackluster replacement for her more powerful dead sister. The other witches treat Ayleth as if she has no value. In an effort to bring her more powerful sister back from the dead, she travels to a dark castle filled with a cast of unique and interesting characters. It's a tale of love, loss, and revenge.
There wasn't a moment of this novel that I felt was slow, over wrought, or poorly written. I absolutely ate this novel up and you will too if you like sapphic romance, dark fantasy, and fairytale retellings.
In this novel, Ayleth is a witch reeling from the loss of her sister and the long-ago betrayal of her lover. In her mothers eyes, she's just a lackluster replacement for her more powerful dead sister. The other witches treat Ayleth as if she has no value. In an effort to bring her more powerful sister back from the dead, she travels to a dark castle filled with a cast of unique and interesting characters. It's a tale of love, loss, and revenge.
There wasn't a moment of this novel that I felt was slow, over wrought, or poorly written. I absolutely ate this novel up and you will too if you like sapphic romance, dark fantasy, and fairytale retellings.
Want to Read
August 2, 2022Heather Walter is a new favorite!! Very much looking forward to this one!
October 18, 2024
I, once again, was bamboozled by a cool premise and was disappointed by execution that failed to support the story.
This book is marketed as a Snow White retelling from the perspective of the Evil Queen, and marketed as a sapphic romance. Those two concepts made me pick up this novel—well, I also couldn't say no to the sprayed edges or Barnes and Noble exclusive edition—and I tossed it to the top of my to-be-read pile. I thought it would be the perfect, gothic October read. Instead, I'm walking away disappointed and wondering why this book was 500 pages long when it didn't need to be.
The first red flag arrived in the form of the writing style. Considering this is shelved under the adult fantasy umbrella, I came into the book with preset expectations. I expected compelling first person narration and sprawling descriptions. Instead, the writing felt more like an averagely written young adult novel. And, as a result, this novel had huge characterization and pacing issues.
The second red flag was scattered throughout the novel in the form of Ayleth's characterization. Or, lack of character growth. Our main character and narrator did not have any characterization changes until the final 40ish pages of the novel. This is a result of Ayleth's failed agency as a main character. Basic writing tips often discuss agency—if your main character is passive and is not actively making decisions or taking action with or against the plot, your character then has no agency. Unfortunately, I found Ayleth to be a passive main character. Most plot points were happening to Ayleth without her engaging or changing from them. By the halfway point of the novel, the reader should see Ayleth's characterization moving in a positive or negative direction and, instead, it remained rather static. Which made a shocking final 40ish pages of the novel when the reader finally sees the character arc coming into play. That negative arc should not have waited for the final 10% of the novel to develop; it absolutely should have been written into the plot from the very first page.
The third red flag came in the form of the pacing. There was a lot of real estate in this novel, with the hardcover coming in at 523 pages. If committing to a novel with that many words and pages, surely there are plot points driving everything forward at a decent pace. Incorrect! 80% of this novel felt aimless. The only time it felt like there was direction was in the opening and closing of the plot (so in the first and final 10% of the story). For the main 80% of the novel, Ayleth was meandering through the world, often thinking about plans (re: constantly repeating how she needs to find the Bloodstones and save her sister), not really doing anything to locate the Bloodstones (she went to the library often, despite knowing most history and traces of the witches has been destroyed), and having positions handed to her within the palace (saving important people's lives makes you trustworthy enough to work in the palace, I guess). Where were the plots forcing her to face the consequences of her own actions? Where was the danger, the stakes pushing her to develop? None of that was on the page. But you know what was? Plenty of conversations with other characters that, you guessed it, didn't really push plot or characterization forward. Due to that, the pacing was slow and this novel was often a slog to work through.
You know what they say, three strikes and you're out. And, yet, there is a fourth and final red flag. The romance was utterly lackluster and not what the synopsis promised. I was excited for the sapphic, witchy romance the synopsis promised. Instead, we watched Ayleth and Jacquetta avoid each other for half the book, very quickly fall into bed (and into "love") with each other, and then fall apart again at the end. The two of them didn't have any chemistry, nor did they accomplish what great romance plots do: change each other, whether for the good or bad. (Then again, that's a huge failure of this novel: Ayleth had no characterization arc and remained static until the final 40ish pages of the novel.)
(I hate to say it, but Ayleth had more chemistry with the king and he was an abusive POS. But we also didn't really see his antagonism on the page? His reputation was more through word-of-mouth and how he maintained the Hunt against the witches.)
Overall, this novel was a huge miss for me. The story execution failed the concept of this novel. I understand that romantasy is huge for the market right now—As a reader who adores this sub-genre, I get it! I don't want the trend fading anytime soon.—but I wish publishers would take more time to develop solid stories instead of rushing the novels out to market. With a few more developmental drafts, this novel could've been great. Instead, it's just another lackluster book out on the market.
*~*~*~*~*
Connect with me on my socials!
nikiashreads' Linktree
This book is marketed as a Snow White retelling from the perspective of the Evil Queen, and marketed as a sapphic romance. Those two concepts made me pick up this novel—well, I also couldn't say no to the sprayed edges or Barnes and Noble exclusive edition—and I tossed it to the top of my to-be-read pile. I thought it would be the perfect, gothic October read. Instead, I'm walking away disappointed and wondering why this book was 500 pages long when it didn't need to be.
The first red flag arrived in the form of the writing style. Considering this is shelved under the adult fantasy umbrella, I came into the book with preset expectations. I expected compelling first person narration and sprawling descriptions. Instead, the writing felt more like an averagely written young adult novel. And, as a result, this novel had huge characterization and pacing issues.
The second red flag was scattered throughout the novel in the form of Ayleth's characterization. Or, lack of character growth. Our main character and narrator did not have any characterization changes until the final 40ish pages of the novel. This is a result of Ayleth's failed agency as a main character. Basic writing tips often discuss agency—if your main character is passive and is not actively making decisions or taking action with or against the plot, your character then has no agency. Unfortunately, I found Ayleth to be a passive main character. Most plot points were happening to Ayleth without her engaging or changing from them. By the halfway point of the novel, the reader should see Ayleth's characterization moving in a positive or negative direction and, instead, it remained rather static. Which made a shocking final 40ish pages of the novel when the reader finally sees the character arc coming into play. That negative arc should not have waited for the final 10% of the novel to develop; it absolutely should have been written into the plot from the very first page.
The third red flag came in the form of the pacing. There was a lot of real estate in this novel, with the hardcover coming in at 523 pages. If committing to a novel with that many words and pages, surely there are plot points driving everything forward at a decent pace. Incorrect! 80% of this novel felt aimless. The only time it felt like there was direction was in the opening and closing of the plot (so in the first and final 10% of the story). For the main 80% of the novel, Ayleth was meandering through the world, often thinking about plans (re: constantly repeating how she needs to find the Bloodstones and save her sister), not really doing anything to locate the Bloodstones (she went to the library often, despite knowing most history and traces of the witches has been destroyed), and having positions handed to her within the palace (saving important people's lives makes you trustworthy enough to work in the palace, I guess). Where were the plots forcing her to face the consequences of her own actions? Where was the danger, the stakes pushing her to develop? None of that was on the page. But you know what was? Plenty of conversations with other characters that, you guessed it, didn't really push plot or characterization forward. Due to that, the pacing was slow and this novel was often a slog to work through.
You know what they say, three strikes and you're out. And, yet, there is a fourth and final red flag. The romance was utterly lackluster and not what the synopsis promised. I was excited for the sapphic, witchy romance the synopsis promised. Instead, we watched Ayleth and Jacquetta avoid each other for half the book, very quickly fall into bed (and into "love") with each other, and then fall apart again at the end. The two of them didn't have any chemistry, nor did they accomplish what great romance plots do: change each other, whether for the good or bad. (Then again, that's a huge failure of this novel: Ayleth had no characterization arc and remained static until the final 40ish pages of the novel.)
(I hate to say it, but Ayleth had more chemistry with the king and he was an abusive POS. But we also didn't really see his antagonism on the page? His reputation was more through word-of-mouth and how he maintained the Hunt against the witches.)
Overall, this novel was a huge miss for me. The story execution failed the concept of this novel. I understand that romantasy is huge for the market right now—As a reader who adores this sub-genre, I get it! I don't want the trend fading anytime soon.—but I wish publishers would take more time to develop solid stories instead of rushing the novels out to market. With a few more developmental drafts, this novel could've been great. Instead, it's just another lackluster book out on the market.
*~*~*~*~*
Connect with me on my socials!
nikiashreads' Linktree
September 25, 2024
This was an interesting one.
As an OG Malice/Misrule truther I have resigned myself to the fact that I am a Heather Walter fan for life. I will be reading what she drops for as long as she puts out books. It's also because I have read and enjoyed their previous books that I went into this expecting the tale of the evil queen to be flipped in an interesting way.
Honestly that good will is part of why I was okay reading a fantasy book where magic is frowned upon and the witches are being hunted. It also does this thing where so much of the driving action of the story is prompted by a character we don't really get to spend a lot of time with. We do see this character briefly, but not really long enough for me as a reader to buy it as motivation for our protagonist and I just had to decide to accept that at a certain point. I do want to give credit to how fairest is used in this retelling, how the religion that was brought in to replace the role witches once served in this society. It was obvious that a lot of thought had gone into this world and all that information was relayed in a way that felt natural.
Motivations being wonky aside I do wish we could have leaned more into the court intrigue once we were in the palace. It felt like we were hedging our bets a little. Not really want to lean too much in that direction as we also worked on Alyth's original plan. I did like the roadblocks that forced her to change directions at several points in the narrative. The breadcrumbs that were laid definitely paid off in the end.
It did sort of give echos of their first duology, but that might be a byproduct of having these women who are perceived as antagonists getting their time to be viewed from a different perspective. It's not that it was a one to one experience, more that it felt like something I'd already read from Walter previously.
That said I do think that the simmering political plotlines and Alyth's original mission does come to a head in a pretty satisfactory way. A lot of the threads that we'd seen develop of the course of the narrative do get to come together in the third act where Walter does a really good job of tying some up while also delivering a perfect setup to kick off the sequel. I've already said that I will be reading The Witch Queen, and I'm very excited to see the ramifications of this ending and how that is going to go. This isn't a book that I would recommend to just anyone, but in a world where so many of my anticipated releases have let me down recently I'm happy to see this was an exception .
As an OG Malice/Misrule truther I have resigned myself to the fact that I am a Heather Walter fan for life. I will be reading what she drops for as long as she puts out books. It's also because I have read and enjoyed their previous books that I went into this expecting the tale of the evil queen to be flipped in an interesting way.
Honestly that good will is part of why I was okay reading a fantasy book where magic is frowned upon and the witches are being hunted. It also does this thing where so much of the driving action of the story is prompted by a character we don't really get to spend a lot of time with. We do see this character briefly, but not really long enough for me as a reader to buy it as motivation for our protagonist and I just had to decide to accept that at a certain point. I do want to give credit to how fairest is used in this retelling, how the religion that was brought in to replace the role witches once served in this society. It was obvious that a lot of thought had gone into this world and all that information was relayed in a way that felt natural.
Motivations being wonky aside I do wish we could have leaned more into the court intrigue once we were in the palace. It felt like we were hedging our bets a little. Not really want to lean too much in that direction as we also worked on Alyth's original plan. I did like the roadblocks that forced her to change directions at several points in the narrative. The breadcrumbs that were laid definitely paid off in the end.
It did sort of give echos of their first duology, but that might be a byproduct of having these women who are perceived as antagonists getting their time to be viewed from a different perspective. It's not that it was a one to one experience, more that it felt like something I'd already read from Walter previously.
That said I do think that the simmering political plotlines and Alyth's original mission does come to a head in a pretty satisfactory way. A lot of the threads that we'd seen develop of the course of the narrative do get to come together in the third act where Walter does a really good job of tying some up while also delivering a perfect setup to kick off the sequel. I've already said that I will be reading The Witch Queen, and I'm very excited to see the ramifications of this ending and how that is going to go. This isn't a book that I would recommend to just anyone, but in a world where so many of my anticipated releases have let me down recently I'm happy to see this was an exception .
August 14, 2024
Heather Walter’s "The Crimson Crown" is a mesmerizing start to a new duology that reimagines the Snow White fairy tale through the eyes of the wicked queen. As someone who adored the Malice and Misrule duology, I had high expectations for this book, and Walter certainly delivers a story rich with magic, intrigue, and deep, raw emotion.
The novel introduces us to Ayleth, a young witch struggling to find her place within her coven as her magical gifts remain dormant. Her journey from a carefree second daughter to the heartless villain of the Snow White story is both heartbreaking and compelling. Walter masterfully portrays Ayleth’s emotional turmoil—her grief over her sister’s death, the lingering heartbreak from Jacquetta’s betrayal, and the growing realization that her mother and coven may never truly accept her. These emotional threads weave together to create a protagonist who is both relatable and tragically flawed, making her descent into darkness feel all the more poignant.
The world-building in "The Crimson Crown" is equally captivating. The magic of the witches and the treachery of the White Palace court are beautifully rendered, drawing readers into a world where danger lurks around every corner. I particularly enjoyed the character of Blodwyn, our Snow White, whose curiosity and innocence add a layer of complexity to the story. The interactions between Ayleth and Blodwyn are filled with tension and foreshadowing, setting the stage for what promises to be an explosive continuation in the next book.
However, there were a few aspects where I wished for more. The concept of Malum, a sinister force hinted at throughout the story, could have used further explanation. Its vague presence left me wanting a deeper understanding of its role in the narrative. Additionally, while there is some romantic tension and a bit of spice, it remains relatively tame, which might leave some readers craving more intensity in that department.
Despite these minor qualms, "The Crimson Crown" is a fantastic read that left me eagerly anticipating the next installment. Walter’s ability to breathe new life into familiar tales while maintaining a dark, witchy atmosphere is truly impressive. This book is a must-read for fans of queer fantasy and fairy tale retellings. I’m excited to see where Ayleth’s journey will take her next, and how her story will ultimately intertwine with the legend of Snow White.
Thank you to Del Rey Books, Netgalley and Heather Walter for a physical galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The novel introduces us to Ayleth, a young witch struggling to find her place within her coven as her magical gifts remain dormant. Her journey from a carefree second daughter to the heartless villain of the Snow White story is both heartbreaking and compelling. Walter masterfully portrays Ayleth’s emotional turmoil—her grief over her sister’s death, the lingering heartbreak from Jacquetta’s betrayal, and the growing realization that her mother and coven may never truly accept her. These emotional threads weave together to create a protagonist who is both relatable and tragically flawed, making her descent into darkness feel all the more poignant.
The world-building in "The Crimson Crown" is equally captivating. The magic of the witches and the treachery of the White Palace court are beautifully rendered, drawing readers into a world where danger lurks around every corner. I particularly enjoyed the character of Blodwyn, our Snow White, whose curiosity and innocence add a layer of complexity to the story. The interactions between Ayleth and Blodwyn are filled with tension and foreshadowing, setting the stage for what promises to be an explosive continuation in the next book.
However, there were a few aspects where I wished for more. The concept of Malum, a sinister force hinted at throughout the story, could have used further explanation. Its vague presence left me wanting a deeper understanding of its role in the narrative. Additionally, while there is some romantic tension and a bit of spice, it remains relatively tame, which might leave some readers craving more intensity in that department.
Despite these minor qualms, "The Crimson Crown" is a fantastic read that left me eagerly anticipating the next installment. Walter’s ability to breathe new life into familiar tales while maintaining a dark, witchy atmosphere is truly impressive. This book is a must-read for fans of queer fantasy and fairy tale retellings. I’m excited to see where Ayleth’s journey will take her next, and how her story will ultimately intertwine with the legend of Snow White.
Thank you to Del Rey Books, Netgalley and Heather Walter for a physical galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 23, 2024
4.5 Stars
The Crimson Crown was such an enchanting reimagining of Snow White. I absolutely loved that it spins the classic tale into something far darker, richer, and more compelling. Ayleth’s transformation from a struggling young witch to a force to be reckoned with was captivating, and the amazing but dangerous world-building kept me hooked literally the entire book.
The relationship between Ayleth and Jacquetta was a standout for me—I found myself rooting for them so hard despite their complicated history. Their dynamic was layers upon layers of tension, betrayal, and longing, and watching them navigate their shared past in the shadow of the White Court was one of the most emotionally satisfying parts of the book.
The blend of the deeply personal struggles of Ayleth and the high-intensity court intrigue made this story unforgettable. With such complex characters, spell-binding twists, and a heroine who RIGHTFULLY earns her title as the “wickedest of them all,” this is the kind of fractured fairy tale I didn’t know I needed.
I’m counting down the days until book two comes out. If it is anything like this, it’s going to be a masterpiece!
The Crimson Crown was such an enchanting reimagining of Snow White. I absolutely loved that it spins the classic tale into something far darker, richer, and more compelling. Ayleth’s transformation from a struggling young witch to a force to be reckoned with was captivating, and the amazing but dangerous world-building kept me hooked literally the entire book.
The relationship between Ayleth and Jacquetta was a standout for me—I found myself rooting for them so hard despite their complicated history. Their dynamic was layers upon layers of tension, betrayal, and longing, and watching them navigate their shared past in the shadow of the White Court was one of the most emotionally satisfying parts of the book.
The blend of the deeply personal struggles of Ayleth and the high-intensity court intrigue made this story unforgettable. With such complex characters, spell-binding twists, and a heroine who RIGHTFULLY earns her title as the “wickedest of them all,” this is the kind of fractured fairy tale I didn’t know I needed.
I’m counting down the days until book two comes out. If it is anything like this, it’s going to be a masterpiece!
September 25, 2024
I think the retelling marketing committee needs to fix their guidelines because this is such a LOOSE retelling of Snow White that it would’ve been better off as an it’s own original story.
This book dragged like no ones business and frankly had no reason to be over 500 pages. Ayleth is a pretty boring fmc, and at first you feel for her bc the coven sections are interesting but the moment she leaves for the castle it’s all out the door. She leaves on this urgent mission to stop Malum, but nothing she does is urgent? She spends a lot of time at balls, dinners, galas, talking to other women in the court but like less than half of this book is actually spent on stopping Malum?
The love interest was weak and I didn’t care about her either. This probably would’ve been better as a slow burn instead of pining for an ex. Tbh, I thought this was supposed to be about the evil queen falling in love with Snow White so imagine my surprise when it wasn’t that lmao.
By the end I didnt really care if she turned evil or not and admittedly I was skimming because again, why the fuck is this over 500 pages.
I think that overall, we need to stop with the villain origin stories. I don’t really need a reason to believe a character is evil. Why can’t the evil queen just be that? This would’ve been 1000000% more interesting if she was rotten from the start and then fell in love and like turned against the girl she fell in love with. But instead we got a whiney character who wasn’t a teen but acted like one, that wasn’t ever really evil at any part of the story turning evil for “reasons”. The origin stories just ruin the lore and do nothing but waste your time.
Also the retelling sphere has to stop. At this point y’all are just writing original stories. I don’t need to be confused about where the source material is in a retelling. Like this has literally nothing to do with Snow White besides them having magic mirrors as witches.
I haven’t read Malice by her, but seeing how this dragged I’m sort of scared to read it. Def won’t be wasting time reading the sequel to this though.
This book dragged like no ones business and frankly had no reason to be over 500 pages. Ayleth is a pretty boring fmc, and at first you feel for her bc the coven sections are interesting but the moment she leaves for the castle it’s all out the door. She leaves on this urgent mission to stop Malum, but nothing she does is urgent? She spends a lot of time at balls, dinners, galas, talking to other women in the court but like less than half of this book is actually spent on stopping Malum?
The love interest was weak and I didn’t care about her either. This probably would’ve been better as a slow burn instead of pining for an ex. Tbh, I thought this was supposed to be about the evil queen falling in love with Snow White so imagine my surprise when it wasn’t that lmao.
By the end I didnt really care if she turned evil or not and admittedly I was skimming because again, why the fuck is this over 500 pages.
I think that overall, we need to stop with the villain origin stories. I don’t really need a reason to believe a character is evil. Why can’t the evil queen just be that? This would’ve been 1000000% more interesting if she was rotten from the start and then fell in love and like turned against the girl she fell in love with. But instead we got a whiney character who wasn’t a teen but acted like one, that wasn’t ever really evil at any part of the story turning evil for “reasons”. The origin stories just ruin the lore and do nothing but waste your time.
Also the retelling sphere has to stop. At this point y’all are just writing original stories. I don’t need to be confused about where the source material is in a retelling. Like this has literally nothing to do with Snow White besides them having magic mirrors as witches.
I haven’t read Malice by her, but seeing how this dragged I’m sort of scared to read it. Def won’t be wasting time reading the sequel to this though.
August 10, 2024
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Even though this took me three months to basically read, I am so happy with how it all ended. Hot damn! The Crimson Crown is the third book by this author, Heather Walter, and I'm surprised that I have received all of her books as an ARC. Well, okay, maybe not that surprised because I absolutely love her writing.
In this, you will meet Ayleth. She is a young witch who is just trying to live her life. Whether it's with her mother and the coven, or maybe it's on the quest to find the stones, she will always need to figure out who is a friend or foe. Her life is never the same after her sisters dies. It also doesn't help that the love of her life has left her and the coven either.
So, it's kind of interesting when she goes on a quest and runs into the one person she would never expect to. Jacquetta. The girl who broke her heart and betrayed her. Together, they are like feral cats trying to claim territory. It's not always easy, or a pretty picture, but eventually they start to get closer. Throw in some castle drama, magic failings, an unknown bad guy, and a thirsty ass king who needs to hear the word no more often, and you are basically hooked.
Or maybe that's how I felt? Either way, I enjoyed the heck out of this book. The last part—there's five—blew my mind, and I'm so excited that this is part of a duology. I can't wait for the next book and hope to be amazed even more. I want to see what Ayleth will do to the world next.
"Mirror, mirror on the wall," I say, the words pulled from my lips like a spell. "Who is fairest of them all?"
Even though this took me three months to basically read, I am so happy with how it all ended. Hot damn! The Crimson Crown is the third book by this author, Heather Walter, and I'm surprised that I have received all of her books as an ARC. Well, okay, maybe not that surprised because I absolutely love her writing.
In this, you will meet Ayleth. She is a young witch who is just trying to live her life. Whether it's with her mother and the coven, or maybe it's on the quest to find the stones, she will always need to figure out who is a friend or foe. Her life is never the same after her sisters dies. It also doesn't help that the love of her life has left her and the coven either.
So, it's kind of interesting when she goes on a quest and runs into the one person she would never expect to. Jacquetta. The girl who broke her heart and betrayed her. Together, they are like feral cats trying to claim territory. It's not always easy, or a pretty picture, but eventually they start to get closer. Throw in some castle drama, magic failings, an unknown bad guy, and a thirsty ass king who needs to hear the word no more often, and you are basically hooked.
Or maybe that's how I felt? Either way, I enjoyed the heck out of this book. The last part—there's five—blew my mind, and I'm so excited that this is part of a duology. I can't wait for the next book and hope to be amazed even more. I want to see what Ayleth will do to the world next.
October 15, 2024
for a book this long, it should've had enough time to give us a good, progressive corruption arc. but it really didn't. we get glimpses of ayleth's possible corruption but at the end, it felt like she went from 0 to 100 in a snap and it's so FRUSTRATING, because the middle part dragged on and only showed us how hilariously incompetent the fmc was. while it may highlight her lack of knowledge about the court, it also makes her supposedly smart or cunningness absolutely null.
aside from that aspect, the story was interesting enough, but none of the characters really stood out except for the princess, and not even the sapphic romance was enough to make me swoon. they were exes, so there's plenty of complicated feelings there, but there was also barely anything about them that made me root for them to make up and it's so unfortunate because helloooo sapphic romance 😭
aside from that aspect, the story was interesting enough, but none of the characters really stood out except for the princess, and not even the sapphic romance was enough to make me swoon. they were exes, so there's plenty of complicated feelings there, but there was also barely anything about them that made me root for them to make up and it's so unfortunate because helloooo sapphic romance 😭
October 6, 2024
4.5 Stars
This is why I am always on the side of the villains because their anger and vengeance is justified.
This villain origin story of Ayleth the “Evil Queen” in Snow White has the most satisfying, most scrumptious revenge I have ever read. Everything leading up to the climax of the story was so hither and yon but it was all worth it and part and parcel to the experience of the story.
My only suggestion to Ayleth is to get some therapy so she can move on, work through the hurt and leave it behind so she can feel happy being the bad bitch that she is. Fuck the haters who fucked her up. The best revenge is living a full life as a bad bitch.
This is why I am always on the side of the villains because their anger and vengeance is justified.
This villain origin story of Ayleth the “Evil Queen” in Snow White has the most satisfying, most scrumptious revenge I have ever read. Everything leading up to the climax of the story was so hither and yon but it was all worth it and part and parcel to the experience of the story.
My only suggestion to Ayleth is to get some therapy so she can move on, work through the hurt and leave it behind so she can feel happy being the bad bitch that she is. Fuck the haters who fucked her up. The best revenge is living a full life as a bad bitch.
September 4, 2024
THIS WAS SO GOOD
September 10, 2024
Audiobook (19 hours) narrated by Emily Woo Zeller
Emily Woo Zeller is excellent. I had the opportunity to visit her in one of my favorite reads last year, The Poppy War, The Dragon Republic, and The Burning God. While this first book of a series by Heather Walter, is completely different than The Poppy Wars trilogy, Zeller kills it, in every way. I recommend the audiobook, if you are considering it.
The audio quality is also excellent, without distortion, erroneous noise, or obvious edits.
Whew. This was a ride!
Heather Walter just wrote an exquisite origin story to one of the most recognizable fairy tale villains.
Mirror, mirror, on the wall... hint! hint!
I was such a fan of this authors first duology, Malice, and Misrule, but this... This is incredible.
It is so pretty and dark and delicious.
Ayleth is not born evil. There's nothing that would suggest her future as the big bad in Snow White: A Tale from the Brothers Grimm, except we all know due to the story written all the way back in 1812. A mere 212 years later, we finally get an opportunity to read Heather Walter's version of Ayleth's origin story.
Not only is it laced in old fairy tale lore but it also has a bit more of a whisper of an old Salem feel to the story, with the witches and witch fear mongering.
Even a couple of days after reading it, I cannot say too much or I will say too much!
This is also a duology, so we will get a part 2, hopefully early next year or tomorrow, if Heather is open to a mind meld, I am available to just auto absorb all of the book and I promise not to tell a soul!
I cannot wait to read what's next, I am really excited to see all of the things that are running around in Heather's mind. Well, what she is willing to share. I'm not about to go using any magical force mind stealing, you know, just regular reading. Not because I am all good but mostly because I don't know how to use the force and never quite grew into any magical powers.
Anyway...
If fairy tales or witches are your thing, and you are up for an origin story. This is the book to read next.
Emily Woo Zeller is excellent. I had the opportunity to visit her in one of my favorite reads last year, The Poppy War, The Dragon Republic, and The Burning God. While this first book of a series by Heather Walter, is completely different than The Poppy Wars trilogy, Zeller kills it, in every way. I recommend the audiobook, if you are considering it.
The audio quality is also excellent, without distortion, erroneous noise, or obvious edits.
Whew. This was a ride!
Heather Walter just wrote an exquisite origin story to one of the most recognizable fairy tale villains.
Mirror, mirror, on the wall... hint! hint!
I was such a fan of this authors first duology, Malice, and Misrule, but this... This is incredible.
It is so pretty and dark and delicious.
Ayleth is not born evil. There's nothing that would suggest her future as the big bad in Snow White: A Tale from the Brothers Grimm, except we all know due to the story written all the way back in 1812. A mere 212 years later, we finally get an opportunity to read Heather Walter's version of Ayleth's origin story.
Not only is it laced in old fairy tale lore but it also has a bit more of a whisper of an old Salem feel to the story, with the witches and witch fear mongering.
Even a couple of days after reading it, I cannot say too much or I will say too much!
This is also a duology, so we will get a part 2, hopefully early next year or tomorrow, if Heather is open to a mind meld, I am available to just auto absorb all of the book and I promise not to tell a soul!
I cannot wait to read what's next, I am really excited to see all of the things that are running around in Heather's mind. Well, what she is willing to share. I'm not about to go using any magical force mind stealing, you know, just regular reading. Not because I am all good but mostly because I don't know how to use the force and never quite grew into any magical powers.
Anyway...
If fairy tales or witches are your thing, and you are up for an origin story. This is the book to read next.
December 11, 2024
Magical, sapphic, dark reimagining of Snow White. If you are looking for witch hunts with life or death stakes for the FMC all in a fairytale look no further.
# The Crimson Crown
# 12/2/2024 ~ 12/4/2024
# 5.0 / 5.0
# The Crimson Crown
# 12/2/2024 ~ 12/4/2024
# 5.0 / 5.0
June 1, 2024
2024 reads: 149/250
i received an advanced review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
in this queer, witchy reimagining of snow white’s evil queen, we follow the queen from the time she was a young witch named ayleth. she fears that, with her gifts having yet to reveal themselves, she will never become the witch her coven needs. so, she embarks on a perilous quest to the white palace, where she’s surprised to encounter jacquetta, a fellow witch who betrayed ayleth.
i have yet to read heather walter’s duology, but they’ve been on my tbr for a while, so i was interested in reading this book when i came across it. i will say, while this initially drew me in due to the comparison to snow white’s villain, i had completely forgotten that comparison before and while reading this. so, i would go in with the expectation that this is just a loose reimagining, and wasn’t meant to heavily resemble that story!
i’d recommend this to anyone who likes witchy stories, queer and morally grey main characters, and complex family dynamics!
i received an advanced review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
in this queer, witchy reimagining of snow white’s evil queen, we follow the queen from the time she was a young witch named ayleth. she fears that, with her gifts having yet to reveal themselves, she will never become the witch her coven needs. so, she embarks on a perilous quest to the white palace, where she’s surprised to encounter jacquetta, a fellow witch who betrayed ayleth.
i have yet to read heather walter’s duology, but they’ve been on my tbr for a while, so i was interested in reading this book when i came across it. i will say, while this initially drew me in due to the comparison to snow white’s villain, i had completely forgotten that comparison before and while reading this. so, i would go in with the expectation that this is just a loose reimagining, and wasn’t meant to heavily resemble that story!
i’d recommend this to anyone who likes witchy stories, queer and morally grey main characters, and complex family dynamics!
August 30, 2024
I wanted to live this book so much more than I did. Fairytale with an Anne Boleyn inspiration should have been my jam.
But this book was soooo disappointing.
What kills me the most is the amount of repetition in this book. By the end, I was exasperated by the amount of time the MC talked both her failed relationship with the love interest (whose romance was... nothing. I didn't feel anything for them), or "that voice" or "the dark part behind my ribs." I wanted to throw the book at the wall, but I was using the audiobook, so I couldn't have that.
Everys characters were very surface level, the stake were meuh and the little part I enjoy weren't enough to save the annoyance I was feeling with this book by the end.
Like I said, I wanted to love this so bad but it was a total failure for me.
But this book was soooo disappointing.
What kills me the most is the amount of repetition in this book. By the end, I was exasperated by the amount of time the MC talked both her failed relationship with the love interest (whose romance was... nothing. I didn't feel anything for them), or "that voice" or "the dark part behind my ribs." I wanted to throw the book at the wall, but I was using the audiobook, so I couldn't have that.
Everys characters were very surface level, the stake were meuh and the little part I enjoy weren't enough to save the annoyance I was feeling with this book by the end.
Like I said, I wanted to love this so bad but it was a total failure for me.
February 9, 2025
Wow it felt like I was reading this book for 10 years!! I was pretty bored the entire time and think the ending didn’t make total sense? Idk it just wasn’t for me sadly
May 10, 2026
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I have always been a huge Disney fan and grew up watching all the princess movies. I still love them, but the "evil for the sake of being evil" trope never really made sense to me. I'm a sucker for a retelling and a villain origin story, so picking this one up was a no brainer.
The story follows Ayleth, a young witch living in secret to avoid the White King’s war on magic. When she heads to the White Palace to prove herself to her mother and her coven, she finds herself wrapped up in messy court drama and forced to work with Jacquetta, the girl who previously broke her heart.
I really loved the sapphic romance! It felt completely natural and not at all forced, plus we get a bit of spice 👀🔥. I also appreciated that the world building wasn't overwhelming. Sometimes fantasy can get a little too heavy, but this was a quick, easy read that was simple to follow.
The stakes are technically "fate of the world" high, but the story is much more personal than I expected. It focuses heavily on Ayleth’s petty squabbles with her mother, the court ladies, and Jacquetta. While I enjoyed the friendships she built, I was surprised by how much of a "typical heroine" Ayleth stayed throughout the book. She is pretty much pursuing goodness right up until the very final scene.
I was definitely hoping for a bit more of a slow descent into darkness, so I’m really counting on book two to deliver on that "wickedest of them all" promise!
I have always been a huge Disney fan and grew up watching all the princess movies. I still love them, but the "evil for the sake of being evil" trope never really made sense to me. I'm a sucker for a retelling and a villain origin story, so picking this one up was a no brainer.
The story follows Ayleth, a young witch living in secret to avoid the White King’s war on magic. When she heads to the White Palace to prove herself to her mother and her coven, she finds herself wrapped up in messy court drama and forced to work with Jacquetta, the girl who previously broke her heart.
I really loved the sapphic romance! It felt completely natural and not at all forced, plus we get a bit of spice 👀🔥. I also appreciated that the world building wasn't overwhelming. Sometimes fantasy can get a little too heavy, but this was a quick, easy read that was simple to follow.
The stakes are technically "fate of the world" high, but the story is much more personal than I expected. It focuses heavily on Ayleth’s petty squabbles with her mother, the court ladies, and Jacquetta. While I enjoyed the friendships she built, I was surprised by how much of a "typical heroine" Ayleth stayed throughout the book. She is pretty much pursuing goodness right up until the very final scene.
I was definitely hoping for a bit more of a slow descent into darkness, so I’m really counting on book two to deliver on that "wickedest of them all" promise!
January 23, 2026
review to come
Want to Read
September 7, 2022I adored Malice and Misrule, also by Heather Walter, and found the characters full of life, the magic interesting and the world building wonderful. Hope this will be as good!
Did Not Finish
September 1, 2024DNF @60%.
Even 3x speed can’t help this snail paced plot. Literally NOTHING has happened.
Even 3x speed can’t help this snail paced plot. Literally NOTHING has happened.
May 27, 2025
DNF
not gay enough
not gay enough
October 22, 2024
OMG!!! This was amazing!!!! I’m blown away!!!!! I love Ayleth as a character! 6/5 stars!!! 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯 I need the Sequel like yesterday!!! Omg!!
December 25, 2024
ARC provided by NetGalley!
December 30, 2024
Heavy is the Crown 3.5 Stars
As a fan of fairytale retellings and villain origin stories, The Crimson Crown naturally caught my attention, and I’m glad I gave it a chance. While it has its flaws, there’s plenty to appreciate in this intriguing take on how the Evil Queen came to be.
One of the standout elements of this book is its premise. The worldbuilding and the imaginative twists on familiar tropes are captivating. Walter weaves a story that feels both fresh and rooted in the dark, magical atmosphere one expects from a tale of villainy. However, the execution didn’t always deliver. At times, the narrative wandered, losing focus amid its ambitious scope.
A notable drawback is the repetition. Certain phrases, like Ayleth’s “force behind her ribs,” appeared so frequently that they became a distraction, detracting from the intensity of key moments and breaking immersion.
The character dynamics, on the other hand, are a highlight. Blodwyn, with her fierce loyalty and sharp wit, quickly became a favorite, while Joan and Roland brought a sense of camaraderie to the cast. Although Ayleth is complex and layered, her interactions with Jacquetta sometimes felt repetitive and unresolved, leaving a sense of frustration.
The book's ending is its saving grace. While the story builds slowly, the climax is a thrilling, unforgettable conclusion. Walter's ability to deliver such a breathtaking finale made the journey worthwhile and left me eager for what comes next.
Interestingly, I own Malice by Heather Walter but haven’t read it yet. After finishing this book, I’m more intrigued to explore how her storytelling evolves across different works.
Overall, The Crimson Crown is an enjoyable read that shines in its high points but stumbles in its execution. If you can get past the repetition, it’s worth a read for the compelling characters and a truly spectacular ending.
As a fan of fairytale retellings and villain origin stories, The Crimson Crown naturally caught my attention, and I’m glad I gave it a chance. While it has its flaws, there’s plenty to appreciate in this intriguing take on how the Evil Queen came to be.
One of the standout elements of this book is its premise. The worldbuilding and the imaginative twists on familiar tropes are captivating. Walter weaves a story that feels both fresh and rooted in the dark, magical atmosphere one expects from a tale of villainy. However, the execution didn’t always deliver. At times, the narrative wandered, losing focus amid its ambitious scope.
A notable drawback is the repetition. Certain phrases, like Ayleth’s “force behind her ribs,” appeared so frequently that they became a distraction, detracting from the intensity of key moments and breaking immersion.
The character dynamics, on the other hand, are a highlight. Blodwyn, with her fierce loyalty and sharp wit, quickly became a favorite, while Joan and Roland brought a sense of camaraderie to the cast. Although Ayleth is complex and layered, her interactions with Jacquetta sometimes felt repetitive and unresolved, leaving a sense of frustration.
The book's ending is its saving grace. While the story builds slowly, the climax is a thrilling, unforgettable conclusion. Walter's ability to deliver such a breathtaking finale made the journey worthwhile and left me eager for what comes next.
Interestingly, I own Malice by Heather Walter but haven’t read it yet. After finishing this book, I’m more intrigued to explore how her storytelling evolves across different works.
Overall, The Crimson Crown is an enjoyable read that shines in its high points but stumbles in its execution. If you can get past the repetition, it’s worth a read for the compelling characters and a truly spectacular ending.
October 18, 2024
Indulgent fun, but lacks substance.
I'm a big fan of Walter's MALICE, a queer reimagining of Snow White from the villain's perspective. The sequel MISRULE I was ultimately disappointed with, but I was willing to give THE CRIMSON CROWN a shot. Unfortunately this one failed to live up to expectations – mostly for the same reasons I disliked MISRULE.
The narration follows a rote pattern and hand-holds you through every decision protagonist Ayleth makes. There's a clear order to the way her internal narration is written that makes it feel mechanical, repetitive and predictable. Ayleth digests the information, asks herself questions we as readers could've already parsed ourselves from the text, and then laments on what her inner voice is telling her, sometimes with the wind howling or birds calling or thunder booming in the background. There's no variation, and very quickly it becomes boring.
That unfortunately makes Ayleth quite annoying as a character – further compounded when she doesn't have any standout qualities that make me want to root for her. You know from the first chapter she's going to learn that bringing her dead sister back is a bad idea so her internal journey feels predictable. She also misses extremely obvious things that should clue her into the plot. I mean, gee, I wonder who could've sent you a provocative costume to wear to the ball the king who is pursuing you is hosting???
Her and Jacquetta have very little chemistry as a result of this too and I failed to see how either of them liked each other in the first place. Like Ayleth, Jacquetta had no real personality and feels deliberately placed there to fill her obligatory role as love interest. She lacked something that made her believable to me. Their enemies-to-lovers second chance had none of the nuance behind it, and their reason for hating each other in the first place is so pathetic you wonder how Ayleth had the energy to hold a grudge for so long. Both of them also evoke a Not Like Other Girls energy, being the only women within the court that aren't social parasites.
This isn't to mention how the plot evolves, especially in the first half of the book. You have to suspend your disbelief really hard for the number of coincidences that get Ayleth to the palace, including not one, but TWO instances of her saving someone from falling debris. It read like Walter didn't know how to get her there and puppeteered this silly set of circumstances to make it happen. The last ten or so pages is when this book really finds its footing, but in the end slogging through the tepid build-up isn't worth it.
If you can switch yourself off to how little depth this book has and just enjoy the decadent, lavish descriptions of court life and political machinations, you might just enjoy this book, but for me I wanted more.
WILL I READ ON? No.
ARC received from Random House UK Cornerstone in exchange for an honest review. This title released 27th August 2024.
LAST REVIEW
1. MALICE ★★★★★
2. MISRULE ★★★☆☆
I'm a big fan of Walter's MALICE, a queer reimagining of Snow White from the villain's perspective. The sequel MISRULE I was ultimately disappointed with, but I was willing to give THE CRIMSON CROWN a shot. Unfortunately this one failed to live up to expectations – mostly for the same reasons I disliked MISRULE.
The narration follows a rote pattern and hand-holds you through every decision protagonist Ayleth makes. There's a clear order to the way her internal narration is written that makes it feel mechanical, repetitive and predictable. Ayleth digests the information, asks herself questions we as readers could've already parsed ourselves from the text, and then laments on what her inner voice is telling her, sometimes with the wind howling or birds calling or thunder booming in the background. There's no variation, and very quickly it becomes boring.
That unfortunately makes Ayleth quite annoying as a character – further compounded when she doesn't have any standout qualities that make me want to root for her. You know from the first chapter she's going to learn that bringing her dead sister back is a bad idea so her internal journey feels predictable. She also misses extremely obvious things that should clue her into the plot. I mean, gee, I wonder who could've sent you a provocative costume to wear to the ball the king who is pursuing you is hosting???
Her and Jacquetta have very little chemistry as a result of this too and I failed to see how either of them liked each other in the first place. Like Ayleth, Jacquetta had no real personality and feels deliberately placed there to fill her obligatory role as love interest. She lacked something that made her believable to me. Their enemies-to-lovers second chance had none of the nuance behind it, and their reason for hating each other in the first place is so pathetic you wonder how Ayleth had the energy to hold a grudge for so long. Both of them also evoke a Not Like Other Girls energy, being the only women within the court that aren't social parasites.
This isn't to mention how the plot evolves, especially in the first half of the book. You have to suspend your disbelief really hard for the number of coincidences that get Ayleth to the palace, including not one, but TWO instances of her saving someone from falling debris. It read like Walter didn't know how to get her there and puppeteered this silly set of circumstances to make it happen. The last ten or so pages is when this book really finds its footing, but in the end slogging through the tepid build-up isn't worth it.
If you can switch yourself off to how little depth this book has and just enjoy the decadent, lavish descriptions of court life and political machinations, you might just enjoy this book, but for me I wanted more.
WILL I READ ON? No.
ARC received from Random House UK Cornerstone in exchange for an honest review. This title released 27th August 2024.
LAST REVIEW
1. MALICE ★★★★★
2. MISRULE ★★★☆☆
Displaying 1 - 30 of 792 reviews