In the shadowed kingdom of Vyrelia, Kaevra Tenebris has spent her life hiding—hiding from her past, her power, and the forces that hunt her. When her carefully guarded world is shattered, she’s thrust into a dangerous game of survival. Rowanthar, a deadly tracker bound to the crown, is sent to capture her, but Kaevra proves to be unlike anyone he’s ever faced. As their paths collide, secrets unravel, and the fate of the kingdom teeters on the edge. Dark magic, forbidden alliances, and treacherous choices await in this gripping tale of power, destiny, and courage.
".... the whispers of a family hunted, of a child long sought but never found." (Ch 1)
Dark romantasy (no spice)
I'm glad that this book is the backstory that I felt was missing from The Corvus Court before I realized (after finishing the book) that that had been book 2!
"The lines between captor and something else felt more blurred with each passing moment." (Ch 10)
I thought I would enjoy getting to know Kaevra and Rowan in their initial interactions. Kaevra was more or less a petulant brat, and Rowan was the perpetually smirking brute. But it kind of felt like their conversations were going round and round. There were some good battle scenes. Kaevra comes into her power and grows up a little. Has some plot holes that I don't believe were resolved in book 2.
"She felt a shred of hope that her magic might one day be hers to command—and that perhaps, just perhaps, she could use it to fight back." (Ch 28)
Overview: In the shadowed kingdom of Vyrelia, Kaevra Tenebris has spent her life hiding—hiding from her past, her power, and the forces that hunt her. When her carefully guarded world is shattered, she’s thrust into a dangerous game of survival. Rowanthar, a deadly tracker bound to the crown, is sent to capture her, but Kaevra proves to be unlike anyone he’s ever faced. As their paths collide, secrets unravel, and the fate of the kingdom teeters on the edge. Dark magic, forbidden alliances, and treacherous choices await in this gripping tale of power, destiny, and courage.
Review:
In a magical world where every choice reverberates through the fabric of reality, Kaevra’s story captivates from the very first page. Her bold decision to leave the safety of her older sister’s protection and forge her own path leads her directly into the sights of a ruthless Queen and her most trusted bounty hunter, Rowanther.
The tension between Kaevra and Rowanther is palpable, making their complicated relationship one of the most engaging aspects of the narrative. The magnetic attraction that develops amid the chaos is beautifully crafted, drawing readers deeper into their dynamic.
As the plot unfolds, the Queen’s devious scheme to manipulate Kaevra adds a level of intrigue that keeps the reader on edge. Just when you think you’ve grasped the storyline, it twists and turns in unexpected ways, leading to a cliffhanger that left me yearning for the next installment.
Overall, this book is not just a tale of adventure; it’s a gripping exploration of choice, loyalty, and the complexities of attraction. I can’t wait for Book 2!
Kaevra is a young woman who finds out that she has special powers, hidden from her by her family her whole life. Some have sacrificed themselves to keep her safe. Her power has the potential to make her the Kingdom's Savior or cause their ultimate defeat. Her older sister has made it her life's mission to keep Kaevra safe. But Kaevra makes the decision to set out on her own. Along the way, she meets bounty hunters, the Queen's blade Rowanthar, and the evil Queen herself. Kaevra must decide her fate. Will she be the Queen's weapon or use her power to save the kingdom?
Straight away, the prologue draws you in with intrigue and danger. Easy to understand world-building. LCB does a fantastic job with her characters. The way she describes the characters and settings make you feel like you are there. Definitely a slow burn- Enemies to friends with potential for more. Found friends and protective family. I was introduced to a new kind of magic in this book (crow magic). It intrigues me and I can't wait for more. The story leaves you on a cliffhanger when the action starts to build. What happens after is implied but I need book 2!
ARC The Corvus Crown begins following two sisters, Kaevra and Adara as they are on the run and hiding, without Kaevra ever knowing the real reason and having a prophecy about her hidden for her own protection. Kaevra is a sweet and caring young woman with a feisty attitude decides she wants a different life, tries to escape her sister to protect her and falls straight into the arms of the very man, Rowan, who has been ordered to hunt her down and bring her to the Queen to use her magic as a weapon. He is the definition of cool, calm and collected but is somehow drawn to Kaevra to protect her and defy his loyalty to the Queen. Overall, this was a quick and easy read and has been set up perfectly for book 2!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I received this book as an ARC from LCB, the following review is my honest opinion:
OMG I need the next book ASAP! This was the ULTIMATE grumpy x sunshine book. The characters, pace and world building were absolutely fantastic. I had tears in my eyes the literal 2nd half of the book. It was so good. This book was slow burn and normally I kind of lose interest if there's no smut in a book but this book was too good to put down. I am obsessed
If you want hidden magic, an unsure FMC, world building and forced proximity- this book has it. It is an EXTREMELY slow burn, so if you want smut this isn’t gonna be for you. It is written in third person instead of split point of views, so it took a bit to get used to. The language is descriptive and makes it easy to visualize the world.
When I freaking say from start to finish this book had me gasping and ducking and dodging and clutching pearls. Action and world building was top notched and I lived every minute of it. Meeting the characters and falling in love with them only to be left on a cliff hanger was dirty just kidding(not really because did me dirty) Can't wait for the second book to come out.
This was my first book my LCB.. and it will definitely not be my last! I really love the characters and how they connect. And the intricate worldbuilding! So nicely done! I did get annoyed with Kaevra but you see her grow and learn to make her own decisions. I hope she will become a sweet badass!
I had the absolute pleasure of being chosen to do an ARC review of the upcoming Dark Fantasy novel, "The Corvus Crown," by @authorlcb.
"If they want to forge me into a weapon, I'll make sure it's pointed at them."
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 4 stars 🌶 - none really 🔥 - slow kinda died out
Overview: In the shadowed kingdom of Vyrelia, Kaevra Tenebris has spent her life hiding—hiding from her past, her power, and the forces that hunt her. When her carefully guarded world is shattered, she’s thrust into a dangerous game of survival. Rowanthar, a deadly tracker bound to the crown, is sent to capture her, but Kaevra proves to be unlike anyone he’s ever faced. As their paths collide, secrets unravel, and the fate of the kingdom teeters on the edge. Dark magic, forbidden alliances, and treacherous choices await in this gripping tale of power, destiny, and courage.
Review: In this complex world, magic is controlled by the queen. However, there is a prophecy that states one can bring her down and save the kingdom.
Our FMC, Kaevra, is quite snarky. She does have a bit of a childish attitude at times. I get it. Her father and sister kept her in the dark her whole life. She discovers she has magic and that there is a prophecy. But her sister refuses to tell her more.
Our MMC, Rowanthar, is stoic, broody, and silent. He is loyal to the Queen and is sent to not only hunt Kaevra down but to bring her back to the Queen.
During their travels, we are continually told about the tension between the two, but I never really felt it. Kaevra would ask questions, and Rowanthar didn't answer.
Once in the capital, Kaevra is forced into training. Rowanthar continues to be his broody self. We're introduced to Dresden. His character was well developed, and I got more "book boyfriend" vibes from him.
There were a few points while reading that I was confused. There is one scene that is originally described as being against a tree, and then a page later is in a cave. The second was later in the book, where Kaevra is describing a few days going by, but then the Queen wants to see her that day after only one day of training. I'm hoping these types of issues get sorted out by the 2nd book so the flow is consistent.
Overall, this book was enticing and exciting. I have so many questions that I'm hoping we get answers to come book 2! This book ends on a cliffhanger and I'm looking forward to reading book 2!
Kaevra has an amazingly sharp mind, mix that with her quick wit and she is the epitome of FMC. However, her lack of trust in herself leads her into situations she’s not prepared for, especially when it comes to Rowan!
I normally prefer books with the POV from a main character but this one was TOO GOOD!
LCB does an amazing job of setting the reader up for a wild ride full of twits and turns. I enjoy how quickly we get to some excitement but we don’t lose the character development and world building that is needed.
Broody and QUIET MMC leads to so much dialog from Kaevra, which just makes you love her more. I do wish we had more info regaurding Rowan’s character but the snippets we do have make me already love him!
“She wasn’t sure what infuriated her more- his dismissive attitude or her inability to figure him out”
The journey throughout the story is laced with hunters, guilt, fear, tension, and swarming questions. There is no spice in this book but the tension, whew!
I am hooked, needing to know more, not only about Kaevra but also Rowan. With all her quick wit will Kaevra figure it all out? She’s so sure about everything in life but herself which made me become her hype girl. Every girl needs a hype girl and if she won’t be her own, I will be that for her 🖤
The added comic relief made me chuckle, “Warrior man” I can’t wait to see how this relationship develops. My hype girl status may be replaced, but who doesn’t need more than one!
LCB gives you enough in the story to allow you to come up with theories but not so much the second book is not needed. I love the way she leaves some questions unanswered but not to the point you have no idea where the story is going. Some fantasy books leave you with more questions than answers, I love with this book we are left with some questions but a good guide to the answers! You are still able to come up with theories but not without context.
I can’t wait to read where Kaevra and Rowan go, what happens with Vyrelia, and of course Adara!
“If they want to forge me into a weapon, I’ll make sure it’s pointed at them!”
Where do I even begin with this story? When author LCB put out the call for ARC readers, I read the description and thought "huh, that sounds slightly interesting." Then I actually got the book and I realized a few things... 1. The authors description didn't do the story justice, they did NOT hype it up enough 2. This is the second series I've started this year that I'm unnecessarily excited to read more of 3. I may have done myself a disservice by reading this early, because now I have to wait longer to read the next part. So let's get into it! This is a story about a young woman who's spent basically her entire life living on the run. From what? She has no idea. But she does know her sister is the only one she can trust. But when she learns that she's in control of an ancient magic, she winds up kidnapped and in a fight not only for her life, but for her freedom. Things take a romantic twist, when her captor realizes he might just be fighting for the wrong side. There wasn't really anything I disliked about the book. Honestly if I HAD to leave a critique... I'd say I didn't really like the time skip at the end. It made the last chapter feel a bit rushed. I would've preferred to see a bit of what happened between Rowens deceleration and their big escape. The magic is NEW. I don't think I've seen control over spirit crows done outside of The Crow. But these are spectral rather than physical. There's also a talking spirit animal (a crow). And I'm assuming there's more power waiting to be discovered based on the way her bursts of magic are described. I love that the romance hasn't been rushed. In fact, it's barely hinted at in this book. But I can feel the setup for something epic. I was left completely on edge. In fact, I threw my phone after reading the last sentence. I was ready for a cliffhanger but EXCUUUUSE ME!! All in all, this one definitely gets 5★, I'm for sure signing up for future ARC reads in this series, & I'll be buying hardbacks of the series as it releases.
Eagerly awaiting the release so I can add it to my Fable reviews!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Kaevra Tenebris and her sister has been moving and hiding their whole lives. Kaevra never understands why she lives on a run and dreams for a quiet and peaceful life, that is until the Queen comes after her for something she doesn’t even realise is hidden dormant inside her. Suddenly realising every secrets hidden from her, she must choose to trust unlikely allies, deals with mysterious bursts of dark magic she has yet to fully understand, and her treacherous heart to figure out a way to make it out of all of this alive.
Rowanthar owed his life to the Queen after being taken under her wing from a devastating war. When he received his next assignment to hunt down a girl to stop the end of a kingdom, doubts start to appear in his head. Like how can a simple girl threaten a kingdom? Or how can crows burst out of nowhere? Or if maybe he can leave the grip of the Queen and follow his heart, wherever it might lead?
~ Remember, power should serve you, not control you. ~
This book is enchanting, fiesty, and what a gripping world it was. The tension between the main leads, and the schemes of the throne unfolds slow and perfectly. If you love magical kingdoms, dark magic, enemies to…scheming partners. Then you need to mark this book for your next read expected to be release in June. Thank you to the author for the eARC!
~ If they want me to be a weapon, they’ll regret ever forging me. ~
Gotta say at the beginning, I really thought I was going to hate Kaevra. She started out seeming so clueless and coddled. I quickly realized that was with the intentions of keeping her safe. I loved Kaevra’s snarky and sarcastic comments and her (albeit almost one-sided) banter with Rowan. I was immediately curious about her magic and what it meant. Kaevra showed visible progression, both mental and physical, through LCB’s amazing writing.
Rowan is still a hard nut to crack, but I’m dying to see more of him opening up to Kaevra. That bathing scene was to die for! I love how even though he didn’t even reply to Kaevra at times, it still felt banter-y and not one-sided at all.
The whole story pulled me right in and kept me captivated the entire way through, and left me anxiously awaiting book 2! I’ve definitely added to my list of favorite authors!
💭If they want to forge me into a weapon, I’ll make sure it’s pointed at them.
In this world of hoarded magic, Kaevra discovers she possesses a power coveted by the Queen. Having had this power hidden from her for her entire life, Kaevra has no sense of control or even how to summon her power unless she’s in danger. The Corvus Crown is a story of questioning loyalty, tense relationships and coming into your power.
Kaevra and Rowanthar’s relationship has some romantic tension, but I needed more. Kaevra has a pretty head-strong inner monologue, but it doesn’t transfer very often to her actions. I’m hoping to see her develop a stronger conviction in the second book!
I am excited for the second book and to see what this world has in store!
Kaevra doesn’t understand why she and her sister have been running and hiding all their lives, but when she meets the queen’s tracker Rowanthar, she finally forces her sister to tell her.
And that’s when the story of magic, destiny, and what a ruler will do to maintain her grip on power begins.
“The Corvus Crown” is a journey through a vividly descriptive world where queens send their personal trackers after young sisters, and a young woman’s awakening into womanhood comes in the form of crows and mystery.
The contrast between fiery, impulsive Kaevra and calm, calculating Rowanthar plays out in humourous and amusing banter and actions. That, along with the magic and intrigue, will pull you in and keep you until the end.
I absolutely loved The Corvus Crown! The worldbuilding was immersive, the magic was captivating, and Kaevra's journey kept me hooked from start to finish. But the real star for me? Rowanthar. His ability to stay calm in even the most intense situations is something I desperately wish I had! The slow-burn tension, the forbidden alliances, and the high-stakes adventure made this a perfect fantasy read. If you love dark magic, hidden powers, and a touch of enemies-to-lovers, this book is a must-read!
I devoured this book in one go, I was up till who knows when, and I am in need of the next book ASAP!! This was amazing first book that sets the stage to hopefully a new favorite series for me. The characters were all unique - I absolutely loved our FMC, and of course our cinnamon roll MMC. If you love banter, you need to read this book because it is perfect. The slow burn romance is killer, but worth it as always. Definitely recommend to the romantasy lovers out there!
Do you like grumpy, broody MMCs? What about a FMC that goes through a journey to learn just how capable she is? If you said yes to both or even just one of those questions, then you should definitely give The Corvus Crown a read! It has all of that and more! It has a Snow White and Huntsman vibe to it. With lovable sidekicks, a strong FMC, and a protective MMC, this book was everything I love in a slow burn fantasy book! Definitely can’t wait until book 2!
Robin Blanchard is not the official editor for this book anymore - they stopped their working relationship with the author once AI involvement was suspected.
Based solely on some reviews I’ve read on here and other platforms - mentioning things like settings in scenes suddenly changing, the same paragraphs repeated throughout the book verbatim - it’s a bit alarming that most reviewers of this book haven’t clocked AI suspicion either.
This story starts with a little girl growing up, always running, but no clue what she's running from. Her sister, her fierce protector, has kept her alive and thriving. In the most recent city, they are feeling comfortable when a tracker finds them.
This is definitely a slow burn and closed door situations. I liked this story and will be on the lookout for book 2.
Yall this was great! Fast paced, with a powerful FMC and a broody MMC, The Corvus Crown was so much fun! The magic system was unique, and I loved watching the FMC figure out how to think for herself and take what she wants!
The entirety of this book had me entertained from start to finish. Slow burn and no smut…but you can feel the energy between the 2 main characters building. I need the next book so badly to find out what happened. Ending on a cliffhanger…I will be thinking about this story for a long while.
That cliffhanger… I need book 2 right now! I really felt the slow burn reading this and definitely need more Rowan and Kaevra. If you like slow burn, magic, crows, broody MMC then you need to read this!!
I got to be an ARC reader for this book and truly it was an honor! The premise is so good and there is a ton of potential! I love the sunshine meets grumpy MMC vs. FMC. The enemies to lovers is very well payed out for you with the forced proximity. LCBs magic concept is captivating!
The struggle I had which is why this game as a slower read for me was just a lot of repetitive phrases and descriptors. There’s also a really big chunk of like 20% of the book where I feel like Rowan doesn’t say a single word to Kaevra and I could feel myself getting frustrated for her. BUT that being said, LCB did an awesome job at making the banter (obviously a little once sided from Kaevras perspectiv) was super relatable!
This book had me going insane. This is the slowest burn I've ever had to endure! Probably not but damn, this book had me dying from the intensity between Kaedra and Rowan. This man's brooding is on another level and I was getting as frustrated as she was in the book as well as loving it like she was secretly. There is so much more to the world, the characters, her magic and the pull she has towards him and I want it all. I love the writing of this book, it was done in a way where you felt the emotions and the expressions that the characters were giving to each other. I am hooked and CANNOT wait for the next book.
Kaevra is a brat. Her sister forced her into running from town to town with no explanation and she passively went along with it no problem. Until after her 21st birthday she finds she has a type of magic that could be the downfall or savior of an entire kingdom according to a prophecy.
Like a petutlant child she allowed unflappable Rowenthar (who always drops the -thar when introducing himself) to capture and carry her to the kingdom capital, despite having several opportunities to run from him. The slow burn romance moves at a glacier pace as tension between Kaevra and Rowen is constantly mentioned, but never actually felt. There is a very tame kiss around the 80%, but literally no other sparks. When we finally meet Dresden he gives off way better book boyfriend vibes with his flirty attitude and frequent gifts for Kaevra in contrast to the emotionless and robotic Rowan. Perhaps a love triangle would create some heat?
Oh, and a queen wants to use Kaevra and her magic as a weapon, but bratty Kaevra never wants to do anything she is told, and instead is pulled into running away with the three people training her (Rowan and Dresden physically, and some witch whose name I can't remember magically). This doesn't really seem to matter as it is only the last 25% of the book and ends on a cliffhanger.
There are quite a few errors like a scene being described as occuring in a forest clearing leaning against trees, but then also being described in a cave. And one chapter starts with mention of a past few days of training, but then that the queen asked to see her today, after only one day of training. Hopefully these errors will be fixed before final release.
This review is based on an ARC, and is my honest opinion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
The Corvus Crown is a beautifully written novel with a slow-burning storyline that keeps readers eagerly anticipating what comes next. Written in the third-person perspective, LCB's descriptive writing is stunning; every scene is vividly crafted, allowing readers to feel fully immersed in the world. As a visual person, I loved how the descriptions effortlessly painted each setting in my mind, making the overall experience even more engaging.
Although the pacing is slow, it's evident that the story is building toward something incredible, and I eagerly anticipate the surprises that the next book will bring. Kaevra, the female main character, is complex and compelling. The way the author reveals her character's struggles, navigating her inner turmoil while grappling with the overprotectiveness of her sister—brings a profound richness to the narrative. These conflicts breathe life into her character, making her journey all the more compelling.
If you enjoy rich world-building, intricate character development, and a slow burn that promises an epic payoff, The Corvus Crown is worth the read. I am eagerly anticipating the next installment!
“If they want to forge me into a weapon, I’ll make sure it’s pointed at them!”
If you were looking for your next slow burn grumpy/sunshine fix then look no further!!! The tension in this book was so good and the BANTER ugh just perfection!!!!!
Kaevra ( our FMC ) has been on the run, her whole life and she has no idea why. Adara, her sister, has always protected her and when she says it’s time to go Kaevra goes! They finally start to feel safe enough to stay put when Rowan comes, literally crashing into their lives, intent on taking Kaevra to his queen. It’s not until the sisters are trapped that Kaevra finds out exactly why she has been protected her whole life. Feeling like she has no way out , a power starts to rise up inside of her. When her magic releases, she finally sees why her sister has always protected her and why everyone is out to take her!
This was a journey of growth for both our FMC and MMC with a lot of tension and humor and action mixed in!
I really enjoyed this book and I fell in love with all of the characters!!
BUT….. That ENDING!!!!!!! 👀👀👀👀 I need Book 2 like NOW!!!!!