The Red Crown

Knights of Caliburn University #3

by Jade R. Evans

The final book in the Caliburn University story of Gwenna and her knights.

So much is broken.
But the men who rule the Knights of Caliburn—the ancient order my four protectors answer to—don't know that. The White Brothers of St. Vincent have no idea what their sworn knights have done for me: vows abandoned, blood spilled, a sacred mission twisted beyond recognition.
And time is running out.
Kingston is fracturing under the weight of his choices. Kai's playing a dangerous game with men who never lose. Lanz is fading in ways that terrify me. And Callahan—steady, loyal Callahan—is being tested in ways that could shatter us from the inside.
We can't hide for long. Because something else, something bigger, is holding Caliburn's campus frozen.
And there are older powers stirring. A lady in the lake. A riddle with no easy answer. And a question I've been running from my entire life.
Who do you think you are?
I've spent so long hiding. Apologetic. Trying to just be normal. But when fire and reckoning come to Caliburn, no one else can answer for me.
Not my knights. Not my enemies. Not even God himself.
Only me.
The Red Crown is the breathtaking finale of the Knights of Caliburn University series, a dark academia reverse harem romance featuring hidden magic, impossible choices, and four men who will defy heaven and hell for the woman they love.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Why Choose, M M Romance, Dark Academia, College, Sports

336 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 31, 2025

Reviews

[Nikki]

DNF

Yeah…that was too ✨ religious ✨ for me…

[Christina’s Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up. Overall I liked this series but it just got worse as it went on. Book one had so much potential!

[Kellie April · Rating 5 out of 5]

I demolished this whole series so quickly because i could not put it down!! What a wonderful and unexpected retelling of this legend
The depth of research that must have gone into this series alone blows my mind but the storytelling and plot of the characters that just flowed so naturally was beautiful
You won’t know where things are headed and i guarantee you need to find out for yourself

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uhhhh what? Was that ending.

I’m not sure what to make of this. Lots of dramatic buildup just for some godly smiting. Gwenna’s relationships with her knights didn’t really evolve at all. They just…have a few more sexy times. No real conversation between anyone other than Gwenna & Morgan. Idk this one kinda let me down.

[ThatBookBratBethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sooo good 🤺⚔️💞

In the last book of the Knights of Caliburn University, we start right where we need to be after book two's cliffhanger. Gwenna and her knights are trying to adjust after the trauma and everyone is coping in their own way while dealing with the stress of figuring out Gwenna's true purpose. I had so much anxiety and emotion throughout because honestly nothing was predictable.

Character and relationship development varies throughout the book Gwenna honestly has become one of my favorite FMCs because that girl is 𝙍𝙀𝘼𝙇. She wasn't given some insane power as her purpose and I actually love that the story didn't swing that way because it actually took me by surprise which doesn't happen often. I love that she struggles with who she thinks she should be due to the voices of others and who she actually is. Because we've all faced listening to social norms and expectations vs what our needs/wants are a time or two and it was just so relatable. Actually, the reactions to situations for most every character were pretty relatable and some of the most real I've read. It made my reactions and emotions so much stronger. I absolutely ate it up!

I was left wanting a bit deeper connection (not spicy time) between the unit as a family. Sometimes it felt a bit too separate for me but it didn't make me have negative feelings. Just made me want more because I'm greedy like that lol I think my brain & heart just needed one little epilogue for full closer haha even a little family vacation to relax after all that would be cute. See? Greedy. Anyways, Jade you did the dang thing and I will highly recommend this series to anyone that will listen. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your ARC team 🖤🤺

[Joanne- Bookish.zebra · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review
5⭐

Ok so, I've been stalking Jades Instagram waiting for this book since I finished The Ivory Throne and it did not disappoint!

The Red Crown picks up straight after the ending of book two and I'm so glad we got to see Gwenna and her guys in the aftermath of returning home from Russia.
I love that Gwenna is just so unapologetically herself. She owns that her life is messy and chaotic but to see her question who she is was so sad as she'd always been so strong in her beliefs.
The guys choosing Gwenna over everything was just perfection. Showing her that they love her every step.
I think Emrys needs his own book. Especially with Vivian. I need their story please.
Also, I'd love Morgan's story too. She has been such a strong side character throughout this series.

I'm actually so sad this series has ended as it's been one of my favourite reads of 2025.
I would have loved an epilogue with some group activities (I don't mean fencing) but that is just me being greedy 🥵
Thank you to the author for the chance to read this wonderful series 💛

[Nikki :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

90% verward, 100% vermaakt

[Lu · Rating 2 out of 5]

i really struggled with that one. almost dnf. had no want to pick up. it was okay i guess

[Rania Melhem · Rating 1 out of 5]

boring

I waited to review this series until I finished, I kept hoping something would happen other than angst and more reviewing of ancient texts’

[Nathalie · Rating 1 out of 5]

The series started off so good but then ended confusing, sad, and weird! Where was my grand finale

[Anna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Seriously?! I had to wait 3 books for her not even having powers?!? The whole „saving the world“ was done by her answering „I can be whatever I want to be“. THATS IT?! That’s the answer she was searching for?!

And then she saved dying Lance by saying „I love you“. He was dying since book 2. She never said it before.

That’s the worst „plot twist“ I’ve ever read.

The whole religious cult thing didn’t make any sense. The whole fencing didn’t make any sense. The whole magical system didn’t make any sense. I cannot believe that I finished this series.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

“He is,” Emrys says after a moment, “ardently in love with you, Ms. Vale.” His bright eyes flick to me. “They all are.”

OK, I do have to admit. I felt like book 3 fell off a little bit for me. It almost felt rushed?

Book 3 is the culmination of what the F is going on with our “Holy Grail”. We get a little bit more into the inside of the mission, how the boys got into it. — The bees. That was freaky. — And we had a little bit more into whatever is going on here with the University and the White Brothers or whoever the heck those guys are.

I like how this book opened with that third point of view chapter of the novice and our [I forgot what he’s called, the guy that sabotaged Kai‘s match in the previous book in the name of ‘self-control’]. I also enjoy Kai‘s responsibility that he gets in this book. It’s an interesting role reversal between our foster brothers— Kingston turns into our rebellious and irresponsible one and Kai is responsible for everything else. Kingston is so distraught by killing HIS FATHER that he can’t process or handle anything other than sleeping with Gwenna. And so as a result, Kai has to step up and take responsibility and he makes unique choices (that maybe he should’ve made like not telling the White Brothers that Luther was dead and that Gwenna is the Grail)

Then we also have our cursed boy, Lanz, whose curse is coming to fruition because he can’t keep to himself. As he’s cursed to fall in love, but die as a result when he falls in love. So he is going through- I feel like withdrawals I don’t know how else to explain it- and he’s in so much pain, but he won’t tell anybody. (Cite: “you look like you have cancer and a tapeworm. The tapeworm also has cancer”) He didn’t tell anybody until he’s dying on the courtyard (?) and that’s when they pieced together that if he loves two, then it’ll break the curse which I thought was really cool. (I kind of had an idea that was gonna happen when we opened the book with Callahan and him sleeping together and then Gwen are coming into the picture Had a feeling it had to be something about the heart splitting into wasn’t just me and heartbreak and also meant that you fall in love with two people was just fine). I wish it was fleshed out a bit more in the other books, it felt very abrupt in this book. Overall, I enjoyed the addition, I actually really enjoyed it. I thought it was an interesting thing to add to the plot. I don’t know if that’s something that comes from the Knights of the round table originally I’m not super familiar with the law and history of that.

Overall I REALLY enjoyed the series. I gave this one four stars because I do feel like it fell off a little bit for me. Elements felt rushed to close all of the plot lines, that I think could’ve been avoided with a little bit more substance in book 2. I also kind of enjoyed that even though it’s a RH and we never have a scene with all four boys. That always freaks me out when all of them are together (because like how does that work logistically?) It’s only ever two of the boys with her at a time and usually one of them is watching. So if you want to dip your toes into RH, this might be a good choice for you!

[Zoinks · Rating 1 out of 5]

i really wanted to like this trilogy. it was my type on paper. retelling of arthurian legend, reverse harem, academia. but unfortunately a whole lot of nothing happened. the final book was a slog to get through, the only reason i actually finished it was spite.
the fmc and her li’s do almost no talking to each other. there’s a whole lot of internal monologuing from each characters pov but they don’t actually tell each other anything. no issues get squashed, no personal problems get divulged. there will be an entire three pages of ‘i think all of these things about myself and this is how i process information and here is my opinion on the things that are happening’ only for the character to say aloud “um… I…”. it’s alarming how little is actually communicated and how much the characters do not get to know each other or how long issues are dragged out because of it.
despite the authors best attempts to differentiate the li’s from each other, they all blend together into a mush of angsty internal dialogue and saying pretty much nothing about themselves. i often found myself going back to the start of a chapter to figure out which man’s pov i was in because they’re so indistinct. much of what we are told are character traits of the li’s come from them describing each other, but very little of that is actually shown in distinct ways of speaking acting or thinking.
too often a chapter would end on the pick up of a plot thread and i was think to myself ‘wow now we’re going somewhere’ only to be disappointed when the next chapter swapped to a pov that is unrelated to it in any way and gave us little in the ways of interesting character growth or new information. i’m not sure if this was a writing technique employed to build up many plot threads but it often meant that i was screaming in my head over many snore fest chapters ‘when the hell are we going to get back to finding out about that thing that was happening?’. quite often the answer was “wow in all the hubbub (there was none) i forgot about that”, much to my chagrin. there were entire chapters that were just filler and could’ve been cut.
the ending was such a nothing burger too. when i got to 75% of the way in and everybody was still panicking about everything, acting rashly in some weird self preservation pushed as sacrifice, and there were no clear answers or directions for where this was going it was clear to me that the author had no idea how to end the thing and just kept writing in circles to prolong the word count to fit a book. having what should’ve been a stepping stone on the quest be the resolution was very poor.
to be overly nitpicky there were quite a lot of typos, spelling and grammar mistakes which make me think this is self published and didn’t go through an editor. that’s not a bad thing but it was noticeable.

[India (ChaptersAfterDark) · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars
🌶️🌶️

This is the final conclusion of the series. Book 1 and 2 took us on a journey and I with the cliffhanger we were left on in book 2 I was so excited for this book.

The plot and story has so much potential and being a retelling you just can’t gusss where the book is going to lead. It is a really interesting take on the King Arthur and the knights. I would say there is a lot to the story and it keeps you reading.

Gwenna as a character is confusing but so relatable and I love that about a book she isn’t black or white and she really is portrayed as real. She is relatable, the conflict between what she wants and what she has to do… everyone can relate to that. Also she is a scholar and she uses her brains. It’s nice to see her strength comes from elsewhere than just power.

King, Kai, Cal and Lanz. There is a lot of unpack here. They all have their own trauma to go through in this book. I would say the majority is them working by themselves. Even when they are together it doesn’t feel like they are friends… if not in some cases they barely tolerate each other and they are just there for duty. Which confused me slightly. Though I love each personality… especially Cal. And that being said I do love that they are not just these perfect people. They all are human and make mistakes and it’s a messy real life relationships. Kai also really becomes himself in this book.

However, I did feel like Gwenna relationships never really got any deeper. I was hoping they would finally pull together after book 2 but I felt that they just got pulled even more apart in this one and never really became that family your hoping for. The quest does continue but for some reason the build up to those tense moments you don’t get the connection with all 4 of them together or I didn’t feel it.

Overall I loved the concept and I loved the story. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a retelling but my connection to the characters and them to each other just stopped me from pushing this to a 4 star.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great conclusion

The conclusion of the Caliburn University trilogy will bring everything together in The Red Throne.

Following directly on from book two, we rejoin our team of modern knights and their lady back at Caliburn University as they try to process all they have been through. With much of the physical danger passed and the status of their quest somewhat up in the air, they have time to reflect on everything and enjoy the start of Spring.

Except Spring seems to have bypassed the university. The knights are breaking under pressure…and the secret order that demands their loyalty is unaware. When the mystical and theological clash, who will stand and who will fall?

This is a very different dark academia series in that it relies heavily on the academia part. Much of the physical action took place in book two, leaving a number questions of belief and identity for the final book. The danger is not so much from an enemy the characters fight - it is in their heads, in the menacing far off authority, and in the very environment they live in.

There is definitely a paranormal aspect to this story and it does a good job of showing how blurred the lines can be between religious beliefs and pagan beliefs. Each character must question their faith and beliefs, and there is some deeper-than-surface level discussion of theology.

Theme wise - there’s significant discussion surrounding the role of women in the early church. Some characters display blatant misogyny. A building is deliberately set on fire and one character has a near death drowning experience.

From a spice POV, this is the book where things heat up the most. It is open door, with the scenes starting very early in the book. It includes a MM romance.

This book cannot be read in isolation. The series overall has been a wonderful read and I’d definitely recommend it for why choose/dark academia fans.

[Sabrina Mordini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

full series review: https://literarystitchsociety.blogspo...

The Red Crown is the final book in the Knights of Caliburn University trilogy, picking up immediately after the events of The Ivory Throne and continuing Gwenna’s journey alongside her knights.

This installment dives much deeper into the characters themselves, allowing the plot to take a brief step back while the story focuses on relationships—both romantic and platonic. The narrative feels like it pauses to breathe, giving us space to truly connect with the characters’ inner lives and their emotional growth.

One of the greatest strengths of this series remains its multi-POV structure. Each character brings something unique and essential to the story; remove even one, and the plot simply wouldn’t work. The pacing is well balanced, moving steadily and inevitably toward the conclusion, with a growing sense of foreboding and doom that becomes heavier with each chapter.

The gothic atmosphere is at its strongest here, while the academia setting, though still present, takes on a more secondary role. There’s also a noticeable increase in spice, seamlessly woven into the narrative and used to explore different facets of the characters and their perspectives on life and intimacy.

At its core, the trilogy’s central theme—self-discovery—takes full center stage in this final book. It’s a journey of self-acceptance and truth, pursued despite expectations, judgment, or what the world tries to impose.

Overall, The Red Crown is a powerful, satisfying conclusion to the trilogy, and a truly great way to wrap up Gwenna and the knights’ story.

[Ryiza · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful conclusion!

SPOILERS!

I have some issues with this series, some thing that felt like they never really got resolved because the plot was more important. But this last book was definitely a wonderful ending to the whole series. I wish the Prior-at-Arms had lived just a *little* longer so Gwenna could see the look on his face after literal God came to save her from him, but I digress. The only non-crappy adults in this series were Dr. Emrys (which, I would love a follow up about him in the 19th century and the whole Vivian thing!) and the therapist from Roaring Brook in the second book.

The characters were witty and fun and distinct and of course Lanzelin is joking on is last breaths! I so enjoyed this series and I already bought the novella, but I'm saving it for later. I love all things Arthurian and this was such a good retelling!

I can't wait to read more by this author. :)

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a whirlwind of an ending to this trilogy. There is love, betrayal and a strong, strong sense of foreboding about what is coming. Gwenna continues to develop but also remains true to herself, Kai and King find common ground because of her, while Lanz’s curse gets worse.
The White brothers of the Consistory continue to be the freakiest group I’ve ever read and trying to keep Gwenna safe from them is never going to be easy. They absolutely gave me the creeps and when one of the masks comes off, it just confirms everything I thought about them.
This was such a different story, in the best way possible, there is a lot of academia in here, but I found it to be fascinating. The ending was shocking and I couldn’t predict which way things were going to go. Beautifully written with strong characters and an atmospheric edge that is so scary.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌶️🌶️

[Gem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why choose
Magic & mystery
Arthurian legend
Historical facts
Spice that’s spicing
Acceptance & understanding
Devine intervention
Culmination of series

Following on from the events in Finland at the end of book 2 with each of the MC’s processing in their own unique way. But, with the Consistory ever lurking & the sudden change to Sarrasford, the urgency to solve this mystery plagues Gwenna & her Knights.

I loved it!! And this whole series!! The way Jade has combine so many elements into one story is admirable! There’s a mythical retelling, magical/paranormal elements, historical & biblical facts woven in, sexual tension & high spice that builds, the enigma of knowing one’s self, BFF banter & a climactic ending that I devoured!! One of my favourite series of 2025. Highly recommended!!

[sophie :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

all in all a good book, good trilogy, good retelling.
got all the important parts and elements, the love story and the action. i just found myself disappointed in the sense that i had higher expectations. from the first book i was so eager to see where this was gonna go and to then find the resolution lacking was… lets say underwhelming.
especially the last ~30 pages were SO rushed: gwenna is kidnapped, morgan murdered (then brought back to life which why?), lanz dying (then not which let him die?) and then literal god spoke out of the clouds?¿
i am not against these elements esp in a fantastical, religious story but cmon, that was just too much, too fast, too ridiculous.
prof. emrys was the mvp of all the books and has such an interesting personal story arc, would love to read a book from his pov detailing his story.

[Brittni Shafer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series lived rent free in my brain since I signed up for the arc of book 1 and I dont plan on kicking it out. This conclusion was so anxiety filled and dramatic that when I finished it, I was happy with it. I wont lie, I would have loved another 100 pages just to see what now and maybe more bonding but I feel like it would ruin the "anything can happen" feeling it left me with if there was more at the end... but maybe a novella would be nice to have them bond even more haha.. I'm so sad this series is done because this group was so consuming and hot. The gang definitely had more bonding time and it was truly, chefs kiss. And the lore! Gah! I love a good religious but in a scholarly way tale and add in a women are power aspect, I ate it up!

Thank you Jade R. Evans for the arc

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This finale put me through it.

The emotions were high from page one. Gwenna especially stood out for me, she feels so real. Messy, unsure, strong in quiet ways, and constantly fighting who she’s been told to be versus who she actually is. That hit hard.

I loved watching how everyone handled the aftermath differently. It felt raw and earned, even when it hurt. The tension, the magic, the choices it all came together in a way that felt big and personal at the same time.

If I’m being greedy, I just wanted a tiny bit more softness at the end a breath, a moment to exist together after all that chaos. But honestly? That’s only because I didn’t want to let these characters go.

Such a powerful ending to the series

[Ash Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read for the vibes & the vibes were ✨confusing✨

I read the other two books pretty quickly and had high hopes for this one, but it kind of just fell flat. There were references to historical/theological texts in the previous and many plot points, but this book ramped it up to a 20/10. So much so that it just became very confusing, and there were many things that were dragged out.

The book definitely has potential, but in between the lack of any real interaction between the characters that would develop their relationship further and the too heavy plot points, I personally did not enjoy this book as much as the other two books.

[Sara Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the perfect way to end the trilogy! I really enjoyed the way this story unraveled, and whilst some of it was expected, it didn’t detract from the overall plot. There’s some great little character developments from all of the MCs and even some great philosophical questions for yourself.

Without going into too much detail (no spoilers here), I will say that I wish the Lanz segment had been a bit longer and a bit more explored, and just generally a bit more in depth but a good plot nonetheless!

🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
🌶️🌶️.5/5

[Frances Liberti · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like overall, this wasn’t a bad series. But while trying to read this book while flying home, I realized this series really would have sucked if I didn’t have the ability to immediately look up the French, or the Latin, or the Greek, or even just the Catholic terminology. It’s a series very much so based in theological academia and if I wasn’t reading in Kindle, I probably would have dropped it after the first book, if not during.

[Kauai.Lilikoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibiliter scriptum opus litterarium

I highly recommend this series for any reader. Especially for the reader that loves the research of the words & story. I highly enjoyed immersing in these written words. The character development, the world I lived in with them & the emotions these books invoked where indescribably thought provoking. I will be buying these in hardcopy to go on my "Will read again". Thank you so much, Jade.

[Madenna U · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, the series was an interesting story line that centers around the interpretation of religious text and the exclusion of women from history. The fantasy line of 4 white knights, a best friend and true love of all kinds brought the plot together as they fight those that would take their perceived version of their prize for their own. It did have its steamy scenes but they were not central to the story.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited when this dropped into my email. This was a great conclusion to the Knights of Caliburn University series. We start where the cliffhanger left us in the second book. Gwenna and her men are trying to come to terms with everything that went down. I really enjoyed how it went more into the characters, they are each struggling with their own trauma and healing. I absolutely loved this series and can't wait to see what is next from Jade R Evans.

[Leah Desjardins · Rating 3 out of 5]

That ending was so far past disappointing I am actually speechless. Am I being punked? Where’s Ashton?

What was even the point to this whole series?? Legitimately I don’t get it.. the grail was absolutely not important in the least yet the entire series centres around that?? I. Beg. Your. Finest. Pardon?!?!

[Jen Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the perfect conclusion to this trilogy. I loved the way the series wrapped up and the HEA the group got. I didn’t anticipate all the twists and turns that happened in the book and I really enjoyed watching it all unfold. It was fascinating.