Jump to ratings and reviews

Win a free print copy of this book!

18 days and 23:23:48

5 copies available
U.S. only
Rate this book

Crown & Captive

Not yet published
Expected 1 Dec 26

Win a free print copy of this book!

18 days and 23:23:48

5 copies available
U.S. only
Rate this book
With the intrigue of The Cruel Prince and the romance of The Selection comes a page-turning fantasy about a girl forced into servitude in an enemy kingdom.

“An immersive romantasy . . . Enemies-to-lovers tropes get the royal treatment [with] smoldering tension.” —Publishers Weekly


Elysia of Miral never thought she’d set foot in Tannic. After a brutal rebellion that claimed the lives of both her father and Tannic’s king, Elysia has become a living symbol of a fragile truce. But she knows the  She’s been handed over as a veritable hostage, trapped in a court where everyone blames her for their king’s death. 

Forced into servitude, Elysia despises her role almost as much as the men who now surround Daxon, the brooding heir, determined to hate her; Pike, the flirtatious second-born, who pushes her buttons with reckless charm; and the two youngest brothers, Caden and Silas. 

But soon loyalty and desire collide, and Elysia finds herself caught in a forbidden romance with the last person she ever expected to capture her heart. Will falling for the enemy prove to be a mistake that she pays for with her life?

320 pages, Paperback

Expected publication December 1, 2026

Loading...
Loading...

About the author

Kathleen Kitt

1 book16 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
12 (30%)
4 stars
21 (52%)
3 stars
6 (15%)
2 stars
1 (2%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
Profile Image for shriya.
54 reviews18 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
July 29, 2026
⋆.˚ 4.5 ˚.⋆

i loved this book so much!! crown & captive follows elysia, the heir of miral, as she's forced into servitude to the enemy kingdom's princes as punishment for rebellion. there, she finds herself caught in court politics, and unexpected romance.

about the book
⋆.˚ standalone
⋆.˚ romantasy
⋆.˚ forbidden romance
⋆.˚ strong fmc
⋆.˚ fast paced with interesting twists
⋆.˚ vibes similar to the rose bargain, powerless, throne of glass, with a sprinkle of fourth wing

the plot
i was not bored for a single moment. the chapters were short and the writing was easy to follow, and every time i thought i was right about something, there was a twist waiting to prove me wrong. i really can't say more without spoilers, but there was a mystery involved too!

the characters
⋆.˚ fmc - elysia
elysia was such a badass, i love her. her love for her kingdom and the strength that came from it was inspiring, and i love how she wasn't blindly swept away by romance.

⋆.˚ mmc - daxon
ah the weight of being the first born son. i liked him. he yearned well.

⋆.˚ pike
i wish we saw more of him! i mean, he is an important character with a lot more page time than the others but i still wish there was more depth & explanation to his character.

plus

⋆.˚ caden, farron, astrid, olleria & everyone else
there are a lot of characters in this book, and they're a bit hard to keep track of when they're introduced but you get used to it. everyone has different personalities, and plays a part in the story.

the worldbuilding
now, there was a lot of potential, especially with the political/power aspect of the story, but the worldbuilding kind of took a backseat. it was there, but only enough to know and not to give the story more dimension. also, the aspect felt out of place, and only convenient for the

the ending
AHHH i can't say anything without spoiling but i loved the last plot twist so much! i just wish the ending was a little longer, to wrap things up better.

thank you to the author, the publisher and netgalley for the arc!!
Profile Image for ryliekate_reads.
127 reviews18 followers
September 14, 2026
Review of Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group.
Publication Date: December 1, 2026

4 stars!
Honestly, I went into this book with few expectations—good or bad—and quickly found myself happily surprised!!! Crown & Captive by Kathleen Kitt is a sweeping fantasy harboring a high-stakes plot to kill the king. It continually keeps you guessing about who is a friend or a foe. Almost immediately, you are pulled into the story and learn about the world as it progresses instead of facing chapters of world-building or info-dumps, which makes it very fast-paced (without any whiplash). I also appreciated that the enemies-to-lovers wasn't something that lasted all of three chapters. It festered in the dislike before steady shifts began to occur. The aspect of the reader not knowing anything more than Elysia, the FMC, was done quite well.
Now, a few parts felt jumpy and/or out of the blue, but that comes with only knowing what the MC knows; however, there were instances where it was a stark shift. The ending especially felt a little rushed. And while the enemies-to-lovers does actually go over the course of around 60% of the book, it shifts quickly into lust, which I did not love. They do genuinely care for one another, but there are a few scenes *really* toeing the line of almost more. So, that was uncomfortable at times, as was this really out-of-the-blue scene of the FMC getting drunk. It genuinely did little to move the plot along, and easily could have been omitted.
~Content~
Romance: No spice. There are a couple steamier kisses involving hands (one kiss the FMC only has a cloak on; uncomfy), infrequently suggestive innuendo, and the MCs do sleep together (nothing beyond kissing happens, and they lie together because of the cold). There were a couple times I found myself skimming a bit, but there is not frequent instances of kissing (or other romantic things).
Violence: War related deaths (mentioned), a murder plot, attempted poisoning, imprisonment, knife wounds, mistreatment/torture (off page) of a wyvern, and imprisonment of a wyvern.
Other: Manipulation, betrayal, mistreatment, infrequent moderate language (a*s, b*tch, d*mn, sh*t, h*ll; no f-word), exploitation, and revenge plots.
Christian: No. I think certain things could be seen as a value, such as forgivness and selflessness; however, as a whole, there are no explicit Christian themes. The characters do pray to and swear on the "Triumvirate", and no magic was directly mentioned in this book. Also, there are no LGBTQ characters present.
~Final Thoughts~
Overall, Crown & Captive was a thoroughly engaging read! I recommend if you enjoy high-stakes bridal competetion with a twist, fantasy settings, warring kingdoms, enemies-to-lovers, and a wonderful conclusion!
Happy reading :)

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for providing this complimentary e-ARC in exchange for a free, honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Profile Image for TJ.
3,426 reviews335 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
October 17, 2026
Before beginning this book, first and foremost one must understand that it is a YOUNG ADULT romantic fantasy! There have been so many adult books the past few years that have teenage protagonists that many, I believe, have forgotten what true YA means. And while it is lovely, with intrigue and action tied in with a huge dose of romance, this story is a true YA book. That means it is written in a simpler form, it doesn’t spend a lot of time on world-building. It doesn’t concern itself overly with all the motivations, backstories and layers expected from adult content fantasy. What is does do is tell a surprisingly good story.

This is especially true throughout the first half of the book. Elysia is the daughter of a king who was assassinated. This led her country into a terrible war that they ultimately lost. Rather than execute her, the victorious kingdom’s ruler chooses to take her hostage instead and make her a servant to all the nobility of other kingdoms. It is a humiliating and heart-wrenching job. And, the author pens it with such beautiful poignancy as she paints this young princess’s plight that it breaks the readers hearts right along with Elysia’s. The young princess has such a strong determination to succeed, however, that a reader can hardly put the book down!

As things develop throughout the last half of the book, however, all that depth of feeling seems to get lost and we end up with just a surface story. We are told what is happening as she works to uncover who is trying to destroy her - and those close to her. While the story is still engaging, it is in this last half that it becomes painfully apparent that readers need at least some background and motivation, as well as an idea of how politics are played in this world. Those things are brushed over to the point that it does become frustrating. Especially since the first half of the book was SO moving!

Ultimately we see both the strength and the weaknesses of reading a verifiable Young Adult book. It has every single thing a young YA reader is looking for. But, for adults, it will take a bit of patience and acceptance to thoroughly enjoy this lovely story.
Profile Image for Amena B.
430 reviews13 followers
July 28, 2026
3.75 ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I had such a good time with this one.

The enemies-to-lovers romance was done so smoothly, and I absolutely loved both the FMC and the MMC. Elysia is fierce, clever, and not someone who can be easily manipulated, while Daxon is more reserved but incredibly intelligent. And the yearning? That was probably my favorite part. It had me turning the pages just to see these two together.

I also have to mention Pike because he was such a fun addition to the story. His humor balanced the heavier moments perfectly, and I found myself smiling every time he appeared.

The plot kept me hooked from beginning to end, and there were a couple of twists I genuinely didn’t see coming. Even as a standalone, it delivered a satisfying conclusion.

My only complaint is that I wanted more. The world-building had so much potential, but I wish it had been explored in greater depth. At times, the pacing felt a little rushed, and I would have loved more time with both the world and the characters. But considering this is a standalone, I can understand why some things had to move quickly.

Overall, this was a really enjoyable fantasy with a strong romance, great chemistry, a touch of humor, and enough intrigue to keep me invested until the very last page.
Profile Image for Haley’s haven.
86 reviews2 followers
August 5, 2026
This book thoroughly exceeded my expectations!! I loved the story so much that I was kind of disappointed when I learned it was a standalone. This really gave me the vibes of the Selection series and Thorn season!! The characters were so well written. The enemies to lovers was so much better than some popular works ( powerless! ) they legitimately didn’t like each other for a large portion of the book and I kind of thought she was going to like the MMC’s brother! Elysia was a very likable Fmc. She was soft yet still very brave. And I really wasn’t sure about Daxon but he won me over and the. I kind of hated him and then he won me over again. I especially loved Pike as a character and his side plot with Cintra!! The fantasy vibes were immaculate and I hope this author will write more in this world!!
I highly recommend reading this when it releases!!
No spice ( some mild innuendo)
Very mild language
4.5 stars ⭐️
55 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
September 16, 2026
“Crown and Captive” by Kathleen Kitt is a solid 3.5-star read for me! (Rounded up to 4 ⭐️)

Our FMC, Elysia, is a sweet, funny 17-year-old girl who is sent away to serve the royal family after her own family attempts a rebellion. Being forced to serve people she was previously much closer to in status is, understandably, a bit of an adjustment, which eventually leads to her escaping a ball and ultimately kicking off the real storyline.

For a YA fantasy, I think the book does a really good job of capturing the way a teenage girl would actually think and behave. I also appreciated that Elysia wasn’t secretly some genius assassin, incredibly powerful fighter, or overly trained secret weapon. She’s just a young girl trying to navigate a situation that is completely out of her control, and I found that refreshing.

I also really enjoyed that, for the first half of the book, I actually had to pause and try to figure out who our final MMC was going to be! And while the story was relatively low stakes overall, there were definitely moments that gave me a little thrill… mysterious voices, anyone? 👀

The supporting cast was another highlight for me. I loved the incorporation of all the brothers, as well as the Bridal Brigade, and I thought giving each of the girls her own distinct personality made the group much more fun to read about.

On the other hand, I would have loved a bit more world-building, particularly some explanation of the actual royal hierarchy. We know Elysia’s family rose up against the royal family, but who exactly were they before that? Were they one step below the royals? Five steps below? How much power did they actually have, and how serious was their rebellion? I kept wanting a little more context to understand the weight of what had happened.

Some parts of the story also felt a little rushed or unrealistic. Elysia arrives at the palace and is basically told to be on her absolute best behavior under threat of death… and then she’s talking back to the princes within her first day. 😂 I understand wanting to establish that she’s feisty, but girl, please have some sense of self-preservation!

Altogether, “Crown and Captive” was an enjoyable, fun read, but nothing about it particularly stood out to me within the YA fantasy/romance genre. I liked the characters, had fun with the story, and I’m interested enough to see where it goes next. but I was left wishing the world and some of the plot points had been given a little more depth.
Profile Image for ♡ A ♡.
828 reviews11 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
September 26, 2026
Crown & Captive follows Elysia as she arrives in Tannic where she is a hostage forced into servitude after a rebellion that ended in the death of two kings. Trapped in a court full of vipers, Elysia struggles to adjust—especially around Daxon, the brooding heir. When she discovers an assassination plot against Daxon, she bargains her freedom and ventures into enemy territory where she’ll risk her life and her heart.

This is the perfect, quick, charming standalone fantasy romance! I was so pleasantly surprised by this one. It’s only about 310 pages and yet manages to pack a delicious punch. The pacing is perfect and was so easy to devour in an afternoon. I had such a fun time trying to figure out the assassination plot. The author did a great job with the twists. It’s not overly complex, but there are a lot of court politics that were intriguing. It has similar vibes to Thorn Season and The Selection.

I loved Elysia! She was such a strong main character. She’s so fierce and intelligent and has a great backbone. The cast of characters really shines in this book. I loved her friendship with Bridget and Hylla—it was so wholesome and lovely. And then there’s the excellent relationships with the brothers. I was a little worried about a love triangle, but rest assured, there’s not. The banter between Elysia and Pike was so charming and funny while the romance with Daxon was SO good. It was incredibly swoony and precious how they grew to care about one another. Such a sweet romance!

If you love fantasy romance and are looking for a great standalone, please pick this one up!

Thank you to Penguin Teen CA for the arc!!
Profile Image for angel.
235 reviews
October 2, 2026
I am baffled that this is one book. This is a 2-3 book series that is smushed into one book called Crown & Captive. Not really sure why the author did not allow the story to breath and unfold. Events happen so fast I got whiplash. There is so little worldbuilding with not much pay-off because everything has to happen in this book. It's almost like the author had half of it done, realized she had a hard deadline, blitzed through her outline, and turned that in. Or maybe she was only given one book to tell the story.

Despite that, I had such a fun time reading this book. This mixes tropes and ideas of modern romantasy in a way that kinda works for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for allowing me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Rachel.
226 reviews5 followers
September 19, 2026
This is a pretty good clean romantasy. I enjoyed the main characters and what I thought was going to be a love triangle ended up not being (which I was so happy about). If you are looking for a stand alone romantasy, I recommend this one.
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Ari.
69 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
July 28, 2026
3⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers for the eARC.

Crown Captive is a first person standalone fantasy focusing on Elysia, who has spent her life living as Lady Elysia of Miral. Her father led a rebellion and is killed. Later, the King of Tannic and ruler of all is killed and in a bid for peace, Elysia is sent to Tannic where she is set to serve her life as a servant for Greystoke (the royal house) and the 4 princes, the oldest of which is set to become king. Elysias arrival to Greystoke is where we begin our story.

As I was reading, there were many aspects I enjoyed. The overall premise of the book, a servant who was raised noble, the hope for peace, and our FMC’s journey and portrayal as strong and witty are all definitely at the top of the list. I also really enjoy an added mystery storyline, especially one involving assassination attempts, and believe that was a great storyline.

Also, overall, the prose itself was engaging. I read around half of this book while on a flight and I was focused and intrigued.

However, I felt there were details missing that would’ve made some aspects of the story make more sense. First, I think the world building could use some more information. I truly was unsure of how this area was laid out or how the political system even worked. While that may not be something for everyone, I think it is an essential part of a fantasy book and wish more would’ve been added. Secondly, the creature that is brought in doesn’t seem to be ever fully explained in my opinion. It is touched on that someone must know she is there because she is receiving food, but we don’t learn who. Finally, the ending. It felt rushed and I wish we would’ve gotten more information. We got great detail throughout the book on multiple things, then it felt like the last 3 chapters were really quick, just trying to close the story.

Overall, I believe this book has the potential to be very strong. It’s a great premise and as mentioned above, the prose is well done. I believe readers just need some more information about a few different things to make them a bit clearer.

I look forward to seeing this book in its final form!
Profile Image for ObscureVi.
123 reviews43 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
August 2, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was... what a ride this one was, really. The pacing was so fast, that there wasn't a single moment when I found myself bored, even for a second. The plot hooked me from the very beginning, the same going for the characters, that I quickly found myself charmed with.

I do have to admit, that after reading the blurb I honestly thought that it will be a love triangle (or more), because how else could I have interpreted it when it itself said: Elysia despises her role almost as much as the men who now surround her: Daxon, the brooding heir, determined to hate her; Pike, the flirtatious second-born, who pushes her buttons with reckless charm; and the two youngest brothers, Caden and Silas..

Pike's character was great and I feel like he deserves his own book, that I would gladly read if it ever comes out, especially since Kitt's way of writing is so smooth that I glided through the novel.

Daxon's character was amazing too and in a tiny way he reminded me of a certain handsome man in black, but without being a villain. He seemed mysterious and the yearning? I do wish we got a bit more of it, because the romance itself seemed just a minute too fast for me (including the ending).

Elysia's character was a nice surprise on top of everything, I can't remember the last time I saw a female main character who wasn't simply sitting and waiting for something to happen while also hoping for the male main character to save her. Elysia decided to take the matters into her own hands and I loved it so much, it was such a nice change.

Overall, I devoured it in few hours during a sleepless night and I regret nothing.
Profile Image for Lauren AMR.
359 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
September 27, 2026
This was a solid 4.5 - I loved it! A quick standalone that still packs in so much. We have mystery, light romance/tension, a ton of political intrigue, and an enemy at the mercy of her captors. All of this worked SO well together for a really enjoyable read.

Our FMC has struck a deal to help discover who is trying to kill the soon-to-be-king all while she is forced into servitude for the royal family. Meanwhile there is a 'Selection' type situation going on as the king searches for a wife. This served as a great backdrop for the Nancy Drew-like spying that our FMC is doing. And of course we have light romance/a bit of tension - can a traitorous noble be the love interest for one of the princes who think she plotted against them?

Every page was packed with plot forward action, there was no filler here. It was a breeze to get through because while it was mysterious and dark at times, it was still a really fast paced read. There are lots of characters and potential suspects, but it was easy to keep them all straight in this world. I definitely thought I had figured it out but was completely surprised by the ending. The author does such a good job at weaving all the aspects of the mystery together by the end of the story, I loved it! 10/10 recommend if you enjoy mystery with a fantasy backdrop, with a little romance sprinkled in.
Profile Image for Aqsa .
49 reviews37 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
July 28, 2026
★ ★ ★ ★ | 4 Stars!

This was such a fun read!

Elysia and Daxon were easily the reason I kept turning the pages. Their relationship develops naturally, and every interaction had me hoping they'd get just a little bit closer. The tension never felt overdone, and the payoff was absolutely worth the wait. Daxon, the man you are!! He's too good to be true.

Elysia was everything I want in a FMC. She's clever, determined, and always thinking a few steps ahead of the princes. I also loved that the relationships in this book weren't limited to the romance. Bridget and Elysia's friendship was one of my favorite parts, and Pike had me smiling every time he showed up. He brought just the right amount of humor and charm.

The pacing made this incredibly easy to fly through, but I do wish the story slowed down in a few places. The conflict between Tannic and Miral sounded interesting, yet I never felt like we got the full picture of why the kingdoms were at war or what was truly at stake. The ending wrapped up so quickly that I was left wanting the chapters to be a bit more fleshed out...

Even so, I closed this book with a smile. It's a fun standalone fantasy with a romance that delivers, characters you'll want to keep reading about, and enough twists to keep things interesting.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC!
103 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
August 18, 2026
Crown & Captive is a fantasy novel full of political intrigue with romance added to it. Elysia's father has been murdered, so has the rival king, and she is now a political hostage of Daxon, the prince of Tannic, after her country's war for freedom fails. She is immediately set to work serving the royals and their court in a show of power. In order for the heir to become king, he must marry first so a group of eligible ladies are brought to court for him to choose from. While trying to escape for a moment of peace, Elysia discovers a plot to have Daxon murdered after the wedding and have the blame put on her. This leads to Elysia working with Daxon and his three brothers to discover who is in on the plot so that she can gain her freedom and return home.

I really enjoyed the story. It was fast paced and held my interest the entire time. I was sad that to discover it is a stand alone novel since I enjoyed it so much. The enemies to lovers was paced well with nothing happening "on screen." They did come close once, but stopped before any lines were crossed. A great YA novel for any high school.
Profile Image for Entisar Ali.
423 reviews9 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
July 26, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Such a fun read! Packed with classic romantasy staples, balls, dungeons, and a lineup of handsome princes, this follows Elysia of Miral, forced into servitude in rival Tannic after a failed rebellion claims her father's life. When she uncovers a plot against soon-to-be-king Daxon, she strikes a deal to catch the traitor in exchange for her freedom. I loved the princes surrounding her, brooding Daxon, charming Pike, and younger brothers Caden and Silas, each adding their own flavor to the court drama. Elysia's determination to free Miral made her so easy to root for, and the female friendships gave the story real warmth alongside the romance. Catching royal conspirators proves trickier than expected, especially once Elysia's heart gets pulled in a forbidden direction! Perfect for fans of court intrigue and slow-burn romance.
Profile Image for Megan.
98 reviews3 followers
September 25, 2026
The stakes in this book were not nearly as high as I was expecting. Nearly as soon as she gets to Tannic, Elysia is treated more like a little sister than a hostage. And with a parade of girls in the castle trying to win Daxon's hand in marriage, it felt like The Selection (with a mystery of trying to find an assassin). Elysia is a dreadful detective, sadly, and some of the red herrings trying to throw her off the trail were very silly. The two youngest brothers might as well have not been there; they didn't add much to the story.

I liked that Elysia made friends with other servants in the castle and befriends a magical wyvern, also from Miral, who's been imprisoned for centuries. The wyvern's cruel treatment represented how Tannic subjugates other territories like Miral.

Disclaimer- I received a free advanced review copy of this book from NetGalley
Profile Image for Ashley Byrd.
70 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
October 2, 2026
Review of Advanced copy received by NetGalley

This book exceeded my expectations! It has sweeping fantasy vibes, a high stakes plot to kill the king, and plenty of moments that kept me guessing about who was a friend or foe. I was pulled into Elysia’s world right away, and the setting unfolded naturally as the story went on, keeping the pacing quick and engaging.

The characters were a highlight. Elysia is soft hearted but brave, and I loved watching Daxon slowly win me over. Their enemies to lovers relationship takes time to develop, which made it especially satisfying. I also loved Pike and his side plot!

A few moments felt a little jumpy, and the ending moved quickly, but overall I had such a great time with this story. I was almost disappointed to learn it’s a standalone because I’d happily spend more time in this world.
Highly recommend for YA fantasy readers!
Profile Image for Kristen.
231 reviews9 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
October 11, 2026
Crown & Captive captures the reader from the opening scene and keeps engaging all the way to the last. Elysia, the daughter of a recently killed nobleman who led a rebellion from the tyranny of a villainous king, must serve as hostage to ensure a new peace. Daxon, the son of that evil, but also recently dead king welcomes her with servants clothes and humiliation. They seem destined to hate each other forever until Elysia overhears a plot to kill Daxon and blame her for the crime. A tenuous alliance is formed to solve the mystery. The ensuing story is filled with danger, romance and a couple great plot twists. There is one kissing scene in the book that could possibly be considered too mature for some high schools and also a few mild swears. It is definitely for upper high school ages and older.

I received a free advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Tracie.
1,881 reviews47 followers
Review of advance copy
August 21, 2026
After both her father (King of Miral) and her father's enemy (King of Tannic) are murdered in a bitter war to tamp down Miral's uprising, Lady Elysia of Miral is sent to serve Tannic's four princes as a living hostage. But when she awakens an ancient magic and uncovers a secret plot to assassinate broody, handsome Daxon, the heir to the Tannic throne, Elysia must out the would-be assassins before she is framed for regicide. In gratitude for ensuring his life, Daxon promises to free Elysia. But is that what she wants, given the sparks that fly whenever she and Daxon come in contact?

Enemies-to-lovers romance and glimpses of a fierce but loyal wyvern make for a solid romantasy buoyed by Elysia's smart narration and "runaway tongue."
Profile Image for Beleisha Bernhardt.
215 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
August 28, 2026
I loved this YA fantasy book. It brought me into the story immediately. It left me guessing on so many levels to keep me engaged as I continued the story. Which brothers are good or bad? Will she end up with one or will they all end up dead? Who is out to kill them?

I would not call it a super deep fantasy story line but it was a fantastic easy read that just had enough of everything that I blew through the book and would definitely read another from the author. It was a great choice for me in-between some other series that I have been reading.

Thank you Netgalley and Kathleen Kitt for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Kate.
605 reviews19 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
October 5, 2026
A big thanks to YABC and NetGalley for providing a physical ARC and an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Powerless meets House of Marionne, sign me up I need to read this immediately.

Crown and Captive by Kathleen Kitt is a YA fantasy novel that is the perfect enemies to lovers. Elysia of Miral never thought she’d set foot in Tannic. After a brutal rebellion that claimed the lives of both her father and Tannic’s king, Elysia has become a living symbol of a fragile truce. But she knows the She’s been handed over as a veritable hostage, trapped in a court where everyone blames her for their king’s death. Forced into servitude, Elysia despises her role almost as much as the men who now surround Daxon, the brooding heir, determined to hate her; Pike, the flirtatious second-born, who pushes her buttons with reckless charm; and the two youngest brothers, Caden and Silas. But soon loyalty and desire collide, and Elysia finds herself caught in a forbidden romance with the last person she ever expected to capture her heart. Will falling for the enemy prove to be a mistake that she pays for with her life?

First things first, I didn't have the highest hopes going into the book for the simple fact that it was compared to Powerless. Now, I am not the BIGGEST fan of Powerless, especially so with all the controversy that came out regarding it and the Red Queen series. Hence I was slightly hesitant to read this one. But! I was gratefully wrong! Crown and Captive is a high stakes fantasy that instantly stole my heart. I would gladly gush about it all day long, but I'm afraid might spoil something.

One thing I did have a problem with Crown and Captive is the sheer fact that it was too short and there currently isn't a plan for a book 2. Oh my little heart, I wish there was more of this wonderful world and story and characters.

Regardless, Crown and Captive by Kathleen Kitt is the perfect novel for anyone needing a high stakes fantasy with minimal spice.
Profile Image for Cat.
1,656 reviews18 followers
October 30, 2026
political hostage/servitude
enemies to lovers
young adult romantasy

I enjoyed this book immensely. It was a relatively quick and uncomplicated read. The characters were interesting and some of the relationships more complex than others, which made the story more dynamic. FMC and narrator Elysia was easy to root for. I did find her a little naive but likable and relatable. There were definitely a couple of surprises in the story.

This seems like a standalone but I would love to see more of these characters and this world.

Great for YA fans.

Thank you Penguin Young Readers Group for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for m.
59 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
July 31, 2026
When I first saw the synopsis, I had already guessed that Elysia's love interest would be one of her captors, so I was skeptical at first. But by the end, Crown & Captive turned out to be an engaging read. I was hooked only a few pages in and I enjoyed the way the plot twists kept me guessing just as I was sure I had it all figured out. If it weren't for how rushed the romance subplot was, this would've been a 4-star read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for providing me an ARC.
Profile Image for Melissa Denton.
54 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
July 29, 2026
 want to thank Netgalley for giving me this opportunity to review this book!

Elysia father is dead and the castle he tóok war with, is now Elysia home to be a servant to Prince Daxan.  Prince Daxon is searching for a wife, he has invited every eligible woman to try and find his wife. Princess Elysia knows that she is bound to be a servant and nothing else.  As Elysia is tending to the princes needs, she over hears a man and a woman talking about getting rid of the prince and having Elysis take the fall for it.
Prince Daxon and Elysis come up with a plan for Elysis to spy on the bridal party to find out who is involved in this assignation attempt.  As the story progresses the twist and turns are fun going along in the book.
I enjoyed the story a little mystery with a little romance can't go wrong there.  I would recommend this book for people that are looking for a romance plus a little mystery
51 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
October 2, 2026
I received a digital advance reader copy. This story is a solid read for a young adult being introduce to Romantasy. Familiar tropes, enemies to lovers, magical creatures with magical connections.
Lady Eylsia of a defeated country is now a prison and a servant in the Castle of Prince Saxon soon to become King. In this stand alone the two learn about trust, betrayal and perhaps they have more in common.
Profile Image for Michelle (easy.vesey.reads).
510 reviews5 followers
November 8, 2026
For a debut, this book was pretty good. It's pretty much your copy paste standard YA romantasy. It's fast paced, the characters and plot were interesting, and I found myself engaged while reading. But there was nothing special and nothing really stood out for me. That's not necessarily a bad thing but in a market now that is oversaturated in romantasy, it's something authors are going to want to focus on going forward.

Thank you to Putnam, Penguin Teen, and Netgalley for the advanced copy.
Profile Image for Chelsea.
258 reviews4 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
August 15, 2026
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

What a fun fantasy standalone with dragons, betrayal, a slow burn romance, and found family. The pacing was great, I was never bored once. I would have liked a bit world building and wish the ending didn't conclude so abruptly. All in all it was an enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to reading more novels from this author.
Profile Image for Angelic.
18 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
September 3, 2026
Review as an advanced copy ceived from a Goodreads giveaway.


I really loved this book. There's so much action, betrayal, plot twists, mystery, and love. I couldn't put this book down. Its just that good. It was definitely not what I was expecting and im am pleasantly surprised with how much I loved this book. I definitely recommend reading this book.
Profile Image for Taylor.
35 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
September 19, 2026
Crown and Captive is fantastic for those who enjoy great banter and court intrigue. I thought the enemies to lovers trope was done well and didn’t devolve to quickly into instalust.

Each character was unique and I especially loved Pike, whose banter and snark was fantastic. I had a hard time deciding who I liked best out of the Princes.

Pacing was fine, but did feel a bit rushed in the end.
74 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
September 28, 2026
This is a book that will capture the attention of young adults and adults of any age. Immerse yourself in a fantastical world and Elysia's story. She is definately up against so much drastic change and things that push her but I was hooked. Crown & Captive is a book that will definately keep you enthralled. I am looking forward to more from Kathleen Kitt
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews