What do you think?
Rate this book
The Five Realms #2
Crowns of Stars and Tides: The Five Realms, Book 2
What if happily ever after is too good to be true?
No longer locked in isolation, Princess Rhea Maxwell has been given everything she’s ever dreamed of, yet her newfound freedom has come at a cost that she isn’t prepared to pay. Now thrown into a new world, Rhea’s limits will be tested as she grapples with the shadows of her past, the magic writhing within her, and a broken heart that demands to be mended by the very man who fractured it.
Princess Bahira Daxel’s fixation with repairing her kingdom’s declining magic has been interrupted by a deal made with the surly shifter king. Forced to navigate a new magical blight, mysterious rebels, and foreign court politics, Bahira finds herself engaged in more than one battle. With her heart split between two kingdoms, the magicless princess must decide just how far she is willing to go in pursuit of what she wants.
The Siren Queendom is a vicious place, and Princess Aria Malika knows the depths of its depravity better than anyone else. She fantasizes of a life where the secrets she holds won’t get her killed. When the queen sends her on a journey to retrieve enchanted artifacts, Aria’s strength and perseverance will be shaken like never before.
With magic fading and betrayal lurking around every corner, will these princesses find the answers to the questions they seek? Or does only more heartbreak lie in their futures?
No longer locked in isolation, Princess Rhea Maxwell has been given everything she’s ever dreamed of, yet her newfound freedom has come at a cost that she isn’t prepared to pay. Now thrown into a new world, Rhea’s limits will be tested as she grapples with the shadows of her past, the magic writhing within her, and a broken heart that demands to be mended by the very man who fractured it.
Princess Bahira Daxel’s fixation with repairing her kingdom’s declining magic has been interrupted by a deal made with the surly shifter king. Forced to navigate a new magical blight, mysterious rebels, and foreign court politics, Bahira finds herself engaged in more than one battle. With her heart split between two kingdoms, the magicless princess must decide just how far she is willing to go in pursuit of what she wants.
The Siren Queendom is a vicious place, and Princess Aria Malika knows the depths of its depravity better than anyone else. She fantasizes of a life where the secrets she holds won’t get her killed. When the queen sends her on a journey to retrieve enchanted artifacts, Aria’s strength and perseverance will be shaken like never before.
With magic fading and betrayal lurking around every corner, will these princesses find the answers to the questions they seek? Or does only more heartbreak lie in their futures?
Audible Audio
First published September 27, 2024
34 people are currently reading
1863 people want to read
About the author
Jenessa Ren
3 books129 followersWriting is something Jenessa never dreamed of doing professionally, but it is a journey that has completely altered the course of her life.
When the vision of a woman locked in a tower, one who longed for freedom, sparked, Jenessa ran with it. Months later, Heir Of Sun And Moon was written, and the entirety of The Five Realms Series was born.
Now Jenessa spends her days writing in the fictional world of Olymazi, creating emotional, character driven romantasies where the men fall first and hard, and the women are strong and capable.
You can catch her hanging out on Instagram at @jenessalikes, where she is likely fangirling over Pedro Pascal edits.
When the vision of a woman locked in a tower, one who longed for freedom, sparked, Jenessa ran with it. Months later, Heir Of Sun And Moon was written, and the entirety of The Five Realms Series was born.
Now Jenessa spends her days writing in the fictional world of Olymazi, creating emotional, character driven romantasies where the men fall first and hard, and the women are strong and capable.
You can catch her hanging out on Instagram at @jenessalikes, where she is likely fangirling over Pedro Pascal edits.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
September 15, 2024
✨𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘✨
Crowns of Stars and Tides✨
Thank @jenessalikes For the ARC I was waiting for this book. Absolutely loving this series!!!
The muliple fairytale retellings 🤌🏻🤌🏻
This story followed multiple storylines but they all flowed together so nicely and I felt so engaged to each one of their stories! A continuation from the first book, we follow 3 princesses and a few other significant characters as they all navigate adventures and problems that their kingdoms are facing! and I love the MMC's they were soo good written and i need Book 3 right now, that cliffhanger tho🫣
If you love fairytale retellings then Jenessa’s books are for you🩷
The fairytale retellings are based off of Rapunzel, Beauty & the Beast, and The Little Mermaid's
Crowns of Stars and Tides✨
Thank @jenessalikes For the ARC I was waiting for this book. Absolutely loving this series!!!
The muliple fairytale retellings 🤌🏻🤌🏻
This story followed multiple storylines but they all flowed together so nicely and I felt so engaged to each one of their stories! A continuation from the first book, we follow 3 princesses and a few other significant characters as they all navigate adventures and problems that their kingdoms are facing! and I love the MMC's they were soo good written and i need Book 3 right now, that cliffhanger tho🫣
If you love fairytale retellings then Jenessa’s books are for you🩷
The fairytale retellings are based off of Rapunzel, Beauty & the Beast, and The Little Mermaid's
September 26, 2024
♾️⭐️
First off, let me just say-Jenessa Ren is absolutely brilliant. The way she weaves together intricate details and storylines is nothing short of incredible. Her storytelling talent shines through on every page.
Crowns of Stars & Tides picks up right where Heir of Sun and Moon left off. Our beloved princesses are each on their own intense and challenging journeys, with paths that promise to converge in ways that will undoubtedly leave us breathless in future books.
COSAT is filled with all the elements that make a fantasy series unforgettable: healing journeys, secrets, betrayals, and enough political intrigue to keep you on the edge of your seat. Add in some reluctant allies-to-lovers tension, found family vibes, and the 'touch her and die' energy we all secretly crave, and you have a recipe for a perfect read.
I can't recommend you read this book enough.
First off, let me just say-Jenessa Ren is absolutely brilliant. The way she weaves together intricate details and storylines is nothing short of incredible. Her storytelling talent shines through on every page.
Crowns of Stars & Tides picks up right where Heir of Sun and Moon left off. Our beloved princesses are each on their own intense and challenging journeys, with paths that promise to converge in ways that will undoubtedly leave us breathless in future books.
COSAT is filled with all the elements that make a fantasy series unforgettable: healing journeys, secrets, betrayals, and enough political intrigue to keep you on the edge of your seat. Add in some reluctant allies-to-lovers tension, found family vibes, and the 'touch her and die' energy we all secretly crave, and you have a recipe for a perfect read.
I can't recommend you read this book enough.
December 9, 2025
This was probably one of the new releases I was most excited for this year, and I completely devoured this book. I loved the first book in this series and I was so excited to start this one (so excited that I couldn't wait for my preorder to come in and read it on Kindle Unlimited right away) and let me just say that this book far exceeded my expectations. This book is easily in my top favorite reads for 2024, I loved it that much. This is definitely a beast of a book, I think it's almost 400 pages longer than the first book, but that is because the author put so much into this book.
There are so many things that I love about this book, I feel like I could go on and on forever. I loved the first book and how the author set up the series, and in this book, she really expanded the world she created. I love that there are different kingdoms/realms and how you could tell that the author put a lot of time, planning, and effort into giving each kingdom their own unique culture. The first book took place between the Mage kingdom and the Mortal kingdom, but this book introduced the other kingdoms as well, the Shifter kingom, the Siren queendom, and a little bit of the Fae kingdom. I love it when there are different types of magical beings in a fantasy series, and I think the author does a wonderful job of differentiating the different beings and giving them their own types of customs and culture. She definitely creates a very full and diverse world in these books, and considering she has more books to go, I can't wait to see how she expands the world even more.
I love how the book and series are pretty much equal parts character driven and plot driven. I am definitely the type of reader who becomes emotionally attached to characters, and I tend to value the characters in a book, a bit more over the plot. If I don't like the characters in a book, I don't care how good the plot is, most likely I'm not going to enjoy that book that much but I absolutely love the characters in this book. I love how there is a large cast of characters, and they are all unique. I love how multidimensional the characters are and how much they've grown from the beginning of the first book until the end of this book, especially Rhea and Bahira. I think I just have a really soft spot for Rhea, and I love how she got to form her own little found family between all the new characters introduced in this book. I also like how the author introduces the new characters because she kind of eases them in especially the ones that are meant to play a significant role for example Aria's point of view was introduced into this book and her point of view is smaller than Bahira's or Rhea's and it isn't until towards the end of the book it is revealed her connection to the other characters.
I am a huge fan of romance, and I like it when the fantasy books I read have a lot of romance. What I like about this book is how the two main romances in this book (Rhea/Nox and Bahira/Kai) could not be more different. Nox is so loving and gentle with Rhea, and he knows that he is Rhea's first romantic experience, so he is always considerate in how he approaches any intimate moment and lets her take the lead. I do think that Nox can be a bit over the top in his love confessions where, at times, it can be borderline cheesy, but I don't mind so much because I also think it's incredibly sweet. Bahira and Kai's relationship is very different. They start as reluctant allies that don't really like each other all that much but are clearly attracted to each other, and their feelings develop from there as they get to know each other better. I really love both relationships for different reasons, and I'm curious to see where the author will take these characters in future books.
I really liked how the author kind of melded science and magic in the way Bahira approaches, trying to solve what is happening to the mage's magic as well as the shifters' ability to shift. I really like how everything feels really thought out in the book and how their are little hints throughout both books that lead to a bigger overarching plot. I feel like I could go on forever about this book, but that is because there is so much material in this book, and I just think it is so great. This is the type of fantasy book that I like reader. I really enjoy all the characters. The plot is intriguing, and the romances are so good. This series has definitely skyrocketed towards the top of my favorite book series list, and I can't wait for the next book!
There are so many things that I love about this book, I feel like I could go on and on forever. I loved the first book and how the author set up the series, and in this book, she really expanded the world she created. I love that there are different kingdoms/realms and how you could tell that the author put a lot of time, planning, and effort into giving each kingdom their own unique culture. The first book took place between the Mage kingdom and the Mortal kingdom, but this book introduced the other kingdoms as well, the Shifter kingom, the Siren queendom, and a little bit of the Fae kingdom. I love it when there are different types of magical beings in a fantasy series, and I think the author does a wonderful job of differentiating the different beings and giving them their own types of customs and culture. She definitely creates a very full and diverse world in these books, and considering she has more books to go, I can't wait to see how she expands the world even more.
I love how the book and series are pretty much equal parts character driven and plot driven. I am definitely the type of reader who becomes emotionally attached to characters, and I tend to value the characters in a book, a bit more over the plot. If I don't like the characters in a book, I don't care how good the plot is, most likely I'm not going to enjoy that book that much but I absolutely love the characters in this book. I love how there is a large cast of characters, and they are all unique. I love how multidimensional the characters are and how much they've grown from the beginning of the first book until the end of this book, especially Rhea and Bahira. I think I just have a really soft spot for Rhea, and I love how she got to form her own little found family between all the new characters introduced in this book. I also like how the author introduces the new characters because she kind of eases them in especially the ones that are meant to play a significant role for example Aria's point of view was introduced into this book and her point of view is smaller than Bahira's or Rhea's and it isn't until towards the end of the book it is revealed her connection to the other characters.
I am a huge fan of romance, and I like it when the fantasy books I read have a lot of romance. What I like about this book is how the two main romances in this book (Rhea/Nox and Bahira/Kai) could not be more different. Nox is so loving and gentle with Rhea, and he knows that he is Rhea's first romantic experience, so he is always considerate in how he approaches any intimate moment and lets her take the lead. I do think that Nox can be a bit over the top in his love confessions where, at times, it can be borderline cheesy, but I don't mind so much because I also think it's incredibly sweet. Bahira and Kai's relationship is very different. They start as reluctant allies that don't really like each other all that much but are clearly attracted to each other, and their feelings develop from there as they get to know each other better. I really love both relationships for different reasons, and I'm curious to see where the author will take these characters in future books.
I really liked how the author kind of melded science and magic in the way Bahira approaches, trying to solve what is happening to the mage's magic as well as the shifters' ability to shift. I really like how everything feels really thought out in the book and how their are little hints throughout both books that lead to a bigger overarching plot. I feel like I could go on forever about this book, but that is because there is so much material in this book, and I just think it is so great. This is the type of fantasy book that I like reader. I really enjoy all the characters. The plot is intriguing, and the romances are so good. This series has definitely skyrocketed towards the top of my favorite book series list, and I can't wait for the next book!
September 24, 2024
This book shows cruelty and corruption of power so well, the antagonists of this book were so devious they often times made me feel like I'd go into a panic rage! That just shows how amazing the writing has been.
Aria was added to the main POV and her story crushed me so many times! Sadly for me it felt like there was very little of her as compared to the other two princesses. But the promise of her arc in future feels very intriguing and I just can't wait to see where that storyline goes.
There are quite a few storythreads that are left open and I can't wait to get to book 3 to know how it all pans out!
Aria was added to the main POV and her story crushed me so many times! Sadly for me it felt like there was very little of her as compared to the other two princesses. But the promise of her arc in future feels very intriguing and I just can't wait to see where that storyline goes.
There are quite a few storythreads that are left open and I can't wait to get to book 3 to know how it all pans out!
September 27, 2024
CRYING SCREAMING THROWING UP. I’m finding that I can’t actually find the words to describe this book. A review simply isn’t enough— I need to live inside this story & be friends with these characters & wear their outfits & train with them 😭
Jenessa introduces us to the world of Olymazi in a way that she hadn’t yet in Heir of Sun & Moon. We meet new characters, explore new lands, & learn even more about the magic within. I loved book 1 so much, but COSAT had so much depth, so much betrayal, so much hurt & growth & plot twists— I loved it just as much or maybe even more.
Bahira is everything I want to be. Fierce, strong, independent, smart (so fucking smart), witty, & unapologetically speaks what’s on her mind. Her story has grabbed me by the hand & I fear it will never let go. Rhea’s growth & willingness to persevere shines through so much— she is a beacon of hope for those of us who sometimes feel like the past sneaks up on us, debilitating & all consuming, but letting it win is not an option. Aria’s story is the most compelling, a siren princess who’s mother tears her down, a soft girl trying to find her place amongst the viciousness that surrounds her in her Queendom, & most importantly— she is simply trying to feel loved. She craves a kind touch, a kind word, one single second of peace & it seems like time after time she’s left empty. I just want our sweet siren to feel less alone & I think that says a lot about Jenessa’s writing.
We are introduced to Jahlee & Elora in this book, along with a few other easy-to-love side characters & our 5th & final Princess of the Realms. Princess of the Fae Realm to be exact (& don’t scream but there are dragons). I can’t wait to see what is in store for all them in the next books.
I’d talk about the men in this book but there simply are no words for their fierce protectiveness, their loyalty, their overwhelming commitment to their homes, their families, & their women.
There are so many lessons within HOSAM & COSAT, so much beauty & world-building & magical prose & little fairytale Easter eggs too. I laughed, I swooned, I cried, & I found my heartbeat increasing rapidly— the last 5-ish chapters really put me through the fucking ringer. The ending of each POV had me screaming & I already can’t wait for book 3.
I received this book as an eARC from Jenessa for an honest review & I feel so lucky to have experienced it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️/5
Jenessa introduces us to the world of Olymazi in a way that she hadn’t yet in Heir of Sun & Moon. We meet new characters, explore new lands, & learn even more about the magic within. I loved book 1 so much, but COSAT had so much depth, so much betrayal, so much hurt & growth & plot twists— I loved it just as much or maybe even more.
Bahira is everything I want to be. Fierce, strong, independent, smart (so fucking smart), witty, & unapologetically speaks what’s on her mind. Her story has grabbed me by the hand & I fear it will never let go. Rhea’s growth & willingness to persevere shines through so much— she is a beacon of hope for those of us who sometimes feel like the past sneaks up on us, debilitating & all consuming, but letting it win is not an option. Aria’s story is the most compelling, a siren princess who’s mother tears her down, a soft girl trying to find her place amongst the viciousness that surrounds her in her Queendom, & most importantly— she is simply trying to feel loved. She craves a kind touch, a kind word, one single second of peace & it seems like time after time she’s left empty. I just want our sweet siren to feel less alone & I think that says a lot about Jenessa’s writing.
We are introduced to Jahlee & Elora in this book, along with a few other easy-to-love side characters & our 5th & final Princess of the Realms. Princess of the Fae Realm to be exact (& don’t scream but there are dragons). I can’t wait to see what is in store for all them in the next books.
I’d talk about the men in this book but there simply are no words for their fierce protectiveness, their loyalty, their overwhelming commitment to their homes, their families, & their women.
There are so many lessons within HOSAM & COSAT, so much beauty & world-building & magical prose & little fairytale Easter eggs too. I laughed, I swooned, I cried, & I found my heartbeat increasing rapidly— the last 5-ish chapters really put me through the fucking ringer. The ending of each POV had me screaming & I already can’t wait for book 3.
I received this book as an eARC from Jenessa for an honest review & I feel so lucky to have experienced it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️/5
September 25, 2024
Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC copy, all thoughts are my own.
Wow wow wow I have never smashed the five star button harder. This book starts off with a bang with multiple storylines. There are new characters and new kingdoms to obsess over. Book one ended on quite a cliffhanger, so luckily book two is here for answers (and you’re left with another cliffhanger at the end of book two, but we’ll discuss that in a second).
Bahira MF Daxel has been my girl since she was introduced. She is a mage without powers and she uses her science skills to get to the bottom of it. In book two, she makes a deal with the shifter king to help them discover why the magic is gone. She’s introduced to Kai who is 7 feet tall and super tan 🥵Need I say more? He’s definitely the grumpy type, and the banter between the two is enough to get your feet kicking. The build up between the two in this book was amazing and there’s definitely more spice in this book. It was the perfect amount and it was so well written. It also brought some hilarious moments that I highlighted on my kindle (when you get to those moments you will know).
Rhea and Flynn arrive at his kingdom and there’s a lot of obstacles that stand in the way for them. The council for one and King Dolian as another example. It’s very interesting that King Dolian has a few chapters in his POV, and it shows him as the vile character that he really is. There are also a few Flynn chapters that were very much needed towards the end.
Aria is a new character that was introduced at the end of book one. I think her character is very interesting especially her siren song. She’s an outcast, and is able to shift from a siren into a human. I look forward to more of her in book three especially after she meets someone towards the end of the book. This storyline was reminiscent of Little Mermaid and I think the combination of all the different beings in the Five Realms sets this series apart. I am especially looking forward to more of that character in book three because I think she’ll be very different than the other princesses.
Overall, this book had me spiraling because of how amazing it was and the ending did hurt my feelings so please prepare for that. Any fan of Romantasy will love this series especially if you love fairytale retellings. Five stars!!
Wow wow wow I have never smashed the five star button harder. This book starts off with a bang with multiple storylines. There are new characters and new kingdoms to obsess over. Book one ended on quite a cliffhanger, so luckily book two is here for answers (and you’re left with another cliffhanger at the end of book two, but we’ll discuss that in a second).
Bahira MF Daxel has been my girl since she was introduced. She is a mage without powers and she uses her science skills to get to the bottom of it. In book two, she makes a deal with the shifter king to help them discover why the magic is gone. She’s introduced to Kai who is 7 feet tall and super tan 🥵Need I say more? He’s definitely the grumpy type, and the banter between the two is enough to get your feet kicking. The build up between the two in this book was amazing and there’s definitely more spice in this book. It was the perfect amount and it was so well written. It also brought some hilarious moments that I highlighted on my kindle (when you get to those moments you will know).
Rhea and Flynn arrive at his kingdom and there’s a lot of obstacles that stand in the way for them. The council for one and King Dolian as another example. It’s very interesting that King Dolian has a few chapters in his POV, and it shows him as the vile character that he really is. There are also a few Flynn chapters that were very much needed towards the end.
Aria is a new character that was introduced at the end of book one. I think her character is very interesting especially her siren song. She’s an outcast, and is able to shift from a siren into a human. I look forward to more of her in book three especially after she meets someone towards the end of the book. This storyline was reminiscent of Little Mermaid and I think the combination of all the different beings in the Five Realms sets this series apart. I am especially looking forward to more of that character in book three because I think she’ll be very different than the other princesses.
Overall, this book had me spiraling because of how amazing it was and the ending did hurt my feelings so please prepare for that. Any fan of Romantasy will love this series especially if you love fairytale retellings. Five stars!!
September 26, 2024
Crowns Of Stars And Tides picks right up where HOSAM ended, allowing the reader to immediately immerse themselves back into the story. We gain a deeper insight into this fantastical world and discover how the five realms are all intertwined, even though they are all separated. I love the ingenuity that Jenessa has created – what feels like it should be a separate world is flawlessly combined and folded into the adventure. Rhea and Flynn (or should I say my latest book boyfriend obsession) are working through their relationship while Rhea battles her traumas she experienced while prisoner of the Mortal Realm and begins to outgrow her struggles while taking control over her life.
Bahira is off to the Shifter Realm where she was selected to assist King Kai with the magical dilemma that blights his kingdom. Shifters are getting stuck, and Bahira does everything she can to try and help them. She also helps the king in more ways than one.
We are introduced to the Siren Realm, and it is a cutthroat place – no one is safe from the wrath of the queen who is harboring years of resentment towards the other realms. And poor Aria, daughter of the Siren Queen, seems to be the punching bag of everyone.
I love the healing work that Rhea does in this book. She has a new found family in the Mage Realm, she has her love, and everything is looking up for her.
I am so beyond excited to read more about Bahira in this book – I want to ask Jenessa to give her her own novella (pretty please with puppy dog eyes). She is not a damsel in distress, and she does the saving. We love a powerful fmc!
Aria makes me heartbroken – her storyline is one where you consistently cheer her own and yet she endures hurdle after hurdle.
I am torn between the two book boyfriends – Kai and Nox are equally swoon worthy, yet they are so different in the best ways.
I cannot wait for the third installment of The Five Realms series. Please do yourself a favor and pick up this series. It’s going to make you feel all the feels - you’ll gasp out loud, cry, laugh out loud, and have the biggest smile on your face at times.
Thank you Jenessa for your world.
Bahira is off to the Shifter Realm where she was selected to assist King Kai with the magical dilemma that blights his kingdom. Shifters are getting stuck, and Bahira does everything she can to try and help them. She also helps the king in more ways than one.
We are introduced to the Siren Realm, and it is a cutthroat place – no one is safe from the wrath of the queen who is harboring years of resentment towards the other realms. And poor Aria, daughter of the Siren Queen, seems to be the punching bag of everyone.
I love the healing work that Rhea does in this book. She has a new found family in the Mage Realm, she has her love, and everything is looking up for her.
I am so beyond excited to read more about Bahira in this book – I want to ask Jenessa to give her her own novella (pretty please with puppy dog eyes). She is not a damsel in distress, and she does the saving. We love a powerful fmc!
Aria makes me heartbroken – her storyline is one where you consistently cheer her own and yet she endures hurdle after hurdle.
I am torn between the two book boyfriends – Kai and Nox are equally swoon worthy, yet they are so different in the best ways.
I cannot wait for the third installment of The Five Realms series. Please do yourself a favor and pick up this series. It’s going to make you feel all the feels - you’ll gasp out loud, cry, laugh out loud, and have the biggest smile on your face at times.
Thank you Jenessa for your world.
September 19, 2024
4.5⭐️, 2.5🌶️
It is going to take a bit to formulate my thoughts on this book, because she is thiccccc 😅
I will say, the page length seemed daunting at first, but the way I still ate it all up! For something this long I never felt like there were pieces that could have easily been edited out (which I have felt about MANY romantasy books) The alternating POVs between the different characters in the various realms kept the flow going really well.
Jenessa had me rooting for the heroes/heroines and despising the villains and other suspect characters 🙂↔️
I wasn’t destroyed by the cliffhanger that I thought was coming. It feels more like an SJM series where the world and characters are building nicely and I’m just excited for it to continue!
Maybe it didn’t take long to put some thoughts together after all 😝
It is going to take a bit to formulate my thoughts on this book, because she is thiccccc 😅
I will say, the page length seemed daunting at first, but the way I still ate it all up! For something this long I never felt like there were pieces that could have easily been edited out (which I have felt about MANY romantasy books) The alternating POVs between the different characters in the various realms kept the flow going really well.
Jenessa had me rooting for the heroes/heroines and despising the villains and other suspect characters 🙂↔️
I wasn’t destroyed by the cliffhanger that I thought was coming. It feels more like an SJM series where the world and characters are building nicely and I’m just excited for it to continue!
Maybe it didn’t take long to put some thoughts together after all 😝
August 13, 2025
5 ⭐️ 3 🌶️
Kai and Bahiraaaaaaa 🥵 I am obsessed with them your honor. Don’t get me wrong I absolutely LOVE the other characters butttt Bahira is so sassy I love it.
But now I NEED book three after that cliffhanger 😭
Kai and Bahiraaaaaaa 🥵 I am obsessed with them your honor. Don’t get me wrong I absolutely LOVE the other characters butttt Bahira is so sassy I love it.
But now I NEED book three after that cliffhanger 😭
November 9, 2025
“𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦. 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘢. 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘪’𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘥, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘮𝘦.”
if jenessa writes it, i’m gonna read it 🫡 i can’t even begin to describe to you how amazing this book was. cosat made me feel the way i felt while reading sjm, and not many books give me that feeling! i absolutely loved ‘heir of sun & moon’, and somehow love ‘crowns of stars & tides’ even more. jenessa is simply brilliant and is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors 🤍
𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘥𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘶𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘪 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮. 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘢𝘪? 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘴𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘺? 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘪’𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘪 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦.
there’s a ton going on in this book, but jenessa makes it so easy to follow all of the pov’s & storylines. i love all of the characters (except dolian & amari 🙄) buuut i definitely need more of rhea and nox & bahira and kai 🤍 also looking forward to getting to know myla & siyala!
𝘪 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳-𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘪 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘦. 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘴. 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵, 𝘪 𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘪 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘯. 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘯. 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘴. 𝘪’𝘮 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘦. 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦.
big thank you to jenessa for sending me the arc of cosat! it may have taken me ages to read it, but i’m glad i was able to take my time and enjoy it! …but now i need book 3 because that cliffhanger quite literally ripped my heart out and stomped on it 💔
10/10 recommend this book if you are a lover of romantasy books & fairytale retellings!
what to expect:
- reluctant allies to lovers
- healing journey
- found family
- touch him/her & die
- spicy
- fairytale retelling (rapunzel, beauty & the beast, little mermaid)
- multiple pov/storylines
if jenessa writes it, i’m gonna read it 🫡 i can’t even begin to describe to you how amazing this book was. cosat made me feel the way i felt while reading sjm, and not many books give me that feeling! i absolutely loved ‘heir of sun & moon’, and somehow love ‘crowns of stars & tides’ even more. jenessa is simply brilliant and is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors 🤍
𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘥𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘶𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘪 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮. 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘢𝘪? 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘴𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘺? 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘪’𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘪 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦.
there’s a ton going on in this book, but jenessa makes it so easy to follow all of the pov’s & storylines. i love all of the characters (except dolian & amari 🙄) buuut i definitely need more of rhea and nox & bahira and kai 🤍 also looking forward to getting to know myla & siyala!
𝘪 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳-𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘪 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘦. 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘴. 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵, 𝘪 𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘪 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘯. 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘯. 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘴. 𝘪’𝘮 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘦. 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦.
big thank you to jenessa for sending me the arc of cosat! it may have taken me ages to read it, but i’m glad i was able to take my time and enjoy it! …but now i need book 3 because that cliffhanger quite literally ripped my heart out and stomped on it 💔
10/10 recommend this book if you are a lover of romantasy books & fairytale retellings!
what to expect:
- reluctant allies to lovers
- healing journey
- found family
- touch him/her & die
- spicy
- fairytale retelling (rapunzel, beauty & the beast, little mermaid)
- multiple pov/storylines
October 2, 2024
To be honest, I finished Crown of Stars and Tides over a week ago, but I’ve been struggling to put into words how much I loved it!
The book starts from where Heir of Sun and Moon (book 1) ended, after Rhea, Flynn, and the Shifter King arrived in the mage realm.
There are several POVs in book 2, including one that really surprised me! I loved seeing all of the different storylines deepen, and the development of the female main characters Bahira, Rhea, and Aria were inspiring. Bahira’s outward confidence but internal self doubt was very relatable, as was Rhea’s struggle with experiencing and understanding a whole new world. Then we have Aria’s inner conflict with trying to satisfy her mother’s demands while knowing deep down that they’re not right.
The banter and tension between Bahira and Kai was sooo good to read and, let me tell you, Jenessa can write spice! 😏🔥 The emotional scenes between Flynn and Rhea were beautifully written, and I highlighted so many quotes that I’ll need to do a separate post.
The world building continues into book 2 as we are introduced to both the Shifter Realm and the Siren Realm. I love that the reader can experience these realms slowly, and that there was no overload of information in book 1. Book 1 introduced two realms (Mortal and Mage) and the ending of Crown of Stars and Tides teases at the introduction of the Fae realm in book 3 👀
For those fantasy readers out there that love a chonky book, this one is for you! Crown of Stars and Tides has been one of my biggest books read this year (based on kindle pages) but it does not drag on at all! Having the different storylines and POVs keeps it captivating, and it’s been so fun to speculate how each of the storylines could eventually be connected!
I absolutely cannot wait for book 3. Thank you to the author for an advanced copy. This review is my own, honest opinion.
The book starts from where Heir of Sun and Moon (book 1) ended, after Rhea, Flynn, and the Shifter King arrived in the mage realm.
There are several POVs in book 2, including one that really surprised me! I loved seeing all of the different storylines deepen, and the development of the female main characters Bahira, Rhea, and Aria were inspiring. Bahira’s outward confidence but internal self doubt was very relatable, as was Rhea’s struggle with experiencing and understanding a whole new world. Then we have Aria’s inner conflict with trying to satisfy her mother’s demands while knowing deep down that they’re not right.
The banter and tension between Bahira and Kai was sooo good to read and, let me tell you, Jenessa can write spice! 😏🔥 The emotional scenes between Flynn and Rhea were beautifully written, and I highlighted so many quotes that I’ll need to do a separate post.
The world building continues into book 2 as we are introduced to both the Shifter Realm and the Siren Realm. I love that the reader can experience these realms slowly, and that there was no overload of information in book 1. Book 1 introduced two realms (Mortal and Mage) and the ending of Crown of Stars and Tides teases at the introduction of the Fae realm in book 3 👀
For those fantasy readers out there that love a chonky book, this one is for you! Crown of Stars and Tides has been one of my biggest books read this year (based on kindle pages) but it does not drag on at all! Having the different storylines and POVs keeps it captivating, and it’s been so fun to speculate how each of the storylines could eventually be connected!
I absolutely cannot wait for book 3. Thank you to the author for an advanced copy. This review is my own, honest opinion.
October 23, 2024
Ummm I’m sorry but am I the only one who can’t get past Aria raping a man and then leaving him to die (MULTIPLE TIMES!). I don’t care if her mom told her to do it because it was a choice still. She could have chosen death or whatever other punishment her mother could throw at her but she didn’t. She is honestly so weak and pathetic and I just can’t get past what she did.
Otherwise I mostly enjoyed the book and loved the Bahira/Kai moments!
Otherwise I mostly enjoyed the book and loved the Bahira/Kai moments!
September 27, 2024
I give this book 4 1/2⭐️ it was amazing. I’m so happy she didn’t break my heart from book one I love all the multiple points of views and different storylines going on at the same time and how they’re all woven together perfectly and the spice was definitely spicing and the ending dammit I need book 3.
August 22, 2024
It was good.
🤣 Love you, Jenessa! Second read down, and a million to go! Absolutely love this continuation! Will be back to write a full review!
Wow. I am so honored to have been a part of Jenessa's team for the second book in her series! It was an incredible experience helping her proof and edit the continuation of the world and characters I have come to love so much. Jenessa is an incredible human and author with such unique ideas and an wonderful way with words. I wasn't sure how she would top Heir of Sun and Moon, but Crowns of Stars and Tides does just that! Everything I said in my review of HOSAM is still true when it comes to COSAT, just on steroids. Her voice has developed and improved even from HOSAM, which I thought was perfection, but we see her writing style mature and grow more confident as she adds a third FMC to develop and extra POVs to provide insight for the reader. With three FMCs, their storylines, and multiple extra POV chapters, the story doesn't falter or suffer. There is no dragging of the story or spending too much time with a single character. Though the book is a thick one, the chapters are the perfect length, and the POVs are split in such a way that it is easy to keep up with each character and their storyline. There is great continued character development and foundations created for new beloved characters, fantastic world building for the new worlds we are introduced to, beautiful prose with extremely quotable material, and that magic that only Jenessa seems to be able to create! The emotions and reactions that this book wrought in me were visceral and lasting. There was crying, laughing, yelling in frustration, and squealing in excitement. There was also quite a bit of cussing and fantasizing about the ways I would torture certain characters, because this cast was so real to me that I felt what they felt and I wanted vengeance for the way they were treated. (I cannot wait to annotate my physical copy of this book because the comments and thoughts I had while reading need to be memorialized.)
This was an incredible continuation of the Five Realms series! We get more of the characters we grew to love in book one and are introduced to several new ones to get attached to in book two. It was so rough and sad and happy and cathartic watching Rhea grow throughout this book. I already loved her personality and her strength and her vulnerability in HOSAM, but she really came out of her shell and saw what life had to offer her in this book as she found herself free from the shadow of her abusive uncle. She had the opportunity to make choices for herself and to make friends and to decide what she wanted to do with her life, when she had never had that opportunity before. After the betrayal she feels from the one person she could trust at the start, we get to see her come to terms with some hard truths and grow from the experience, as heart-wrenching as the process was. I loved seeing her relationship with Nox develop and her confidence grow. They are serious goals! The tension and sweetness and spice that these two exude is *chefs kiss*! I swear the spicy scenes for Nox and Rhea are seriously perfect. They are tender and sweet and grow to be more. I could not get enough of them! "Say my name." *swoon* I also loved getting to see the prince side of Nox who is more serious and responsible and just extremely powerful and beyond HOT. This manssss! He is everything I could want for Rhea and more. He is extremely patient and kind and protective, which we saw in the previous book, but he is so much more, and we get to see that come out of him as they encounter obstacles and traumas and flashbacks and betrayals and overcome them.
Bahi, Bahi, Bahi. I grew to adore this woman even more throughout this book. In HOSAM, we see her second-guess herself because of the views of the people around her; she has always been strong and confident in herself, but there was always that niggling doubt in the back of her mind. But we get to see a different side of her as she travels to a new land where no one knows her or even knows that she is mage. I love the new style of freedom she gains as she discovers who she could be in a world that doesn't see her as lesser for her lack of magic. She is able to continue and further her experiments while in the Shifter Kingdom, all while learning of a rebellion threatening the shifter king's rule and discovering true friendships. The tension and banter between her and King Kai is IMMACULATE. They have insane chemistry and steam throughout all of her chapters that the reader just yearns for it to culminate into SOMETHING. And the SPICE! 🥵🥵🥵 I swear the scenes Jenessa gives us between these two are just coded to my dna because they had me feeling some type of way... We also get to see their shields slowly come down around each other as they start to understand and trust each other, and the way these two stand up for one another and become protective is utterly swoonworthy!
And then we get Aria, our little siren princess! The world of the Siren Queendom is as stunning as it is harsh, and the vivid descriptions really do it justice and make the reader feel like they are actually living in their dreamworld of Atlantis (or maybe that is just my dreamworld *shrugs*). Aria is gentle and vulnerable and compassionate in a world that is nothing but ruthless. She is compelling in her fortitude as she faces her sisters and mother who expect her to be just as vicious as they are, even if they have to force her to become so. We follow her as she traverses the politics of her realm and questions her ability to make change as she sees the vile nature of everyone surrounding her. Her sister, Lyre, is the only female she can trust and the one who taught her how to put up and maintain a mask of strength and indifference to keep her safe. And we get to see her struggle with this, with keeping up a front when truly terrible things happen to her and those around her. One such event is followed by a great journey that Aria must make alone, and it really shows us who Aria is and who she could become. During our time with Aria, we are introduced to another intriguing character that I can't wait to explore more in the next installment!
There are many side characters that bring levity, frustration, hope, heart, and sorrow as they interact with our main characters and help our girls grow as the story progresses. They bring a realness to this story and world that keeps the reader immersed and engaged. Elora and Cass and Jahlee and Kane and Daje (yes, I said Daje because I love this asshole now *shrugs*) and Lyre and Mashaka and Myla are all amazing additions to an already stunning cast, and I am so excited to see more of them in the future!
There are twists and turns and reveals that shock and excite as the story wraps up that make me entirely too anxious for book 3! I cannot wait to see what Jenessa has in store for us next because the conclusion of this book has my insides in a tangled mess and my eyes red and swollen, and I don't have enough words for how incredible this book was!
🤣 Love you, Jenessa! Second read down, and a million to go! Absolutely love this continuation! Will be back to write a full review!
Wow. I am so honored to have been a part of Jenessa's team for the second book in her series! It was an incredible experience helping her proof and edit the continuation of the world and characters I have come to love so much. Jenessa is an incredible human and author with such unique ideas and an wonderful way with words. I wasn't sure how she would top Heir of Sun and Moon, but Crowns of Stars and Tides does just that! Everything I said in my review of HOSAM is still true when it comes to COSAT, just on steroids. Her voice has developed and improved even from HOSAM, which I thought was perfection, but we see her writing style mature and grow more confident as she adds a third FMC to develop and extra POVs to provide insight for the reader. With three FMCs, their storylines, and multiple extra POV chapters, the story doesn't falter or suffer. There is no dragging of the story or spending too much time with a single character. Though the book is a thick one, the chapters are the perfect length, and the POVs are split in such a way that it is easy to keep up with each character and their storyline. There is great continued character development and foundations created for new beloved characters, fantastic world building for the new worlds we are introduced to, beautiful prose with extremely quotable material, and that magic that only Jenessa seems to be able to create! The emotions and reactions that this book wrought in me were visceral and lasting. There was crying, laughing, yelling in frustration, and squealing in excitement. There was also quite a bit of cussing and fantasizing about the ways I would torture certain characters, because this cast was so real to me that I felt what they felt and I wanted vengeance for the way they were treated. (I cannot wait to annotate my physical copy of this book because the comments and thoughts I had while reading need to be memorialized.)
This was an incredible continuation of the Five Realms series! We get more of the characters we grew to love in book one and are introduced to several new ones to get attached to in book two. It was so rough and sad and happy and cathartic watching Rhea grow throughout this book. I already loved her personality and her strength and her vulnerability in HOSAM, but she really came out of her shell and saw what life had to offer her in this book as she found herself free from the shadow of her abusive uncle. She had the opportunity to make choices for herself and to make friends and to decide what she wanted to do with her life, when she had never had that opportunity before. After the betrayal she feels from the one person she could trust at the start, we get to see her come to terms with some hard truths and grow from the experience, as heart-wrenching as the process was. I loved seeing her relationship with Nox develop and her confidence grow. They are serious goals! The tension and sweetness and spice that these two exude is *chefs kiss*! I swear the spicy scenes for Nox and Rhea are seriously perfect. They are tender and sweet and grow to be more. I could not get enough of them! "Say my name." *swoon* I also loved getting to see the prince side of Nox who is more serious and responsible and just extremely powerful and beyond HOT. This manssss! He is everything I could want for Rhea and more. He is extremely patient and kind and protective, which we saw in the previous book, but he is so much more, and we get to see that come out of him as they encounter obstacles and traumas and flashbacks and betrayals and overcome them.
Bahi, Bahi, Bahi. I grew to adore this woman even more throughout this book. In HOSAM, we see her second-guess herself because of the views of the people around her; she has always been strong and confident in herself, but there was always that niggling doubt in the back of her mind. But we get to see a different side of her as she travels to a new land where no one knows her or even knows that she is mage. I love the new style of freedom she gains as she discovers who she could be in a world that doesn't see her as lesser for her lack of magic. She is able to continue and further her experiments while in the Shifter Kingdom, all while learning of a rebellion threatening the shifter king's rule and discovering true friendships. The tension and banter between her and King Kai is IMMACULATE. They have insane chemistry and steam throughout all of her chapters that the reader just yearns for it to culminate into SOMETHING. And the SPICE! 🥵🥵🥵 I swear the scenes Jenessa gives us between these two are just coded to my dna because they had me feeling some type of way... We also get to see their shields slowly come down around each other as they start to understand and trust each other, and the way these two stand up for one another and become protective is utterly swoonworthy!
And then we get Aria, our little siren princess! The world of the Siren Queendom is as stunning as it is harsh, and the vivid descriptions really do it justice and make the reader feel like they are actually living in their dreamworld of Atlantis (or maybe that is just my dreamworld *shrugs*). Aria is gentle and vulnerable and compassionate in a world that is nothing but ruthless. She is compelling in her fortitude as she faces her sisters and mother who expect her to be just as vicious as they are, even if they have to force her to become so. We follow her as she traverses the politics of her realm and questions her ability to make change as she sees the vile nature of everyone surrounding her. Her sister, Lyre, is the only female she can trust and the one who taught her how to put up and maintain a mask of strength and indifference to keep her safe. And we get to see her struggle with this, with keeping up a front when truly terrible things happen to her and those around her. One such event is followed by a great journey that Aria must make alone, and it really shows us who Aria is and who she could become. During our time with Aria, we are introduced to another intriguing character that I can't wait to explore more in the next installment!
There are many side characters that bring levity, frustration, hope, heart, and sorrow as they interact with our main characters and help our girls grow as the story progresses. They bring a realness to this story and world that keeps the reader immersed and engaged. Elora and Cass and Jahlee and Kane and Daje (yes, I said Daje because I love this asshole now *shrugs*) and Lyre and Mashaka and Myla are all amazing additions to an already stunning cast, and I am so excited to see more of them in the future!
There are twists and turns and reveals that shock and excite as the story wraps up that make me entirely too anxious for book 3! I cannot wait to see what Jenessa has in store for us next because the conclusion of this book has my insides in a tangled mess and my eyes red and swollen, and I don't have enough words for how incredible this book was!
December 3, 2025
This book is complex and covers 3 overlapping storylines with multiple POVs that vary between soft fmcs and strong fmcs so you get the best of both. If you’re someone who loves a complex story with slight fairytale vibes, you’ll definitely want to pick this one up!
I loved Bahira and Kai’s interactions, as well as all of the side characters in the shifter kingdom! Bahira is confident and the banter with her and Kai was my favorite throughout the book.
Aria was another complex character, she allowed herself to be pushed around and bullied so much that it finally came to a point where I couldn’t sympathize for her anymore. Either leave your kingdom and be alone or stand up for yourself.
Aria and Rhea are similar in the sense of being soft and a little naive about the world.
My FAVORITE POVs were from Xander though, that storyline is going to be super interesting!
I do really wish this book mostly focused on Bahira rather than Rhea, in my opinion Rheas story felt kind of dragged out and there’s only so many love proclamations and spice scenes til it’s overdone.
And can we talk about Haylee immediately trying to be the queen but it’s okay because Nox and Rheas kids she can pretend to be their mom? Absolutely INSANE behavior. And the fact that this is her immediate idea to the council not liking Rhea just proves her ulterior motives.
Overall this book is kind of long and I do wish each book was instead focused on 1 couple each but at the same time the author does a good job separating the storylines so you do essentially get 3 books in one.
I loved Bahira and Kai’s interactions, as well as all of the side characters in the shifter kingdom! Bahira is confident and the banter with her and Kai was my favorite throughout the book.
Aria was another complex character, she allowed herself to be pushed around and bullied so much that it finally came to a point where I couldn’t sympathize for her anymore. Either leave your kingdom and be alone or stand up for yourself.
Aria and Rhea are similar in the sense of being soft and a little naive about the world.
My FAVORITE POVs were from Xander though, that storyline is going to be super interesting!
I do really wish this book mostly focused on Bahira rather than Rhea, in my opinion Rheas story felt kind of dragged out and there’s only so many love proclamations and spice scenes til it’s overdone.
And can we talk about Haylee immediately trying to be the queen but it’s okay because Nox and Rheas kids she can pretend to be their mom? Absolutely INSANE behavior. And the fact that this is her immediate idea to the council not liking Rhea just proves her ulterior motives.
Overall this book is kind of long and I do wish each book was instead focused on 1 couple each but at the same time the author does a good job separating the storylines so you do essentially get 3 books in one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2025
There is not much I can say about this book without accidentally spoiling it. However, Jenessa I apologize for yelling at you at the end of Heir of Sun and Moon. I now know there were reasons you did evil things and reasons why you wouldn't answer my questions.
Crowns of Stars and Tides picks up right where Heir of Sun and Moon ends with Rhea and Bahira starting their new adventures. In this book, we are also introduced to Aria, the daughter of the siren queen. All three ladies must face adversity and attempt to overcome their worst fears in order to save not only the people they care for but also the blight that is rapidly becoming worse.
Of course, there is a third book, and we must now wait a little while very impatiently to find out what happens to these leading ladies, their relationships and of course the Kingdom. I won't yell at Jenessa yet, but I do not make any promises for how I will react with Thrones of Shadows and Flames.
Crowns of Stars and Tides picks up right where Heir of Sun and Moon ends with Rhea and Bahira starting their new adventures. In this book, we are also introduced to Aria, the daughter of the siren queen. All three ladies must face adversity and attempt to overcome their worst fears in order to save not only the people they care for but also the blight that is rapidly becoming worse.
Of course, there is a third book, and we must now wait a little while very impatiently to find out what happens to these leading ladies, their relationships and of course the Kingdom. I won't yell at Jenessa yet, but I do not make any promises for how I will react with Thrones of Shadows and Flames.
November 13, 2025
This was a chonky book but it had me gripped the whole time!
I felt even more attached to the characters throughout the book as there was such a good job expanding on all of them. We get POVs of Rhea, Bahira, Aria, Kai, Knox, and Dolian. I really rejoiced with the good moments and scowled and pouted with the bad ones.
The ending has me nauseous and terrified of book 3 and what is about to go down.
I absolutely love all the fairytales weaved together. We've got Rapunzel, Little Mermaid, and more! There is so much being set up here and I can't wait to dive into the next book and find out what happens.
Read if you love:
-Fairytale retellings
-Multiple POVs
-Shifters, fae, dragons, mages, sirens, and mortals
-Forced proximity
-Secret identities
-Political maneuverings
I felt even more attached to the characters throughout the book as there was such a good job expanding on all of them. We get POVs of Rhea, Bahira, Aria, Kai, Knox, and Dolian. I really rejoiced with the good moments and scowled and pouted with the bad ones.
The ending has me nauseous and terrified of book 3 and what is about to go down.
I absolutely love all the fairytales weaved together. We've got Rapunzel, Little Mermaid, and more! There is so much being set up here and I can't wait to dive into the next book and find out what happens.
Read if you love:
-Fairytale retellings
-Multiple POVs
-Shifters, fae, dragons, mages, sirens, and mortals
-Forced proximity
-Secret identities
-Political maneuverings
April 19, 2025
Genuinely incredible book!! Great book 2 to the series and answered a lot of questions from book 1 and created a lot of questions I’m eager to have answered in book 3!!
Invested in all three plots throughout and rooting for everyone to get their happy ending. I like how this book weaves a lot of aspects of fantasy into one book. There’s dragons, fae, shifters, magic, mortals, sirens. Also fated mates potentially??? 👀 We’ll see about that one.
Invested in all three plots throughout and rooting for everyone to get their happy ending. I like how this book weaves a lot of aspects of fantasy into one book. There’s dragons, fae, shifters, magic, mortals, sirens. Also fated mates potentially??? 👀 We’ll see about that one.
April 7, 2025
Just finished this a minute ago and I’m not okay. I don’t know how long it will be until the next book is out but it needs to be soon because that ending will keep me up at night. The ending aside, I’m loving this series and the characters and the world. I’m really happy I found this series randomly on my instagram explore page lol
September 24, 2024
Ugh tbh I don’t know how to even review this right now. I’ll come back to it…but even though I knew the ending was going to kill me im still so upset. Make sure your read heir of sun and moon so you’re ready for this one….
July 16, 2025
♾️ STARS!!!!!!!!
December 11, 2024
This series is so under hyped!!
July 25, 2024
Review coming, but for now just know ITS A MASTERPIECE OKAY. We’re talking Picasso of books
September 27, 2024
So, I had the absolute HONOR to BETA read this beautiful, beautiful book. And you guys, I really just have to say that this story is one that I’ve quickly fallen for and these characters, I have come to hold very dear in my heart. This sequel did not disappoint and added to what I know is going to become a phenomenal series. It. Was. Too. Dang. Good.
COSAT picks up right where HOSAM left off. Our characters in turmoil and things only getting worse. Like, a lot worse. On the bright side however we explore new lands and several new and fascinating characters. So much happens in this book. And my emotions varied between screaming with excitement and actual weeping, so do with that what you will.
Jenessa just has such a way with words. Her writing is literal poetry and her mind is pure evil with what she does to not just her characters but to her reader’s hearts. She’s not afraid to wreck her audience to say the least. But that’s okay because I will gladly give this woman all my money to just keep her doing it over and over again.
Honestly guys, this continuation really checked all the boxes:
Banter ✔️
Character development ✔️
Chemistry ✔️
Steam ✔️
Action ✔️
Heartbreak✔️
BETRAYAL ✔️
Our relationships deepen. The plot thickens. The twists are suspenseful. The world is ever evolving. The reveals are clever but still leaves you with so many questions. Honestly, you will quite literally be on the edge of your seat with this book. And then be pissed book 3 isn’t out.
I’m truly never going to stop recommending this series. It’s just too dang good! This story can be found in the sweet spot between Gild and Throne of Glass. And I need all y’all to check out this magical series that is sure to leave you utterly enchanted (and heartbroken)✌🏻
COSAT picks up right where HOSAM left off. Our characters in turmoil and things only getting worse. Like, a lot worse. On the bright side however we explore new lands and several new and fascinating characters. So much happens in this book. And my emotions varied between screaming with excitement and actual weeping, so do with that what you will.
Jenessa just has such a way with words. Her writing is literal poetry and her mind is pure evil with what she does to not just her characters but to her reader’s hearts. She’s not afraid to wreck her audience to say the least. But that’s okay because I will gladly give this woman all my money to just keep her doing it over and over again.
Honestly guys, this continuation really checked all the boxes:
Banter ✔️
Character development ✔️
Chemistry ✔️
Steam ✔️
Action ✔️
Heartbreak✔️
BETRAYAL ✔️
Our relationships deepen. The plot thickens. The twists are suspenseful. The world is ever evolving. The reveals are clever but still leaves you with so many questions. Honestly, you will quite literally be on the edge of your seat with this book. And then be pissed book 3 isn’t out.
I’m truly never going to stop recommending this series. It’s just too dang good! This story can be found in the sweet spot between Gild and Throne of Glass. And I need all y’all to check out this magical series that is sure to leave you utterly enchanted (and heartbroken)✌🏻
September 28, 2024
𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙯𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧.
Despite Rhea and Flynn being out of the Mortal Realm, Dolian’s relentless hunt to possess her still haunts her from across the Spell. While adjusting to her new life in the Mage Kingdom, Rhea grapples with healing and finding her worth, but also having experiences she never dreamed were possible from inside the walls of her old tower. After a rough journey across the seas, Bahira lands in the Shifter Kingdom alongside the infuriating King to find that the blight impacting shifter magic isn’t the only problem they need her help with. Constantly fighting her attraction to Kai and the need to pummel his nose, Bahi works to uncover the rebellion to protect the male that is quick to rise her temper and her lust. In a queendom where ruthlessness is praised and viciousness is the goal, a soft heart like Aria’s is a dangerous thing to possess. Forced to prove her loyalty to her mother the queen, Aria is sent on a quest to uncover magical relics that would give the Siren Queendom more power, but when that power is used to oppress the people Aria is trying to protect and to punish the people on land for the crimes of their ancestors generations ago, is one voice enough to topple a trident and crown?
𝙂𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙛 𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙢𝙮. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙣𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙞𝙩—𝙣𝙤 𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙩 𝙛𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙥𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙨 𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩. 𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙖 𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙧 𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙣 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣.
Me to anyone who will listen: *ahem* 📣 Jenessa Ren is a TREASURE, and if I could live in any book, I would always choose hers!
I’ve said it since her debut of book one - Jenessa is a brilliant writer, but somehow she found a way to improve EVEN MORE for book two. Her prose is lyrical and captivating, and sometimes feels more like poetry in her description of emotions and thoughts. It’s so evocative and visceral - when I’m in Rhea’s POV, I AM Rhea; when I’m in Bahira’s POV, I AM Bahira. She doesn’t just create the characters and stories, she brings them to life. She also managed to not only have one perfect MMC (consent king, emotionally intelligent, patient as hell, obsessed but in a healthy way), but two perfect MMCs (moody and broody, protective but also okay with being protected, smart mouth that he’s willing to use, possessive but not scary about it). Regardless of the type of FMC you relate to, there’s a heroine for everyone - soft and kind, fierce and strong, tender and passionate. The pacing is phenomenal and masterfully done, leaving you anxious for what’s next and on the edge of your seat, never a lull or wasted moment. COSAT (like HOSAM) is an absolutely fantastic story that should be on everyone’s immediate TBR so it can receive the attention it whole heartedly deserves. Bravo, Jenessa - this has been my FAVORITE read of the year 🤍
“𝘽𝙖𝙝𝙞𝙧𝙖.” 𝙃𝙚 𝙧𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙚, 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙮 𝙝𝙞𝙢. (Bestie, let it omg)
Despite Rhea and Flynn being out of the Mortal Realm, Dolian’s relentless hunt to possess her still haunts her from across the Spell. While adjusting to her new life in the Mage Kingdom, Rhea grapples with healing and finding her worth, but also having experiences she never dreamed were possible from inside the walls of her old tower. After a rough journey across the seas, Bahira lands in the Shifter Kingdom alongside the infuriating King to find that the blight impacting shifter magic isn’t the only problem they need her help with. Constantly fighting her attraction to Kai and the need to pummel his nose, Bahi works to uncover the rebellion to protect the male that is quick to rise her temper and her lust. In a queendom where ruthlessness is praised and viciousness is the goal, a soft heart like Aria’s is a dangerous thing to possess. Forced to prove her loyalty to her mother the queen, Aria is sent on a quest to uncover magical relics that would give the Siren Queendom more power, but when that power is used to oppress the people Aria is trying to protect and to punish the people on land for the crimes of their ancestors generations ago, is one voice enough to topple a trident and crown?
𝙂𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙛 𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙢𝙮. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙣𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙞𝙩—𝙣𝙤 𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙩 𝙛𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙥𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙨 𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩. 𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙖 𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙧 𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙣 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣.
Me to anyone who will listen: *ahem* 📣 Jenessa Ren is a TREASURE, and if I could live in any book, I would always choose hers!
I’ve said it since her debut of book one - Jenessa is a brilliant writer, but somehow she found a way to improve EVEN MORE for book two. Her prose is lyrical and captivating, and sometimes feels more like poetry in her description of emotions and thoughts. It’s so evocative and visceral - when I’m in Rhea’s POV, I AM Rhea; when I’m in Bahira’s POV, I AM Bahira. She doesn’t just create the characters and stories, she brings them to life. She also managed to not only have one perfect MMC (consent king, emotionally intelligent, patient as hell, obsessed but in a healthy way), but two perfect MMCs (moody and broody, protective but also okay with being protected, smart mouth that he’s willing to use, possessive but not scary about it). Regardless of the type of FMC you relate to, there’s a heroine for everyone - soft and kind, fierce and strong, tender and passionate. The pacing is phenomenal and masterfully done, leaving you anxious for what’s next and on the edge of your seat, never a lull or wasted moment. COSAT (like HOSAM) is an absolutely fantastic story that should be on everyone’s immediate TBR so it can receive the attention it whole heartedly deserves. Bravo, Jenessa - this has been my FAVORITE read of the year 🤍
“𝘽𝙖𝙝𝙞𝙧𝙖.” 𝙃𝙚 𝙧𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙚, 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙮 𝙝𝙞𝙢. (Bestie, let it omg)
May 11, 2025
2.5 ⭐️
I've rounded up on this because indie authors have a hard enough time without people giving low star reviews, but I am just soo disappointed in this follow up.
I loved the first in this series but 850 pages is a big ask for the reader to stay engaged when – in my opinion – so little actually happens.
The story is broken up into 3 main storylines/couples with a 4th subplot interwoven. I think Ren just aimed too high on this front and maybe it would've felt more cohesive to have broken up into smaller books focusing on one couple at a time.
Rhea and Nox: I loved the Rapunzel fairytale retelling in the first book but in this one all the tension and development was lost. Nothing happens till the last 15 pages!
I didn't care about 'The Middle' and there are only so many sex scenes and proclamations of love that I can take before I am just continuously rolling my eyes.
Bahira and Kai: This may just be me, but I truly couldn't bring myself to care about the shifter kingdom. The villain is revealed way too late and is painfully obvious throughout, and the romance didn't interest me at all.
Aria and Myla: Aria became my favourite princess in this story. She was a coward and weak and she knew it. It gave the reader something to root for, I wanted to see her overcome her fears. She is possibly the only reason I'd continue the series (although not if it's another 850 pages dear God). I also liked the tension between her and Myla – the fae princess. For me, the opposites attract of an assassin/vigilante princess and a meek, abused young woman has a lot more angst and potential, than Kai and Bahira who are the same person in male and female form.
Overall, I was missing the plot and the drama that pushed Crowns of Stars and Tides forward. The first book mainly took place in a tower and that's fine but I needed more in this one.
The overarching issue that propels the series forward was clear from the get-go so that was not a big reveal to me, and outside that it was so lacking any drama. When I think of an epic length romantasy novel, like an ACOTAR or Fourth Wing-esque book, the main thing is that there is continuously conflict – inbetween the sex and romance – and usually a fabulously camp villain. In this series we've only had one good villain and he was barely in this one.
I will potentially give the next in the series a go as I do think this author is finding her feet and from the first novel I still believe she has great potential, but I really hope some of the issues here can be worked on with a good editor.
I've rounded up on this because indie authors have a hard enough time without people giving low star reviews, but I am just soo disappointed in this follow up.
I loved the first in this series but 850 pages is a big ask for the reader to stay engaged when – in my opinion – so little actually happens.
The story is broken up into 3 main storylines/couples with a 4th subplot interwoven. I think Ren just aimed too high on this front and maybe it would've felt more cohesive to have broken up into smaller books focusing on one couple at a time.
Rhea and Nox: I loved the Rapunzel fairytale retelling in the first book but in this one all the tension and development was lost. Nothing happens till the last 15 pages!
I didn't care about 'The Middle' and there are only so many sex scenes and proclamations of love that I can take before I am just continuously rolling my eyes.
Bahira and Kai: This may just be me, but I truly couldn't bring myself to care about the shifter kingdom. The villain is revealed way too late and is painfully obvious throughout, and the romance didn't interest me at all.
Aria and Myla: Aria became my favourite princess in this story. She was a coward and weak and she knew it. It gave the reader something to root for, I wanted to see her overcome her fears. She is possibly the only reason I'd continue the series (although not if it's another 850 pages dear God). I also liked the tension between her and Myla – the fae princess. For me, the opposites attract of an assassin/vigilante princess and a meek, abused young woman has a lot more angst and potential, than Kai and Bahira who are the same person in male and female form.
Overall, I was missing the plot and the drama that pushed Crowns of Stars and Tides forward. The first book mainly took place in a tower and that's fine but I needed more in this one.
The overarching issue that propels the series forward was clear from the get-go so that was not a big reveal to me, and outside that it was so lacking any drama. When I think of an epic length romantasy novel, like an ACOTAR or Fourth Wing-esque book, the main thing is that there is continuously conflict – inbetween the sex and romance – and usually a fabulously camp villain. In this series we've only had one good villain and he was barely in this one.
I will potentially give the next in the series a go as I do think this author is finding her feet and from the first novel I still believe she has great potential, but I really hope some of the issues here can be worked on with a good editor.
September 15, 2024
If you’ve already read Heir of Sun and Moon you won’t want to miss the second book, Crowns of Stars and Tides. Jenessa did such a beautiful job continuing this story. I messaged her while reading and said that sometimes I forget she wrote this book. Like it just felt like it was a best selling book that I picked up at the bookstore.
Her characters: they are so well thought out and developed. Their personalities are so in depth that it gives them that iconic edge that makes them feel real. Like this story and the land and the characters make up a timeless fairytale that has been known and loved for decades and will continue to be cherished for years to come.
Her patience: look, I don’t know about you but I do not like when a story feels rushed and insincere. Jenessa seems to understand that while creating the dynamics of the world she’s designed, she has to take her time unraveling the story. We get love and acceptance, jealously and contempt, fear, loathing, lust, grief and growth. Those very human emotions are woven throughout this series in such a way that the reader feels the frustration when progress takes time. All that to say… Jenessa isn’t moving the story along for the sake of a completed book/series. She writes in a way that you just savor and endure and delight in.
Her mental health awareness: in this book we face the aftermath of book one’s grief. And Jenessa didn’t shy away from taking us along with the characters on that journey. Here’s a quote I saved that I completely resonated with….
“But there was always an underlying current of anxiousness within me, rocking me as if I was driftwood in the sea. Reminding me that any moment of calm was nothing more than the eye of a storm and that chaos of tumultuous waters would soon find me again - leaving me broken and battered on the floor.”
Dealing with my own anxieties in life, I KNOW that feeling of everything being calm yet my stomach being in knots waiting on the next moment of toxicity to disrupt my peace. I really felt seen in moments of this book where Jenessa articulated my own mental health struggles in a way that made sense regardless of circumstances.
As far as reviewers go for all books… I just want to remind you that literature is art. Art is not perfect, nor is it meant to be. This book and the feelings it evokes will vary depending on you the reader, your personality, what season of life you’re in, and your self awareness.
My suggestion is to take your time with this book, and not just make it another check mark on your TBR. It’s a good one that I have no doubt will stand the test of time.
Also, Jenessa… the scene where two certain some ones finally make their way down to the garden before the ball…. So perfectly done. That may have been my favorite part. ❤️
Her characters: they are so well thought out and developed. Their personalities are so in depth that it gives them that iconic edge that makes them feel real. Like this story and the land and the characters make up a timeless fairytale that has been known and loved for decades and will continue to be cherished for years to come.
Her patience: look, I don’t know about you but I do not like when a story feels rushed and insincere. Jenessa seems to understand that while creating the dynamics of the world she’s designed, she has to take her time unraveling the story. We get love and acceptance, jealously and contempt, fear, loathing, lust, grief and growth. Those very human emotions are woven throughout this series in such a way that the reader feels the frustration when progress takes time. All that to say… Jenessa isn’t moving the story along for the sake of a completed book/series. She writes in a way that you just savor and endure and delight in.
Her mental health awareness: in this book we face the aftermath of book one’s grief. And Jenessa didn’t shy away from taking us along with the characters on that journey. Here’s a quote I saved that I completely resonated with….
“But there was always an underlying current of anxiousness within me, rocking me as if I was driftwood in the sea. Reminding me that any moment of calm was nothing more than the eye of a storm and that chaos of tumultuous waters would soon find me again - leaving me broken and battered on the floor.”
Dealing with my own anxieties in life, I KNOW that feeling of everything being calm yet my stomach being in knots waiting on the next moment of toxicity to disrupt my peace. I really felt seen in moments of this book where Jenessa articulated my own mental health struggles in a way that made sense regardless of circumstances.
As far as reviewers go for all books… I just want to remind you that literature is art. Art is not perfect, nor is it meant to be. This book and the feelings it evokes will vary depending on you the reader, your personality, what season of life you’re in, and your self awareness.
My suggestion is to take your time with this book, and not just make it another check mark on your TBR. It’s a good one that I have no doubt will stand the test of time.
Also, Jenessa… the scene where two certain some ones finally make their way down to the garden before the ball…. So perfectly done. That may have been my favorite part. ❤️
November 24, 2025
There is a LOT that happens in this.
We get a new FMC perspective, Aria, a siren princess who is a disappointment to her mother, as she cannot lure males with her song, hasn't gotten pregnant, and is too soft-hearted. She is sent on a mission with a delphindae who doesn't really like her. I enjoyed her character enough, but won't deny that I wasn't as invested in her story. Yet. I can chalk that up to her story barely beginning.
Bahira, the mage princess we met in HOSAM, accepts the shifter king's deal and finds herself on a ship and then his island. She and Kai are like oil and vinegar.... until they aren't. Their relationship builds in what I can best describe as "in reverse." Bahira is not shy about her sexuality, and Kai is a "beast" who knows only how to rule through a kind of fear. At first, I didn't get a sense of a real bond between them, but it definitely sneaks up and grows on you!
Rhea, the mortal princess, is now in the mage kingdom with Nox (previously known as Flynn), unsure of her place. For a significant part of their story here, they are -- ahem -- getting to know one another. There is political intrigue and Rhea finding her place while learning magic and how to defend herself. I loved the way grief is treated, as well as anxiety and PTSD, as she lost some very important people after being locked in a tower for 22 years by has lascivious uncle. Not something someone would just "get over."
At times, I felt that this could have been split up into separate books about each one, but, having finished, I appreciate the way the princesses' stories weave together and provide a balance. Rhea getting the slightest bit of time to breath, make friends, and build on her relationship with Nox might have felt too slow-paced if not for the newness of Bahira and Aria's stories.
I also really liked all the different perspectives woven in, including some of evil King Dolian. (Have to add, I keep hearing Chaucer from A Knight's Tale saying "Saved a maiden from the would-be ravishings of her dreadful Turkish uncle!" when I think of him, lol).
This world is rich and slowly building up, and oh my goodness, the last 10%!!!
Also, I have to say: Siyala!!!! YES!!! (IYKYK).
We get a new FMC perspective, Aria, a siren princess who is a disappointment to her mother, as she cannot lure males with her song, hasn't gotten pregnant, and is too soft-hearted. She is sent on a mission with a delphindae who doesn't really like her. I enjoyed her character enough, but won't deny that I wasn't as invested in her story. Yet. I can chalk that up to her story barely beginning.
Bahira, the mage princess we met in HOSAM, accepts the shifter king's deal and finds herself on a ship and then his island. She and Kai are like oil and vinegar.... until they aren't. Their relationship builds in what I can best describe as "in reverse." Bahira is not shy about her sexuality, and Kai is a "beast" who knows only how to rule through a kind of fear. At first, I didn't get a sense of a real bond between them, but it definitely sneaks up and grows on you!
Rhea, the mortal princess, is now in the mage kingdom with Nox (previously known as Flynn), unsure of her place. For a significant part of their story here, they are -- ahem -- getting to know one another. There is political intrigue and Rhea finding her place while learning magic and how to defend herself. I loved the way grief is treated, as well as anxiety and PTSD, as she lost some very important people after being locked in a tower for 22 years by has lascivious uncle. Not something someone would just "get over."
At times, I felt that this could have been split up into separate books about each one, but, having finished, I appreciate the way the princesses' stories weave together and provide a balance. Rhea getting the slightest bit of time to breath, make friends, and build on her relationship with Nox might have felt too slow-paced if not for the newness of Bahira and Aria's stories.
I also really liked all the different perspectives woven in, including some of evil King Dolian. (Have to add, I keep hearing Chaucer from A Knight's Tale saying "Saved a maiden from the would-be ravishings of her dreadful Turkish uncle!" when I think of him, lol).
This world is rich and slowly building up, and oh my goodness, the last 10%!!!
Also, I have to say: Siyala!!!! YES!!! (IYKYK).
October 12, 2024
No estoy bien. Cuando me recupere de esta resaca emocional escribiré la reseña🥲
Todavía no me he recuperado, pero bueno...
Este libro es maravilloso y me indigna de gran manera que no sea un bestseller. Es un crimen. Es una preciosidad y todo el mundo debería leerlo.
"Our love is not a beggining or an end but an infinite constant"
Los personajes están muy bien construidos y sus evoluciones son buenas y realistas. Y n0 solo los protagonistas, los personajes secundarios también tienen su vida. Algo que me gusta mucho de esta historia es que la autora consigue meterte muy bien dentro de la cabeza de cada uno de ellos. Te hace empatizar hasta con el más gilipollas. Solo con decir que Daje me ha gustado........
El mejor cambio ha sido el de Rhea. Su hilo en el libro ha sido devastador y sanador a partes iguales. He sufrido mucho con ella, pero ver en lo que se ha convertido... Estoy demasiado orgullosa de lo que ha conseguido (nada parasocial). Es "heartwarming".
¿Y su romance? Lloro. La manera en la que evoluciona también la relación que tiene con Flynn es preciosa. Son una pareja tan bonita que podría morirme.
La parte de Bahira ha sido un poco todo lo contrario. Mientras que los capítulos de Rhea estaban muy centrados en su salud mental y en general eran lentos, los de Bahira han sido una montaña rusa de emociones. Podría haberme muerto de todos los ataques al corazón que me ha causado esta cerda. En el primer libro ya se ve que es una desquiciada, PERO EN ESTE??? LO ATREVIDA QUE ES???? NO TIENE VERGÜENZA
Por supuesto también tiene sus partes tristonas, pero en general es todo una mezcla entre su investigación y el mamarracheo. Es una desvergonzada JAJAJAJJAA
Ahora, la que más me ha interesado ha sido Aria. Es la chica que menos capítulos ha tenido, pero han sido intensitos. NECESITO leer el siguiente libro solo para saber qué va a pasar con ella y con Lumen. Y con ese trato................ *guiño*
Los personajes no son lo único que Jenessa narra genial, también tiene una capacidad increíble para describir los lugares en los que ocurren los hechos. Mientras estaba leyendo podía imaginarme perfectamente las ciudades, el ambiente, las salas... Mis reinos favoritos son Galdr y Lumen. El ambiente de la ciudad de los magos es mágico. Si pudiera elegir dónde vivir siempre eligiría este. Solo con ver sus casas de árboles, sus bibliotecas... Cozy. De Lumen no hay demasiada explicación, por favor, es el mar.
En conclusión, que se me ha hecho larga la cosa, que lo leáis. Porque sí. Porque lo digo yo.
Todavía no me he recuperado, pero bueno...
Este libro es maravilloso y me indigna de gran manera que no sea un bestseller. Es un crimen. Es una preciosidad y todo el mundo debería leerlo.
"Our love is not a beggining or an end but an infinite constant"
Los personajes están muy bien construidos y sus evoluciones son buenas y realistas. Y n0 solo los protagonistas, los personajes secundarios también tienen su vida. Algo que me gusta mucho de esta historia es que la autora consigue meterte muy bien dentro de la cabeza de cada uno de ellos. Te hace empatizar hasta con el más gilipollas. Solo con decir que Daje me ha gustado........
El mejor cambio ha sido el de Rhea. Su hilo en el libro ha sido devastador y sanador a partes iguales. He sufrido mucho con ella, pero ver en lo que se ha convertido... Estoy demasiado orgullosa de lo que ha conseguido (nada parasocial). Es "heartwarming".
¿Y su romance? Lloro. La manera en la que evoluciona también la relación que tiene con Flynn es preciosa. Son una pareja tan bonita que podría morirme.
La parte de Bahira ha sido un poco todo lo contrario. Mientras que los capítulos de Rhea estaban muy centrados en su salud mental y en general eran lentos, los de Bahira han sido una montaña rusa de emociones. Podría haberme muerto de todos los ataques al corazón que me ha causado esta cerda. En el primer libro ya se ve que es una desquiciada, PERO EN ESTE??? LO ATREVIDA QUE ES???? NO TIENE VERGÜENZA
Por supuesto también tiene sus partes tristonas, pero en general es todo una mezcla entre su investigación y el mamarracheo. Es una desvergonzada JAJAJAJJAA
Ahora, la que más me ha interesado ha sido Aria. Es la chica que menos capítulos ha tenido, pero han sido intensitos. NECESITO leer el siguiente libro solo para saber qué va a pasar con ella y con Lumen. Y con ese trato................ *guiño*
Los personajes no son lo único que Jenessa narra genial, también tiene una capacidad increíble para describir los lugares en los que ocurren los hechos. Mientras estaba leyendo podía imaginarme perfectamente las ciudades, el ambiente, las salas... Mis reinos favoritos son Galdr y Lumen. El ambiente de la ciudad de los magos es mágico. Si pudiera elegir dónde vivir siempre eligiría este. Solo con ver sus casas de árboles, sus bibliotecas... Cozy. De Lumen no hay demasiada explicación, por favor, es el mar.
En conclusión, que se me ha hecho larga la cosa, que lo leáis. Porque sí. Porque lo digo yo.
October 28, 2025
THIS BOOK. THIS SERIES. I don't think I can adequately tell you just how much I love this, but I'm going to try. (I read the available books all at once, so this is sort of a blanket post for all of them!-No spoilers!)
This epic fantasy romance spans 4 different fairytale reimaginings. There's multi-POV, multi-storyline, and multi-romance.
Retelling vibes: Rapunzel, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Mulan
If you loved the later books in the Throne of Glass series (HOF and forward), this is for you.
I LOVE multi-POV books that span across multiple storylines more than ANY other kind of book, but I think they're difficult to do well.
This series does it perfectly. The pacing, the emotional damage, the balance between all the main characters' personalities & growth arcs, and the romance! Infinite star rating from me.
I care about every POV equally; there was no spot throughout the entire series that dragged even for a bit. I devoured 2,346 pages of this series over the course of just a few days because I was so invested, and I already know that I will be doing re-listens/re-reads.
One of my favorite parts of the series is how different all the main FMCs are, and how they display strength and growth in unique ways, but in equal measure.
The romances feel layered and specific to each couple. The chemistry in each relationship is incredible and feels SO authentic- the couples fit together in a way that their specific personalities perfectly complement and challenge each other. None of the characters or romances feel cookie-cutter or trope-y (even when popular tropes come into play).
The spice feels integral to the plotlines and character arcs (and is 🔥at the same time)
These characters will live rent free in my head as long as Aelin & the rest of the TOG gang have.
Book 2 specifically: This book has EOS level emotional damage 😭<3 <3 I love how much the world starts to expand in this one. Bahira's romance arc kicks off and they are PERFECT for eachother <3
This epic fantasy romance spans 4 different fairytale reimaginings. There's multi-POV, multi-storyline, and multi-romance.
Retelling vibes: Rapunzel, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Mulan
If you loved the later books in the Throne of Glass series (HOF and forward), this is for you.
I LOVE multi-POV books that span across multiple storylines more than ANY other kind of book, but I think they're difficult to do well.
This series does it perfectly. The pacing, the emotional damage, the balance between all the main characters' personalities & growth arcs, and the romance! Infinite star rating from me.
I care about every POV equally; there was no spot throughout the entire series that dragged even for a bit. I devoured 2,346 pages of this series over the course of just a few days because I was so invested, and I already know that I will be doing re-listens/re-reads.
One of my favorite parts of the series is how different all the main FMCs are, and how they display strength and growth in unique ways, but in equal measure.
The romances feel layered and specific to each couple. The chemistry in each relationship is incredible and feels SO authentic- the couples fit together in a way that their specific personalities perfectly complement and challenge each other. None of the characters or romances feel cookie-cutter or trope-y (even when popular tropes come into play).
The spice feels integral to the plotlines and character arcs (and is 🔥at the same time)
These characters will live rent free in my head as long as Aelin & the rest of the TOG gang have.
Book 2 specifically: This book has EOS level emotional damage 😭<3 <3 I love how much the world starts to expand in this one. Bahira's romance arc kicks off and they are PERFECT for eachother <3
Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews