Crowns: A Heartbooks Anthology

by Brittany Eden (Editor), Brigitte Cromey (Editor), Kaitlyn Carter Brown (Contributor)

Authors Brittany Eden and Brigitte Cromey have collaborated as co-editors to bring you Crowns, a royal-themed anthology, which features a fantasy romance novella by Brigitte Cromey and a curated collection of short stories, flash fiction, poetry, photography, and art.

Authors:
Brigitte Cromey, Ava Lauren Grayson, Hannah Carter, Amber Kirkpatrick, Robin Rakkeby, Hope Bolinger, Kristen Bazen, Annee Clark, Hailey Huntington, Cassandra Hamm, Abigail Falanga, J.M. Hackman, Yakira Goldsberry, Danielle Robertson, Liz Koetsier, Katie Fitzgerald, Abby Johansen, Megan Miles, Kaitlyn Carter Brown, S.M. Jake, AJ Skelly, C. Ash

Poets:
Sara Anderson, Anne J. Hill, Brittany Eden, Brooke J. Katz, Amelia E. Clawford

Photographers & Illustrators:
Marie Lynch, C. Ash, Ruth Lumpkin, Sarah Harmon, Benjamin Cromey, Shannon Alldredge


Featured novella:

Guardian's Oath by Brigitte Cromey

Guard the princess. Save the kingdom. Stay alive.

Princess Talianna has gotten used to being invisible. As the only child of the royal line, she swears to become the best possible ruler for her people-even if it means no one will ever see the girl behind the crown. When fate reunites her with the knight who was once her best friend, she must hold to her promise-and leave the dreams of childhood behind.

Sir Gavin of Andel has never forgotten the princess with a smile as brilliant as the sun. When he's assigned to guard her after being separated for ten years, he swears to protect her with his life against all enemies-an oath that may prove as deadly in success as it would in failure.

They're bound to their oaths, but fulfilling them may cause their own hearts to break.

Genres: Fantasy, Anthologies, Romance

431 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2023

About the author

The bedside pile is getting out of hand; I don't have time to read it all.

Reviews

[Brittany Eden · Rating 5 out of 5]

***BRIT'S MINI-REVIEW OF ALL OF THE ANTHOLOGY***

Guardian’s Oath by Brigitte Cromey
NOBLE. SACRIFICIAL LOVE. FANTASY ROOTED IN TRUTH.
Flight or Fight by Kaitlyn Carter Brown
MAJESTIC.
A Marriage of Inconvenience by Robin Rakkeby
CLEVER.
All in Jest by Annee Clark
DREAMY.
Green Gloves by Katie Fitzgerald
LOVELY.
The Cottage Court Charlatan by Hannah Carter
DELIGHTFUL.
Callisto Falls by C. Ash
GRIPPING.
The Queens Under Glass by Danielle Robertson
RADIANT.
The Disheveled King, a poem by Anne J. Hill
COMPELLING.
Lessons of Kingship by Amber Kirkpatrick
VIVID.
There Was a King, a poem by Amelia E. Clawford
HEARTFELT.
Runaway Princess, a photo from Marie Lynch
WISTFUL.
Oasis by Kristen Bazen
POWERFUL.
The Light We Need by Liz Koetsier
ATMOSPHERIC.
Danish Crown, a photo from Sarah Harmon
STUNNING.
Crown Jewels by Hope Bolinger
CAPTIVATING.
Queening by Hailey Huntington
WORTHY.
Checkmate by Megan Miles
HOPEFUL.
The Princess is Buying Stabby Things by Yakira Goldsberry
CHARMING.
Elven Princess, art by Ruth Lumpkin
ORIGINAL.
Royally Imperfect by J.M. Hackman
ENTHRALLING.
Once and Future by Abigail Falanga
SURPRISING.
A Collision of Fate, a poem by Sara Anderson
CLASSIC.
Mosaic by Ava Lauren Grayson
GORGEOUS.
The Weight of Worlds by Abby Johansen
TOUCHING.
Through The Looking Glass, a photo from Shannon Alldredge
ETHEREAL.
Heavy is the Head by AJ Skelly
SWOONY.
Knots and Tangles by S.M. Jake
WINSOME.
The Crownmaker's Curse by Cassandra Hamm
SPELLBINDING.
Crowns of Consequence, a poem by Brooke J. Katz
WISE.
New Life in Old Places, a photo from Benjamin Cromey
BEAUTIFUL.


We hope this royal-themed anthology will leave you inspired with creativity, beauty, and hope. It includes gorgeous works of poetry, art, photography, flash fiction, and short story prose and I feel very blessed to be part of this project and to have experienced all the artistry of our contributors.

Anchoring the anthology is a featured romantic fantasy novella by Brigitte Cromey (my co-editor) and beyond that, you’ll find genres in this collection ranging from scifi, comedy, romantasy, contemporary, portals, fairytale, and allegory. This anthology is going to be beautiful to experience, and not only that, the profits will be going to fight human trafficking and will be donated to International Justice Mission.

[Laurel (Yeetarandomwriter) Burgess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magical. Creative. Thrilling.

I used to dislike the thought of short stories and poems, but if the younger me read this anthology then, she would have changed her mind on the spot.

As a reader, I enjoyed the fabulous novella, short stories, poems, art, and photos and as a writer, I kept gawking at the phrases and words and being like ok ok ok that's how they made it so pretty or emotional or deep and maybe I can do that too.

I felt the care taken in these stories, the unique spin in worlds and characters and theme. It blew me away. The imagination in my heart is glowing.

Belated E-ARC review = my honest review.

Thank you for the adventures, the laughs, the oh no, and the awwwwws. I very much had a great time. :)

[Nathaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

My endorsement: “Crowns is a delightful collection with a sharp edge. It perfectly balances the beauty of royalty with the danger of power.”
Nathaniel Luscombe, author of Moon Soul

I did love this a lot and I look forward to rereading and annotating a physical copy

[Brigitte Cromey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I still don't really like fantasy romance. To have that descriptor placed beside one of my stories is weird enough that I'm still looking over my shoulder to be certain that it's actually *me* people are referring to. Yet here we are, with a fantasy romance novella anchoring an anthology that I helped edit, jam-packed full of contributions from so many incredible people.

And this story. Wow.

I can say that, at least, because it's mine and I'm allowed to be biased. I handwrote that first draft in my chemistry lecture (I ought to have been paying better attention than I was), and never expected I'd ever actually publish it. (Too embarrassing...I mean, ROMANCE?!) Yet, when I was approached by Quill & Flame to anchor Crowns, I fell in love with this story all over again. The princess hidden by her crown and the knight sworn to protect her practically leapt off the page in a way their first draft counterparts never had. There was nobility, sacrifice, courage, and loyalty displayed by both characters amid circumstances that threw their best qualities into sharp relief.
More than that, I suddenly, wondrously saw the heart of the story that had been there all along—that you're never hidden or insignificant to those who love you. I think it's a reminder we all could use, once in a while.

(And it has stabbing. Because it's me, after all.)

Thanks for reading my ramble. Thanks for giving this collection a read. Above all, thank you for being here. The world is a better place with you in it.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Royalty-themed stories are not in my typical reading repertoire -  or writing wheelhouse, for that matter - but I feel so honored to be a part of this beautiful anthology. Each of the authors' stories and poems are well-crafted, and they whisked me away to worlds both realistic and fantastical. The artwork, too, is beautiful, and helps hold the anthology together with its depictions of various aspects of royal life.

Guardian's Oath by Brigitte Cromey is a fantasy romance novella about Princess Talianna and Gavin, the guardian who has sworn to protect her. The story is filled with heart-pounding suspense and many twists and turns. I enjoyed seeing how the love story unfolded amidst the action.

Other highlights for me include: 
+ Annee Clark's "All in Jest" in which a princess promised for an arranged marriage has feelings for her jester.
+ Danielle Robertson's "The Queens Under Glass," set in The House of Cards, which contains the brilliant line, "The Queen of Hearts had fallen in love with a suitor who possessed bad luck in spades." 
+ Anne J. Hill's poem, "The Disheveled King," in which a king is tormented by memories of his mistakes.
+ Amber Kirkpatrick's "Lessons of Kingship," in which a prince experiences battle and strives to emulate his king in his treatment of a dying soldier.
+ Yakir Goldsberry's "The Princess is Buying Stabby Things," in which Rebault becomes concerned when he is asked to track the princess and finds her buying a pair of items that look suspiciously like witch's wands and might just be terrifying weapons.
+ S.M. Jake's "Knots and Tangles," in which Her Highness Ozanne wonders if His Majesty, her husband, loves her, or if a royal love is always just for show.  
+ "The Weight of Worlds" by Abby Elissa Johansen, in which Tae struggles to juggle her lives and relationships into two realities between which she must constantly travel. 

Often an anthology like this will have weaker stories and stronger ones, but in this case, every unique tale is as polished and unpredictable as the next. With stories set in many times and places, there is something here for everyone, even a reader like me who doesn't normally read royalty stories. I can't wait to add this book to my shelves on December 1st!

[Amber Kirkpatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

ENDORSEMENT FOR GUARDIAN'S OATH

Nobility, courage, self-sacrifice … these are the themes explored in Brigitte Cromey’s precious, deep-hearted novella. When two characters are so determined to do what is right and good, can they make room in their lives to allow a childhood affection to blossom into romance? We live in dark times, and desperately need stories like these to help us find the light of hope. This is a tale after my own heart, and I will read it again and again the days to come.

[V. Romas Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received an ARC of this book to review*

For fans of happily ever afters and true love, Crowns is a heart-throbbing, swoon-worthy collection of beautiful stories. From far-off lands to modern day settings and futuristic worlds, the adventures in this anthology will leave your heart full and a smile on your face.

[Kristen Bazen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic collection of short stories, poetry, and art, anchored by Brigitte Cromey's lovely novella Guardian's Oath.

My favorite pieces:

"The Light We Need" by Liz Koetsier
"Knots and Tangles" by S. M. Jake
"Thirst" by Brittany Eden

And, of course, I'm thrilled to have my short story "Oasis" featured alongside these talented authors!

[Emily Barnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

ENDORSEMENT: This beautiful collection showcases the weight and glory of those who wear, protect, or even create the crown. From traditional royals to sci-fi nobles, and fantasy princesses to world-jumping lovers, CROWNS will no doubt sweep you off your feet. With striking prose, humor, depth, and vivid landscapes, I found myself immersed in each unique world and the characters that lived and breathed within them.

[Danielle Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

CROWNS is a gorgeous anthology, anchored by Brigitte Cromey's novella, Guardian's Oath—an exciting, romantic, adventure of a novella. Editors Brigitte Cromey and Brittany Eden put this collection together with such care. There's such a variety of material: different genres, formats, time periods.... but it all feels cohesive. The poetry and art are especially stunning! I am so honored to have my story, "The Queens Under Glass" included, as well. :-)
I think there's something here for every kind of reader, and I'm so excited for December 1st when CROWNS releases!

[Amy Dunham · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delicious and heartwarming collection of stories. Adventure - romance - honor and courage - joy and hilarity are all in here. This was a fantastic uplifting read for dark January and introduced me to many new authors in the noblebright fantasy space.

[Brooke J Katz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crowns has everything you could want in an anthology.
Everything from poetry to short stories, art and photography.
Every piece is unique after you put the book down I wouldn't be surprised if you keep coming back to this one again and again it has grit, romance, humor, adventure, and most importantly heart.

Guardians Oath by Brigitte Cromey definitely writes from the heart, she brings the characters off the page and right into your imagination. This story is about sacrificial love and loyalty. I love Tali and Gavin there story is beautiful and dangerous and breathtaking.

Flight or Fight by Kaitlyn Brown is totally Star crossed royalty. I really loved the the parallels between the two characters and the imagery was gorgeous. I love the paths they need to choose. I wanted more it was so good

A marriage of inconvenience parts 1&2 by Robin Rakke: Oh my goodness I loved this story there was humor and mayhem two of my favorite things. I loved the spin these two characters put on marriage of convenience they were forced into and the adventure they find themselves in through the story. It was exciting and page turning.

All in Jest by Annee Clark, A fun delightful tale. I love the love triangle, I love the imagery Annee uses her words like a paint brush. It was fresh and exciting.

Green Gloves by Katie Fitzgerald, is so sweet I love the love story blooming in a garden it's romantic and swoon worthy. I felt as if I was helping in the garden watching these two characters bloom.

The Cottage Court Charlatan by Hannah Carter, swamps, royalty, curses and more are wrapped in this story. A story filled with pride and prejudices. A story filled with secrets, love and friendship. I love that both our main characters have flaws and lessons to learn. Hannah brings these characters and setting to life. Beautiful story.

Callisto Falls by C.Ash grabs your attention from the very beginning with its opening line keeping you page turning until the end. I loved the imagery of the world C. ash is building. I love the message of hope and longing of faith and ever present help in the darkness. Wonderful story and exciting.

The Queens Under Glass by Danielle Robertson. This story gave me sense and sensibility, meets Alice in wonderland, meets Mary and Martha type vibes. I love a good story that centers on relationships and growth but much like the gardening this story their will be growing pains and how these sisters handle each situation is so moving.


The disheveled king a poem by Anne j hill an eerie portrait the downfall of power and greed. Anne written word brings to life a king reeping the consequences of his actions I really enjoyed this poem.

Lessons of Kingship by Amber kirkpatrick is packed with emotion, grit, humbleness and strength. It takes place on a battle field where a young lad recalls lessons from the king. It's a great story of how the seeds planted grow and sprout when needed. You watch a young man grow through the lessons he was taught, now having to put them into practice. I got a little emotional reading this one.

There was a king a poem by Amelia E. Crawford. Oh my word this poem was beautifully unexpected. You think you know how it will end but it surprises you in the best way!

Runaway Princess a photo by Marie Lynch I absolutely adore the story and meaning behind this photograph a crown left behind but not abandoned.

Oasis by Kristen Bazen oh I loved this prodigal daughter tale. I may not be a princess but I could definitely put myself into Nadira's shoes. Trying to do things my way in my time frame only for it to not be what I expected or to mess things up royally and what a beautiful portrait of the Father's love we see in King Shafiq. The descriptions immerse you into the story I felt thirsty like I had been finding my way with little water. Loved it.

Thirst by Brittany Eden will tug at your heart and open your eyes to what truly matters to The only one who can quench our thirst in a desert. Brittany is an artist with words painting what we can see and feel within the verses.

The light We need by Liz Koetsier a story about light overpowering darkness. Secrets can be hidden for only so long and this story shows you just that, there can be beauty from the ashes and light in the darkness.

Danish crown a photo by Sarah Harmon shows magnificent beauty sparkling you can almost feel the weight of responsibility just by looking at it.

Crown jewels by Hope Bolinger what a fun twist of POV! I loved the heist, the different POV and the humor in the writing this was fun.

Queening by Hailey Huntington the build up to the finale is awesome. I love how Hailey has you thinking you're reading one thing and the end leaves you shouting YES!!!! because it turns into something way more. So good. I love a good story about finding ones strength, becoming more then you ever thought imaginable.

CheckMate by Megan Miles oooh this as good very strategic and mind binding we start off in action right away and learn a few things during an intense game of chess. I love that the main character isn't perfect but has an underlying strength and wisdom.

The Princess is buying Stabby things by Yakira Goldsberry. This story is hilarious. I seriously laughed out loud to this one. There is an assassin and a a princess and stabby things. I was not expecting the turn of events in this story which had me slapping my leg dying laughing for the rest of the story that sass and snark are fantasic as is the ending.

Elvin princess a freehand digital drawing by Ruth Lumpkin is phenomenal it fits the tone of this anthology perfectly and is just gorgeous.

Royally Imperfect byJ.M Hackman magical absolutely magical. I loved all the mythical creatures and I loved charlise she's funny and sweet but feisty. I love the arrange marriage situation. Charlise has such a negative outlook on herself based on someone else's opinion but someone's opinion may not always be the truth about us. Sometimes you have to go on a crazy adventure to figure that out or in real life step away from that negative environment to see yourself truly. This story was equal parts funny, sassy, swoony and inspiring.

Once and Future by Abigail Falanga
Oh my goodness I love the setting what girl who grew up going to the mall hasn't imagined there to be a magical portal hidden within the mall. This story was so fun and creative. I'm ready for more Kira stories I adore her.

A Collision of Fate a poem by Sara Anderson I could definitely hear this as spoken word. The way she paints her words to bring the imagery to life is fabulous.

Mosaic by Ava Lauren Grayson just took my heart. This sweet story packs a punch filled with Strength, love and comedy. The ending is chefs kiss perfect.

The weight of the world's by Abby Elissa Johansen is romantic and page turning. The alternate realities and portal magic takes you on a journey you feel as though like Tae you have to make a choice and wonder if you were in her shoes what would you do. This was a great read like a clean version of outlander loved it.

Through the looking glass a photo by Shannon Alldredge is whimsical and fits perfectly with the stories that surround it. There is a a heavy contemplation in the princesses eyes like she doesn't know what to choose just beautiful in love how a photo can tell a story.

Heavy is the Head by Aj Skelly will have you swooning and falling in love in the middle of an alcove. I'm still over here clutching my book to my heart.

Knots and Tangles by S.M Jake is a sweet and funny romance. A marriage of convenience it should be just that shouldn't it? Ozanne did think any differently about her marriage to the king until others started pointing out the little things he does for her and then her thoughts start spiraling. This was so sweet and I laugh out loud moments while reading it so good!

The Crownmakers Curse parts 1 and 2 by Cassandra Hamm my that was an exciting read! I found myself holding my breath at times waiting to see how it will all unfold. Cassandra brings you into Azucenda's world where gems hold powerful magic used for royalty that only expert crown makes should handle but with power comes those who seek it who should not have it. I was sucked into the story and didn't want to leave!

New life in new places a photo by Benjamin Cromey this photo drew me in when you look at it, you almost feel like you could reach out and touch the cherry blossoms and feel a slight breeze across you skin. Wish I could see it in person beautiful photo.

[Cassandra Hamm · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a bit of a rough start (in my opinion), this anthology pulled through. I didn’t particularly care for the novella that took up the first quarter of the book, but the other stories made up for it, some bringing me to laughter, others to tears.

My top story was “A Marriage of Inconvenience” by Robin Rakkeby. I would read a whole novel about it. The Cinder and Star Wars vibes, the adorable relationship, the fascinating worldbuilding with one half of the planet in constant sun and one half without (desert and ice)… I did feel like the end was a bit rushed and thought there would be more, but I truly enjoyed the story.

Some other favorites were “Oasis” by Kristen Bazen, “The Weight of Worlds” by Abby Johansen, “Royally Imperfect” by J.M. Hackman, “The Light We Need” by Liz Koetsier, and “Queening” by Hailey Huntington.

I know that a lot of people enjoyed the novella; it just wasn’t for me. I love “Princess and her guard” stories (Winter and Jacin, anyone?), but “Guardian’s Oath” was perhaps a bit too clean cut for me, if that makes sense? The characters were too perfect, the emotions didn’t go deep enough, the twists felt contrived, and the relationship didn’t feel like it had much development. The characters loved each other from the start, just hadn’t told each other, and they got together pretty early. Though they faced some challenges to their relationship after they got together, I didn’t feel like there was much growth. So I definitely preferred other stories in this collection. But I’m glad a lot of people enjoyed the novella.

Overall, a beautiful anthology full of romance and adventure for anyone who likes royalty stories!

I have a story in this anthology, “The Crownmaker’s Curse.”

[Kaitlyn Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful anthology comprised of a wonderful group of epic stories and even more epic authors! From its hallmark Guardian's Oath, a story of honor and true love, to the vast collection of stories giving us daring adventures, crowns and complications, dashing princes and timid arranged marriages, lush poetry, art and photographs, and some laughter and tears along the way.

It is an absolute pleasure to have my story Flight or Fight included in this one, and much thanks to the editors Brittany and Brigette for their efforts in bringing this anthology to life.

[Hailey Huntington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crowns is a collection of royalty-themed short stories, flash fiction, poems, and artwork, with a featured novella. I am honored to have a flash fiction piece, "Queening," featured in this anthology.

Some of my favorite/standout stories were:

-"The Cottage Court Charlatan" by Hannah Carter. This story was charming and sweet with fairy tale vibes.

-"Crown Jewels" by Hope Bolinger. A unique POV and character voice made this a refreshing piece in the middle of the anthology.

-"The Princess is Buying Stabby Things" by Yarika Goldsberry. If the title doesn't make you smile, the rest of this humorous story will.

While some of the stories in Crowns don't have a romance-based plot (such as mine, "Queening"), the majority of stories are romantic. As such, Crowns is best for fans of romance and royalty.

Cautions (these are done generally, rather than story-specific): moderate/heavy romance; kissing; non-graphic violence *

*It's been a little bit since I finished Crowns, so I may have forgotten a caution

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t believe I haven’t reviewed this anthology yet. I’ve read Guardians Oath at least five times and it’s become a comfort read over the years. I don’t know what Brigitte injected into this story, but it feels like a literal hug to my brain every time I come back to it.

I thoroughly enjoyed Green Gloves by Fitzgerald. I think about it from time to time and it makes me smile.

The Princess is Buying Stabby Things by Goldsburry is absolutely adorable and I genuinely laughed out loud on multiple occasions.

Oh, and A Marriage of Inconvenience by *cough* yours truly *cough* isn’t half bad 😏

[Crystal Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Endorsement for Guardian’s Oath*

“Guardian’s Oath is a delicious blend of adventure, magic, and heart. Brigitte Cromey crafted a lovely story perfect for fans of childhood friends-to-more, forbidden love, and royal romance. Readers will find themselves rooting for the characters as they evade danger within their own borders, as well as their feelings for one another. This novella is a shining jewel in the Crowns anthology.”

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The anthology starts out strong with “The Guardian’s Oath” by Brigitte Cromey. I found myself holding my breath for the characters throughout the story, rooting for them until the end.

The rest of the anthology was a wonderful kaleidoscope of varying stories and poetry. From sweet hallmark-esqe contemporary romances like “Green Gloves” by Katie Fitzgerald to tales full of courage like “Queening” by Hailey Huntington (also loved the clever chess references). There’s fantasy romance like “Royally Imperfect” by J.M. Hackman with shapeshifters and sci-fi fantasy like “Callisto Falls” by C. Ash full of suspense (and a reminder of where our help really comes from).

Stories like “Once and Future” by Abigail Falanga leave you with a heart warming feeling, and stories like “Lessons of Kingship” by Amber Kirkpatrick leave you understanding the weight of what being “Royal” can really mean. And there’s plenty of great humor from stories like “The Princess Buys Stabby Things” by Yakira Goldsberry and unique narratives like “Crown Jewels” by Hope Bolinger. There are beautifully woven poetry like “Thirst” by Brittany Eden and moving free verse like “There was a King” by Amelia E. Crawford. The list just keeps going on and on, and it all ends with a suspenseful final story, “The Crownmaker’s Curse” by Cassandra Hamm, that had me tense until the end. (I also can’t forget about the beautiful photography and art work to highlight the stories.)

Each story is unique in its own way, all uniting under the canopy of the theme “royal.” I feel like there really is something in here for anyone. It’s so hard for me to pick which was my favorite piece, but another one of my favorites that I haven’t mentioned yet is “Knots and Tangles” by S.M. Jake. I love the “marriage of convenience” romance trope in historical fiction, and this story gave me the same swoony feel. All in all, Crowns is a fantastic anthology supporting a fantastic cause!

[J. Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolutely WONDERFUL book!!! The novella was so good, I absolutely loved the main theme!! And all the stories and photos were gorgeous!!!!! I can definitely recommend it

[Amelia E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Guardian’s Oath’ was a sweet story with well-written characters, I enjoyed it — along with the many Royal short stories! And of course there are a few Royal poems and some beautiful art in here as well ☺️

To me a lot of the stories felt…slightly rushed or incomplete? But I think that’s at least partly because I’m not used to reading much short-form fiction, and it’s not my personal preference lol. That said, I had a lot of fun reading through this anthology (which I should have read a while ago but…uhhh better late than never.)

Some of my favorites were:
—The Princess is Buying Stabby Things by Yakira Goldsberry
—A Marriage of Inconvenience by Robin Rakkeby
—Royally Imperfect by J.M. Hackman
—Knots and Tangles by S.M. Jake

Pretty clean collection as far as I remember. There is, of course, some kissing lol

[Emmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was lovely.
Especially the three longer stories were amazing.
1. Guardian's Oath
2. A marriage of inconvenience
3. The Crownmaker
I quite enjoyed most of the stories in between, but these three were definitely the ones that make me feel all the feels.
Sweet, clean romance, some action and humour mingled in and hope. This gave me a good breather in between some heavier books.

Coarse language: none
Violence & gore: mild
Sexual content: no spice, though the kissing in the last story gets a little bit more passionate.

*I received a free copy from the authors. This did not influence my rating or review.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started this. Read over half of it, I think. Then stopped, and haven't picked it up again, which isn't really because there was anything wrong with it or that I didn't like it. It's an enormous collection of lots and lots of very short stories and some poems. Mostly they don't interconnect. So there might be a time when I pull it back up and read several more, and several more, and so on. But in the meantime, I felt I should get it off my currently reading shelf, because in truth I paused ages ago and haven't come back to it. But if you had very limited bits of time in which to read, this might be perfect.

[Abigail Hawthorne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The whole collection was stunning. As I read, I wrote a mini-review for each story and poem:

Guardian’s Oath - Brigette Cromney // 4 stars
Such a beautiful story! The main characters were amazing to get to know (I’d love more from their POVs), and the outer plot was interesting enough to keep the tension going even in the more romantic moments.

Flight or Fight - Kaitlyn Carter Brown//5 stars
Eek! I need a whole book with Saffron and Zarin. I love them. The epic worldbuilding and character development in such a short story . . . wow.

A Marriage of Inconvenience: Part One - Robin Rakkeby//5 stars
I've fallen in love with Robin's writing style. And these characters . . . They're amazing. And the worldbuilding is so cool. I just wish Robin's story was a series with 4 novels instead of a couple short stories.

All in Jest - Annee Clark//4 stars
The prose is so beautiful in this story! The princess’s character sparkles, and the tension is balanced on a knife’s edge.

A Marriage or Inconvenience: Part Two - Robin Rakkeby//4 stars
The underground world is so interesting! I wish there was more time to understand the world better. But I'll take any time I get with Lazlo and Myka.

Green Gloves - Katie Fitzgerald//4.5 stars
Such a cute story!! Short and sweet, full of the feeling of happily-ever-after.

The Cottage Court Charlatan - Hannah Carter//3.5 stars
I loved the setting of this story! The descriptions were very heavy and the ending wasn't my favorite. But the setting/atmosphere was just so fun, I still liked reading this story.

Callisto Falls - C. Ash//4.5 stars
I loved the worldbuilding and the characters! I want to see more of Lyra, for sure. And the waterfalls were such a cool addition!

The Queens under Glass - Danielle Robertson//4 stars
The writing was STUNNING. The story and the characters themselves could have used some more development, but the writing was so beautiful I really just didn’t care that much. I could read a whole book of Danielle’s prose and not really care what the story was about. It’s that good.

The Disheveled King - Anne J. Hill//4.5 stars
Short and poignant, this poem reads more like a piece of well-written flash fiction. The imagery is beautiful.

Lessons of Kingship - Amber Kirkpatrick//4.5 stars
Such a sweet story. Short, but packs an emotional punch. It’s the kind of short story that doesn’t need any explanation or any more stories surrounding it - it stands beautifully on its own.

There Was a King - Amelia E. Clawford//3.5 stars
Interesting poem! It’s message is great, but I would have loved if we got to see a little more of the young man’s character.

Oasis - Kristen Bazen//5 stars
I LOVED this story. The worldbuilding was amazing. And I loved how it was such a snapshot of Nadira’s life - not a bunch of scenes, but not a few critical moments.

Thirst - Brittany Eden//3.5 stars
I love the flash-fiction in a poem concept! This story didn't resonate with me as much as the others, but it's still beautiful.

The Light We Need - Liz Koetsier//4.5 stars
Liz’s writing is amazing! I love how the story is just snapshots of Layla’s life. It feels like you’re getting one look into a long story.

Crown Jewels - Hope Bolinger//5 stars
I didn't know I needed a story about a sentient crown, but I guess I did. That was amazing.

Queening - Hailey Huntington//3 stars
I like Aileen’s character! And I love how the story ended with the title of the next story (that was an awesome idea from the editors). The writing style and the coherence of the tale both fell a little flat for me, but I still enjoyed reading the story.

Checkmate - Megan Miles//4.5 stars
I loved the main character! And the chess aspect. And how short yet complete the whole story was.

The Princess is Buying Stabby Things - Yakira Goldsberry//5 stars
Such a fun story! The suspense sandwiched between the humor and great writing . . . It was amazing.

Royally Imperfect - J.M. Hackman//4 stars
Such a sweet story!!!! The characters were *awesome*.

Once and Future - Abigail Falanga//3.5 stars
Fun story and characters and premise! I wish it was a little longer so the theme/plot could be resolved better, though. But it was still a fun read! I love the uniqueness of the setting.

A Collision of Fate - Sara Anderson//5 stars
Beautiful!! Reminded me of a modern-day Shakespearean sonnet.

Mosaic - Ava Lauren Grayson//5 stars
Loved it! Such a funny, sweet piece of flash fiction.

The Weight of Worlds - Abby Johansen
Hey, look, it's my story!!

Heavy Is the Head - AJ Skelly//4 stars
The writing style is AMAZING. I haven't read anything by A.J. Skelly before this, but I need to remedy that situation. And I'm loving the one-scene stories like this.

Knots and Tangles - S.M. Jake//5 stars
I love, love, love it. One of my favorite stories in whole collection. The dialogue, the subtleties, the main character . . . Just perfection.

The Crownmaker’s Curse: Part One - Cassandra Hamm//5 stars
Okay, maybe this is my favorite story? I'm not sure. It's sooo good. Very excited for part two.

Crowns of Consequence - Brooke J. Katz//3 stars
Interesting poem! I liked the unique layout of it. And an interesting concept.

The Crownmaker's Curse: Part Two - Cassandra Hamm//5 stars
This story is so amazing. It's the perfect way to end the anthology. And the gem magic is so cool - I want to read a whole book about crownmakers and gem magic now.

[A.J. Skelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished the novella contained within the Crowns anthology, "Guardian's Oath."

It lived up to the hype.

Read it. Just, go read it.

Bodyguard, princess, assassination attempt, running for their lives, abduction, magic trees, treachery, betrayal, roses, kisses, and forbidden romance.

Yep.

Ticked all the right boxes. ;)

[Kylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a wonderful anthology. I loved how it emphasized just how many beautiful ways the idea of a CROWN can be imagined and interpreted. From far off lands, futuristic royalty, a frog prince, an actual crown, a crown maker… and on and on. What a great collection of stories and poems.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a delightful collection of royal stories, poems, and photos. There was a wide variety of genres and styles, and I enjoyed each one. The novella was my favorite (Kiera Cass vibes but so unique!), and many of these stories will stick with me for a long time.

[Crystal Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not a fan of anthologies but this one was so sweet. each story was just a beautiful fairytale like story.

[Anna Bakker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book of short stories and poems. Easy delightful read!

[Pam Vieira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful!

[Bryn Shutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review for Guardian's Oath --

Such an amazing page-turner filled with absolutely everything I love-political intrigue, princess/bodyguard romance, and swoony moments that keep drawing me back to read them again and again.