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Heartstring Duet #1
Crown Me Dead
Wed me. Bed me. Slit my throat.
Born in dirt, raised in rot, I dig graves for the dead, while the living decay around me.
When my brother coughs blood, he appears.
A man too polished for the graveyard, with a bargain too cruel for the light: Seduce the King. Become the Queen. Die. And my brother lives.
Kael is a nightmare of living ruin, the rotting ruler of a festering realm. And Vale is his shadow, the cold architect of my demise.
One man needs my heart to beat. The other plans to stop it forever.
They think I’m a pawn. But I’m the gravedigger's daughter. And I know exactly where to bury them.
Welcome to the funeral.
Born in dirt, raised in rot, I dig graves for the dead, while the living decay around me.
When my brother coughs blood, he appears.
A man too polished for the graveyard, with a bargain too cruel for the light: Seduce the King. Become the Queen. Die. And my brother lives.
Kael is a nightmare of living ruin, the rotting ruler of a festering realm. And Vale is his shadow, the cold architect of my demise.
One man needs my heart to beat. The other plans to stop it forever.
They think I’m a pawn. But I’m the gravedigger's daughter. And I know exactly where to bury them.
Welcome to the funeral.
280 pages, Paperback
First published April 10, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,977 reviews
May 21, 2026
ELARA GIRL
Serves you damn right.
This was disgustingly good, and such a quick read too. I just hope it’s never adapted into a movie. For the first time in my life, I don’t want to see my imagination recreated on screen.
Disclaimer: do not read this while eating. Rot. Pus. Maggots. So many maggots. Once you get past the first half of the book, it gets a lot better.
The plot is pretty simple. A gravedigger’s daughter. A rotting kingdom plagued by disease and death. A cursed crown fused to the head of a king no one truly understands. And beneath it all, secrets that must be uncovered, and a kingdom to be saved.
This was crazy good for a book so short. I really thought I knew how the story would unfold but it blindsided me at every turn.
I was happy that I got a FMC I could root for - even though that was short lived. I have a love-hate relationship with Elara. On one hand, she is a great FMC. Brave, competent, and willing to do whatever it takes to save the people she loves. She does not blindly accept what people tell her either. She investigates, questions, and thinks for herself. I liked her for this.
On the other hand, this girl is sexually all over the place 😭 it starts to interfere with her decision-making skills. I was hoping this wouldn’t happen. Why does she have to become dumb once sex is involved? The love triangle between her, the king, and Vale made me so angry. I hated the way Elara was with Vale. Their relationship was already a little twisted, and then the way she would behave around Kael just made it worse for me. I felt so bad for him. I was so pissed I wanted to skim the rest of the book and rate it 2 stars. I am so glad I kept reading instead.
For safety readers: She fools around with both men till the end.
The King, Kael, is shrouded in secrets for most of the story, and because he is so angry, aloof, and difficult to read, I spent half the book desperate to understand him better.
Vale, the king’s steward, is far easier to understand. He is kindhearted, loyal, and clearly wants what is best for both the king and the kingdom. Unfortunately for me, his character felt a little predictable, or so I thought ‼️
I really didn’t know who to trust. Now I’m writing this review I’m reeling at how gripping the plot was even though it circled around just the three of them.
Between the maggots, the uncertainty and the love triangle, this was basically me the entire time:
I kept thinking seriously WHERE ARE WE HEADED??
What Liv Zander does brilliantly is atmosphere. The world is macabre, decaying, claustrophobic, and soaked in death. It is less “detailed worldbuilding” and more pure immersive atmosphere. Rotting flesh, crawling maggots, infected wounds, dark corridors, and buried secrets. It feels almost wrong for romance to exist in a setting like this, which honestly made me keep asking: how is she making this work?! 😭 I don’t know if I would call this a romance story because it’s a bit atypical.
So why did I give it five stars despite the rough journey?
THE TWISTS.
You just have to read it and find out.
Off to read the second book!
Serves you damn right.
This was disgustingly good, and such a quick read too. I just hope it’s never adapted into a movie. For the first time in my life, I don’t want to see my imagination recreated on screen.
Disclaimer: do not read this while eating. Rot. Pus. Maggots. So many maggots. Once you get past the first half of the book, it gets a lot better.
The plot is pretty simple. A gravedigger’s daughter. A rotting kingdom plagued by disease and death. A cursed crown fused to the head of a king no one truly understands. And beneath it all, secrets that must be uncovered, and a kingdom to be saved.
This was crazy good for a book so short. I really thought I knew how the story would unfold but it blindsided me at every turn.
I was happy that I got a FMC I could root for - even though that was short lived. I have a love-hate relationship with Elara. On one hand, she is a great FMC. Brave, competent, and willing to do whatever it takes to save the people she loves. She does not blindly accept what people tell her either. She investigates, questions, and thinks for herself. I liked her for this.
On the other hand, this girl is sexually all over the place 😭 it starts to interfere with her decision-making skills. I was hoping this wouldn’t happen. Why does she have to become dumb once sex is involved? The love triangle between her, the king, and Vale made me so angry. I hated the way Elara was with Vale. Their relationship was already a little twisted, and then the way she would behave around Kael just made it worse for me. I felt so bad for him. I was so pissed I wanted to skim the rest of the book and rate it 2 stars. I am so glad I kept reading instead.
For safety readers: She fools around with both men till the end.
The King, Kael, is shrouded in secrets for most of the story, and because he is so angry, aloof, and difficult to read, I spent half the book desperate to understand him better.
Vale, the king’s steward, is far easier to understand. He is kindhearted, loyal, and clearly wants what is best for both the king and the kingdom. Unfortunately for me, his character felt a little predictable, or so I thought ‼️
I really didn’t know who to trust. Now I’m writing this review I’m reeling at how gripping the plot was even though it circled around just the three of them.
Between the maggots, the uncertainty and the love triangle, this was basically me the entire time:
I kept thinking seriously WHERE ARE WE HEADED??
What Liv Zander does brilliantly is atmosphere. The world is macabre, decaying, claustrophobic, and soaked in death. It is less “detailed worldbuilding” and more pure immersive atmosphere. Rotting flesh, crawling maggots, infected wounds, dark corridors, and buried secrets. It feels almost wrong for romance to exist in a setting like this, which honestly made me keep asking: how is she making this work?! 😭 I don’t know if I would call this a romance story because it’s a bit atypical.
So why did I give it five stars despite the rough journey?
THE TWISTS.
You just have to read it and find out.
Off to read the second book!
June 3, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
What a book! 🖤✨
After Feathers So Vicious, I wasn't exactly rushing to pick up another Liv Zander book. Not because of the dark content, but because I found the plot boring and honestly couldn't bring myself to care about the main characters. So I started Crown Me Death with very low expectations.
And wow, was I wrong.
I'm usually wary of shorter books because they often feel rushed or lack depth, but that was definitely not the case here. Liv somehow packed so much emotion, tension, and intrigue into every page.
We have a cursed king who cannot die but is slowly rotting away, covered in scars, blisters, and decay—yet somehow becomes ridiculously attractive. Then there's his mysterious valet, who has been setting off my suspicion alarms since chapter one. And of course Elara, who would burn down the world if it meant saving her brother.
The story revolves around a deadly curse, hidden truths, impossible choices, and characters making decisions that had me screaming "don't do it" while fully supporting them anyway. 😂
And this trio? I genuinely don't know if they'll stay a trio, but so far they're chaotic, messy, morally questionable, and absolutely perfect for each other.
Liv Zander really redeemed herself for me with this one.
What a book! 🖤✨
After Feathers So Vicious, I wasn't exactly rushing to pick up another Liv Zander book. Not because of the dark content, but because I found the plot boring and honestly couldn't bring myself to care about the main characters. So I started Crown Me Death with very low expectations.
And wow, was I wrong.
I'm usually wary of shorter books because they often feel rushed or lack depth, but that was definitely not the case here. Liv somehow packed so much emotion, tension, and intrigue into every page.
We have a cursed king who cannot die but is slowly rotting away, covered in scars, blisters, and decay—yet somehow becomes ridiculously attractive. Then there's his mysterious valet, who has been setting off my suspicion alarms since chapter one. And of course Elara, who would burn down the world if it meant saving her brother.
The story revolves around a deadly curse, hidden truths, impossible choices, and characters making decisions that had me screaming "don't do it" while fully supporting them anyway. 😂
And this trio? I genuinely don't know if they'll stay a trio, but so far they're chaotic, messy, morally questionable, and absolutely perfect for each other.
Liv Zander really redeemed herself for me with this one.
May 20, 2026
Wow !!!! The ending !!!!!
“Crown me Dead”
I wasn’t expecting that ….
It took me a little to read this book that is literally ONLY 270 pages BUT the beginning is soooooooooooo gross and disgusting that I was forced to take some breaks because I wanted to vomit and I am a person with a very strong stomach, I don’t get grossed out easily… but this story was too interesting to pass up so I kept going.
This is the story of Elara and she is a gravedigger. They are in a kingdom dying from rot, everyone is dying in masses but not a regular death, no. They literally rotting from inside out and vice versa, hence the gross parts. There are wounds with maggots involved all kinds of excrements…. It’s DISGUSTING 🤢 but it’s only in the beginning of the book. After it’s better. So the kingdom is dying and Elara has a 15 years old brother she ADORES and he got rot, her father is already dying the kingdom is in complete poverty they have to eat bread that is already bad and green, soup that is only dirty water ! Elara only cares about her family and more then any about her brother 😭 so when she got an strange offer from a handsome man to go to the castle and take care of the King to help break the curse that is killing the kingdom and save her brother, she did no hesitated. In the palace she see herself in a very crazy situation and involved in many schemes. I wasn’t expecting the ending … and why Vale’s so hot when he isn’t supposed to be ? To the second book I go !
“Crown me Dead”
I wasn’t expecting that ….
It took me a little to read this book that is literally ONLY 270 pages BUT the beginning is soooooooooooo gross and disgusting that I was forced to take some breaks because I wanted to vomit and I am a person with a very strong stomach, I don’t get grossed out easily… but this story was too interesting to pass up so I kept going.
This is the story of Elara and she is a gravedigger. They are in a kingdom dying from rot, everyone is dying in masses but not a regular death, no. They literally rotting from inside out and vice versa, hence the gross parts. There are wounds with maggots involved all kinds of excrements…. It’s DISGUSTING 🤢 but it’s only in the beginning of the book. After it’s better. So the kingdom is dying and Elara has a 15 years old brother she ADORES and he got rot, her father is already dying the kingdom is in complete poverty they have to eat bread that is already bad and green, soup that is only dirty water ! Elara only cares about her family and more then any about her brother 😭 so when she got an strange offer from a handsome man to go to the castle and take care of the King to help break the curse that is killing the kingdom and save her brother, she did no hesitated. In the palace she see herself in a very crazy situation and involved in many schemes. I wasn’t expecting the ending … and why Vale’s so hot when he isn’t supposed to be ? To the second book I go !
April 17, 2026
6⭐️
And i’m not exaggerating.
I didn’t just read this. I consumed it.
This is the kind of book that rewires your brain while you’re reading it. The tension? Unbearable in the best way. Making you SQUIRM. The spice? Perfectly done. But what really got me was the way this story played me. I was so sure I knew what was happening… and I was so wrong.
I felt every twist, every shift, every moment of betrayal like it was happening to me.
I haven’t felt this way about a book in a long time.
And that ending? Absolutely unforgettable.
Starting book two immediately because there is no other option.
And i’m not exaggerating.
I didn’t just read this. I consumed it.
This is the kind of book that rewires your brain while you’re reading it. The tension? Unbearable in the best way. Making you SQUIRM. The spice? Perfectly done. But what really got me was the way this story played me. I was so sure I knew what was happening… and I was so wrong.
I felt every twist, every shift, every moment of betrayal like it was happening to me.
I haven’t felt this way about a book in a long time.
And that ending? Absolutely unforgettable.
Starting book two immediately because there is no other option.
May 3, 2026
I legit was prying my eyeballs open at 2am to finish reading this. then I immediately started book 2.
PHENOMENAL.
PHENOMENAL.
May 6, 2026
Did I drop every single book I planned to read to pick this up? I sure fucking did. Do I regret it? Not for one second.
I’m not gonna lie at the beginning, this book had me a little queasy. This land is infested with rot, and when I say rot, I mean people are literally rotting away from a horrific disease. There are maggots. A lot of them. I very quickly learned not to eat while reading this…
But I will say the writing is insanely immersive. It’s descriptive in a way that pulls you all the way in without ever feeling overdone. You’re not being spoon-fed every detail, but somehow you feel everything the atmosphere, the decay, the angst. It made it really easy to get invested fast.
So when our FMC, Elara, gets approached in a graveyard by a mysterious man with a proposition, of course she takes it because what could possibly go wrong? Everyone around her is dying, and she’s desperate to save her family.
But let’s just say… everything is not what it seems.
The second she gets to the castle, the story really ramps up. I love a nosy FMC who refuses to just sit there and accept things she’s digging, questioning, trying to piece everything together, and I was living for it. There’s a curse on the kingdom, and she’s tasked with lifting it.
And then things start to unravel.
There was even a moment where I was getting absolute whiplash like the story kept shifting just enough that it started making me doubt my own predictions. I was like AM I CRAZY?? I was nowhere near as confident in what I thought was going on as I was in the beginning, and I started second-guessing everything.
I’m actually gonna give myself a pat on the back because I did clock the direction it was heading with Vale which almost never happens for me but even knowing that? I was still hanging onto every single fucking word. And somehow, my jaw still hit the ground by the end.
I just know there’s so much more to this story that I don’t know yet, and I have a feeling it’s going to absolutely fucking wreck me. I don’t want to say too much and spoil anything, but this was an incredible read. Especially for how short it is, it had me hooked from the first page to the last.
I’m starting book two immediately tonight. I’ve seen people crying over it so… wish me luck
I’m not gonna lie at the beginning, this book had me a little queasy. This land is infested with rot, and when I say rot, I mean people are literally rotting away from a horrific disease. There are maggots. A lot of them. I very quickly learned not to eat while reading this…
But I will say the writing is insanely immersive. It’s descriptive in a way that pulls you all the way in without ever feeling overdone. You’re not being spoon-fed every detail, but somehow you feel everything the atmosphere, the decay, the angst. It made it really easy to get invested fast.
So when our FMC, Elara, gets approached in a graveyard by a mysterious man with a proposition, of course she takes it because what could possibly go wrong? Everyone around her is dying, and she’s desperate to save her family.
But let’s just say… everything is not what it seems.
The second she gets to the castle, the story really ramps up. I love a nosy FMC who refuses to just sit there and accept things she’s digging, questioning, trying to piece everything together, and I was living for it. There’s a curse on the kingdom, and she’s tasked with lifting it.
And then things start to unravel.
There was even a moment where I was getting absolute whiplash like the story kept shifting just enough that it started making me doubt my own predictions. I was like AM I CRAZY?? I was nowhere near as confident in what I thought was going on as I was in the beginning, and I started second-guessing everything.
I’m actually gonna give myself a pat on the back because I did clock the direction it was heading with Vale which almost never happens for me but even knowing that? I was still hanging onto every single fucking word. And somehow, my jaw still hit the ground by the end.
I just know there’s so much more to this story that I don’t know yet, and I have a feeling it’s going to absolutely fucking wreck me. I don’t want to say too much and spoil anything, but this was an incredible read. Especially for how short it is, it had me hooked from the first page to the last.
I’m starting book two immediately tonight. I’ve seen people crying over it so… wish me luck
June 3, 2026
5 🌟
I’m sorry what was that ending?! 😧 this story is so unique, I love Liv Zander’s writing and how much it makes me feel for these characters. The romance had me feeling some type of way, and the plot constantly kept me guessing! I am so curious to how this duet ends I hope my heart isn’t shattered 😭😭
I’m sorry what was that ending?! 😧 this story is so unique, I love Liv Zander’s writing and how much it makes me feel for these characters. The romance had me feeling some type of way, and the plot constantly kept me guessing! I am so curious to how this duet ends I hope my heart isn’t shattered 😭😭
May 17, 2026
WOW. Straight to the second book.
Want to Read
May 20, 2026i get easily convinced. let’s see what it’s giving.
April 18, 2026
Writing: BEAUTIFUL. Cozy darkness!!! 🥀
Contents: Gross 🤗 like do not even think about having a cute snack plate with this read ✨💀
Yeah the amount of rot, death and maggots was BLOODY DISTURBING.… but it’s so necessary for the plot so just trust…haaa
I don’t even want to leave a long review bc I don’t want to spoil ONE BIT. This is the type of book where the plot just keeps slowly unraveling and keeps you guessing until the very end! I seriously enjoyed this a lot!!!! I love being tortured about which man is end game 🤭
Who do we even trust now!!??? What is happening!!? Book 2 is open as we speak🔥
Contents: Gross 🤗 like do not even think about having a cute snack plate with this read ✨💀
Yeah the amount of rot, death and maggots was BLOODY DISTURBING.… but it’s so necessary for the plot so just trust…haaa
I don’t even want to leave a long review bc I don’t want to spoil ONE BIT. This is the type of book where the plot just keeps slowly unraveling and keeps you guessing until the very end! I seriously enjoyed this a lot!!!! I love being tortured about which man is end game 🤭
Who do we even trust now!!??? What is happening!!? Book 2 is open as we speak🔥
May 28, 2026
4⭐️
короную тебе майстринею темного роментезі, лів зандер 🪄👸🏻
мерзенна атмосфера з деталями гниття людей - просто супер. от вміє авторка передавати такі темні, гнітючі, і в цьому випадку бридкі речі максимально яскраво. за таке занурення мільйон зірок. ц��й елемент у книзі найбільше сподобався.
світоустрій тут вийшов камерний, майже всі події відбуваються в замку короля, але для такої манюні це в плюс. інакше половину книги довелося б читати суто про лор. у цьому плані лів відривалася в воронах. в короні усе простіше й акцент на іншому.
сам сюжет із легким детективним вайбом навколо тлумачення прокляття - найс. чудово підживлював цікавість протягом усього читання і постійно підкидав теорії. плюс таємниці таємниці й ще більше таємниць.
якби не спойлерні арти і відоси (ну от хто сука робить коротке відео саме з головним твістом першої частини?!), то фінал відчувався б ще яскравіше. загалом під час читання можна здогадатися, до чого йде. але в моєму випадку я від початку знала цей твіст і просто вловлювала усі натяки на це, які герой спокійно вкидав в розмовах з еларою.
знімаю бал за хімію між гг. між усіма трьома в цьому любовному трикутнику 😅
от в лл авторка занадто поспішила, як на мене.
вейл та елара не встигли і 10 хв разом пробути, а при наступній зустрічі вже цілунки і думки про жагу. мені ок варіант швидкого горіння, але ну тут взагалі мінімум комунікації було, нуль загравань, а вже пішли поцілунки і картання, шо не треба було то робити. те саме про інші інтимні моменти. звідки в них узявся банальний потяг одне до одного? якби вони мали якесь спільне минуле, тоді ок, я б це зрозуміла. а так не відчула цієї іскри, тому і в усі подальші події та гучні слова вірила максимум наполовину 🤷♀️
про елару і каеля думки схожі, але там авторка взагалі особливо не заморочувалася над хімією. тут у цілому нікого й спокушати не довелося - і один, і другий уже були готові на все, поки елара навіть не намагалася 😏
а от чи хотіла авторка, щоб ми взагалі повірили в якусь лл - це вже інше питання. думаю, тут акцент був більше на тому, в кого яка мотивація і хто ким маніпулює 😈 от від таких моментів я вже кайфую, коли тебе змушують сумніватися, кому і в що вірити. нааайс. на емоціях тут лів чудово грає 🍿😎
фінал за напругою прям ідеально витягнутий. і завершується все, звісно ж, на моменті, коли хочеться відкрити наступну частину й дізнатися про наслідки цього пиздеця 🤨
тільки от хотілося сказати еларі: може, ти б відкрила рота й вставила слово-друге, а не робила одразу те, що зробила? ну, дівчино, ти ж імпонувала мені протягом усієї книги!
короную тебе майстринею темного роментезі, лів зандер 🪄👸🏻
мерзенна атмосфера з деталями гниття людей - просто супер. от вміє авторка передавати такі темні, гнітючі, і в цьому випадку бридкі речі максимально яскраво. за таке занурення мільйон зірок. ц��й елемент у книзі найбільше сподобався.
світоустрій тут вийшов камерний, майже всі події відбуваються в замку короля, але для такої манюні це в плюс. інакше половину книги довелося б читати суто про лор. у цьому плані лів відривалася в воронах. в короні усе простіше й акцент на іншому.
сам сюжет із легким детективним вайбом навколо тлумачення прокляття - найс. чудово підживлював цікавість протягом усього читання і постійно підкидав теорії. плюс таємниці таємниці й ще більше таємниць.
якби не спойлерні арти і відоси (ну от хто сука робить коротке відео саме з головним твістом першої частини?!), то фінал відчувався б ще яскравіше. загалом під час читання можна здогадатися, до чого йде. але в моєму випадку я від початку знала цей твіст і просто вловлювала усі натяки на це, які герой спокійно вкидав в розмовах з еларою.
знімаю бал за хімію між гг. між усіма трьома в цьому любовному трикутнику 😅
от в лл авторка занадто поспішила, як на мене.
вейл та елара не встигли і 10 хв разом пробути, а при наступній зустрічі вже цілунки і думки про жагу. мені ок варіант швидкого горіння, але ну тут взагалі мінімум комунікації було, нуль загравань, а вже пішли поцілунки і картання, шо не треба було то робити. те саме про інші інтимні моменти. звідки в них узявся банальний потяг одне до одного? якби вони мали якесь спільне минуле, тоді ок, я б це зрозуміла. а так не відчула цієї іскри, тому і в усі подальші події та гучні слова вірила максимум наполовину 🤷♀️
про елару і каеля думки схожі, але там авторка взагалі особливо не заморочувалася над хімією. тут у цілому нікого й спокушати не довелося - і один, і другий уже були готові на все, поки елара навіть не намагалася 😏
а от чи хотіла авторка, щоб ми взагалі повірили в якусь лл - це вже інше питання. думаю, тут акцент був більше на тому, в кого яка мотивація і хто ким маніпулює 😈 от від таких моментів я вже кайфую, коли тебе змушують сумніватися, кому і в що вірити. нааайс. на емоціях тут лів чудово грає 🍿😎
«...королева – найлютіша фігура на дошці, але зрештою вона є розмінною монетою. вона існує лише для того, аби її принесли в жертву, якщо це гарантує виживання короля».
фінал за напругою прям ідеально витягнутий. і завершується все, звісно ж, на моменті, коли хочеться відкрити наступну частину й дізнатися про наслідки цього пиздеця 🤨
тільки от хотілося сказати еларі: може, ти б відкрила рота й вставила слово-друге, а не робила одразу те, що зробила? ну, дівчино, ти ж імпонувала мені протягом усієї книги!
May 22, 2026
I am a bit unsure with this one. I definitely didn't hate it but I can't say I absolutely loved it either. I do think I liked more than I disliked though so I am intrigued to see where this goes?
I will say I loved the atmosphere and unique plot! It's nice reading something that isn't completely copied which is so hard with Romantasy these days. BUT, it did feel a bit predictable to be honest.
Idk... I shall continue! 🫡
I will say I loved the atmosphere and unique plot! It's nice reading something that isn't completely copied which is so hard with Romantasy these days. BUT, it did feel a bit predictable to be honest.
Idk... I shall continue! 🫡
June 4, 2026
I can’t even begin to describe how dumbfounded this book left me. I was indeed influenced and thank god I was the target audience bc WHAT WAS THAT ENDING. Maybe I’m easily giving this 5 stars but i couldn’t care less with the way this story was uniquely crafted in just under 300 pages that I DEVOURED it. It was fast paced after the first few chapters and kept me on my toes in the best way
I’ve never read a book that instantly made me want to gag with all the rot-disease mentions (the maggots 🤮) being grotesque and grim; but it also sets the dark atmospheric tone for the reason why a certain curse needed to be broken and the way that goes. Such a curse that Elara, our fmc who is also a gravedigger, was tasked with helping to break in exchange for saving her kingdom/people from rot and whom I’ll come back to in a few. The curse itself made for an interesting premise as the plot and its twists had me CRASHING TF OUT at every turn there was given the suspense of things.
I do need to highlight the prose here since I was in awe of how poetic this ended up being at times that felt odd for this kind of story. The details and imagery of it all truly drew me into the story though as it all felt inviting and added substance to it
Back to elara, I loved her bravado character and her blunt wit—even if she could also be semi foolish in her unyielding curiosity and stubborn determination to see things through. If I was in her position I might not be a good character of judgment either tbh so I couldn’t exactly judge her. The whole time I tried to make sense of things just like she did and found myself questioning every revelation. every secret. With each discovery you realize nothing is as it seems and so that twist at the end.. yeah my gasps were loud that I should’ve seen that coming. it left me with more questions as it’s clear there’s more there
Vale and kael.. I’d say more but all I will say is that I’m still processing how GASLIT I felt. I was literally going insane with the back and forth going on. But at least the tension was scrumptious when it was there
immediately starting book 2 of this duet as I need to know how this story ends and more after hearing how emotional it gets? We’ll see I guess
Some quotes
I step closer to the scribe's worm-eaten lectern because cowardice is a disease, and I wasn't born with that affliction 😂
“Once you put that blade to my throat, your heart is supposed to ache.” His answer is low, almost a growl. “And what if I tell you that it will?”
Vale is a scheming cunt, but apparently, so is kael. Not that I can hold it against them. After all, I am one, too.
"Death didn't understand it. Why would you sacrifice your companion? How could the victory be worth the loneliness that followed?"
I can't tell which madness to believe. THIS
“I hate you,” I say, if only to release some of this damned heat trapped under my collar. “Excellent.” Vale sets me back exactly where I was, but with more distance. “Hate is a clean line. Love is all spills.”
I’ve never read a book that instantly made me want to gag with all the rot-disease mentions (the maggots 🤮) being grotesque and grim; but it also sets the dark atmospheric tone for the reason why a certain curse needed to be broken and the way that goes. Such a curse that Elara, our fmc who is also a gravedigger, was tasked with helping to break in exchange for saving her kingdom/people from rot and whom I’ll come back to in a few. The curse itself made for an interesting premise as the plot and its twists had me CRASHING TF OUT at every turn there was given the suspense of things.
I do need to highlight the prose here since I was in awe of how poetic this ended up being at times that felt odd for this kind of story. The details and imagery of it all truly drew me into the story though as it all felt inviting and added substance to it
Back to elara, I loved her bravado character and her blunt wit—even if she could also be semi foolish in her unyielding curiosity and stubborn determination to see things through. If I was in her position I might not be a good character of judgment either tbh so I couldn’t exactly judge her. The whole time I tried to make sense of things just like she did and found myself questioning every revelation. every secret. With each discovery you realize nothing is as it seems and so that twist at the end.. yeah my gasps were loud that I should’ve seen that coming. it left me with more questions as it’s clear there’s more there
Vale and kael.. I’d say more but all I will say is that I’m still processing how GASLIT I felt. I was literally going insane with the back and forth going on. But at least the tension was scrumptious when it was there
immediately starting book 2 of this duet as I need to know how this story ends and more after hearing how emotional it gets? We’ll see I guess
Some quotes
I step closer to the scribe's worm-eaten lectern because cowardice is a disease, and I wasn't born with that affliction 😂
“Once you put that blade to my throat, your heart is supposed to ache.” His answer is low, almost a growl. “And what if I tell you that it will?”
Vale is a scheming cunt, but apparently, so is kael. Not that I can hold it against them. After all, I am one, too.
"Death didn't understand it. Why would you sacrifice your companion? How could the victory be worth the loneliness that followed?"
I can't tell which madness to believe. THIS
“I hate you,” I say, if only to release some of this damned heat trapped under my collar. “Excellent.” Vale sets me back exactly where I was, but with more distance. “Hate is a clean line. Love is all spills.”
May 13, 2026
SHUTTTTT UP?! This was sooooo freaking good!? I don’t even like yucky stuff so ngl, I was a little worried in the first couple chapters but I am never going to stop talking about this?! Immediately downloading Crown Me Yours 😜
April 10, 2026
Infinity stars. No notes. Just vibes and a little emotional damage.
This book is not soft. It’s sharp, addictive, and full of that “this is a bad idea… do it anyway” energy from the very first page.
The vibe? Rot, power, and inevitability. Everything feels slightly decayed in a way that makes it more dangerous, not less. The world is gritty and lived-in, like something beautiful that’s been left too long and turned into something darker.
The characters are messy in the best way. No clean choices. No easy paths. Every decision feels layered with consequence, and you’re right there with them, understanding it even when you probably shouldn’t.
The MMC carries this quiet, controlled presence that feels like he already knows how things end. There’s a hunger under the surface that you can’t ignore. And the FMC is not here to be saved. She’s navigating impossible choices, standing in the middle of it all, and paying for every step forward.
Their dynamic is where it really locks you in. Tension, power, resentment, pull… that constant undercurrent of “this won’t end well” but you don’t want it to. It just keeps tightening the deeper you go.
The writing hits that perfect balance. Dark and immersive without being heavy. And there are lines that just sit with you after you read them.
If you like:
dark fantasy romance that actually commits
morally gray everything
tension that feels like a slow tightening noose
and stories that feel a little bit dangerous
you’ll eat this up.
Just don’t expect to come out untouched. This one leans into the rot… and makes you love it anyway!
This book is not soft. It’s sharp, addictive, and full of that “this is a bad idea… do it anyway” energy from the very first page.
The vibe? Rot, power, and inevitability. Everything feels slightly decayed in a way that makes it more dangerous, not less. The world is gritty and lived-in, like something beautiful that’s been left too long and turned into something darker.
The characters are messy in the best way. No clean choices. No easy paths. Every decision feels layered with consequence, and you’re right there with them, understanding it even when you probably shouldn’t.
The MMC carries this quiet, controlled presence that feels like he already knows how things end. There’s a hunger under the surface that you can’t ignore. And the FMC is not here to be saved. She’s navigating impossible choices, standing in the middle of it all, and paying for every step forward.
Their dynamic is where it really locks you in. Tension, power, resentment, pull… that constant undercurrent of “this won’t end well” but you don’t want it to. It just keeps tightening the deeper you go.
The writing hits that perfect balance. Dark and immersive without being heavy. And there are lines that just sit with you after you read them.
If you like:
dark fantasy romance that actually commits
morally gray everything
tension that feels like a slow tightening noose
and stories that feel a little bit dangerous
you’ll eat this up.
Just don’t expect to come out untouched. This one leans into the rot… and makes you love it anyway!
May 17, 2026
Seeing everyone’s reactions to this duet was too enticing to stay away. 😏
I devoured this. I’m actually stunned by how captivating it was—a visceral, beautifully ruinous story. The characters were so compelling; Vale and Kael were particularly interesting… and the writing’s just amazing—so immersive and detailed. I’m also a sucker for a big sister risking it all for her little brother.
From what I’ve seen the next book is even more devastating so let’s goo. 😩
I devoured this. I’m actually stunned by how captivating it was—a visceral, beautifully ruinous story. The characters were so compelling; Vale and Kael were particularly interesting… and the writing’s just amazing—so immersive and detailed. I’m also a sucker for a big sister risking it all for her little brother.
From what I’ve seen the next book is even more devastating so let’s goo. 😩
May 28, 2026
I already knew going into this book it would leave me absolutely distraught. But did I listen? Nope. This book was DISGUSTINGLY good. It’s so god I wanna puke from the whiplash. My best and only words of wisdom for going into this book? Go in completely blind. Just pick it up and start devouring until you are at the very end of the book and gasping at anything to hold onto. I read this in one sitting and the apocalypse could have came and gone and I wouldn’t have moved from my bed while reading this. The ending leaves off on a major cliffhanger, one that I did not see coming at all and had me running to the next book. Best and last piece of advice? Buckle tf up buttercup.
May 7, 2026
4 stars
I was hesitant to start this because the summary is pretty vague but I was seeing a lot of glowing reviews, and when I noticed it was under 300 pages I figured why not. The atmosphere of this one is super dark/depressing; the entire kingdom is dealing with the Rot, which is basically a plague that kills most people slowly and there's no cure. When our FMC learns the reason behind it is actually a curse tied to the King's crown, she takes the opportunity to try to feed it and save her family.
I liked Elara a lot. She wasn't weak or timid; she always had some type of retort ready to go, but at the same time she wasn't stupid. Her interactions with others were intentional and smart. She's still a young woman so she's not perfect but relatable. Zander's writing style is lyrical and easy to follow. It definitely made me want to check out her other work.
The romance was interesting because for a while I wasn't sure what direction it was going to go in. Elara's basically supposed to seduce the King but she's also got a thing going with his steward. Both of them are keeping secrets and acting shady. The chemistry and the drama was quite entertaining. Which one is telling the truth?
The plot moves you in a certain direction and then there's a twist I didn't see coming towards the end. For being so short, it easily kept my attention and packed a punch. I do kind of wonder why the author chose to split this into two novels instead of one ... but that's neither here nor there. If you can, I would go into this book as blind as possible because I think you'll get the most enjoyment out of it that way. Onto the sequel!
I was hesitant to start this because the summary is pretty vague but I was seeing a lot of glowing reviews, and when I noticed it was under 300 pages I figured why not. The atmosphere of this one is super dark/depressing; the entire kingdom is dealing with the Rot, which is basically a plague that kills most people slowly and there's no cure. When our FMC learns the reason behind it is actually a curse tied to the King's crown, she takes the opportunity to try to feed it and save her family.
I liked Elara a lot. She wasn't weak or timid; she always had some type of retort ready to go, but at the same time she wasn't stupid. Her interactions with others were intentional and smart. She's still a young woman so she's not perfect but relatable. Zander's writing style is lyrical and easy to follow. It definitely made me want to check out her other work.
The romance was interesting because for a while I wasn't sure what direction it was going to go in. Elara's basically supposed to seduce the King but she's also got a thing going with his steward. Both of them are keeping secrets and acting shady. The chemistry and the drama was quite entertaining. Which one is telling the truth?
The plot moves you in a certain direction and then there's a twist I didn't see coming towards the end. For being so short, it easily kept my attention and packed a punch. I do kind of wonder why the author chose to split this into two novels instead of one ... but that's neither here nor there. If you can, I would go into this book as blind as possible because I think you'll get the most enjoyment out of it that way. Onto the sequel!
May 9, 2026
3.5⭐️
The last chapter gained half a star.
I had way higher expectations and I guess that's my own fault.
The plot was intriguing, but I felt that it lacked depth and something else that I couldn't pinpoint.
I didn't connect with the characters very much and felt the chemistry between the FMC and MMC(s?) was sparse.
The cliffhanger makes me want to read the next book, but I'm still undecided if I'll continue.
The last chapter gained half a star.
I had way higher expectations and I guess that's my own fault.
The plot was intriguing, but I felt that it lacked depth and something else that I couldn't pinpoint.
I didn't connect with the characters very much and felt the chemistry between the FMC and MMC(s?) was sparse.
The cliffhanger makes me want to read the next book, but I'm still undecided if I'll continue.
![Profile Image for Saranya [back].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1777133106i/187457635._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
Currently Reading
May 31, 2026pre-read:
Hey guys. I've been so inactive here on gr for a while now and the feeling is so unfamiliar but I promise I'll be fully active after a few more days. Hope you all are doing fine!
I haven't even been reading much lately and I'm afraid books have forgotten me, lol. Luckily, Yuvi messaged me about this book and now here we are.
buddy reading this with my yuviii
Hey guys. I've been so inactive here on gr for a while now and the feeling is so unfamiliar but I promise I'll be fully active after a few more days. Hope you all are doing fine!
I haven't even been reading much lately and I'm afraid books have forgotten me, lol. Luckily, Yuvi messaged me about this book and now here we are.
buddy reading this with my yuviii
May 29, 2026
Змішайте фентезі з детективом і ось я тут 💁🏼♀️
Після всіх відгуків я чекала дві речі: шось огидне і детектив. Але я якась не така, бо мені було норм 😅 Ну повзають десь там личинки, ну з ким не буває, нагадайте мені розказати історію про холодильник в гуртожитку після зимових канікул, я то все пережила 🤣
А от детективна лінія мені сподобалась, коли авторка кидала нас туди сюди, змушувала повірити в шось, потім над цим же замислитись, поставити під сумнів, ну клас 😏
В мене були думки хто Вейл з самого початку, як вони були в кареті, але я не стала сильно замислюватись, вирішила просто читати 😅
Загалом, історія цікава, таке я щє наче не читала, фентезі з дрібкою детективу подобається, любовна лінія - якось швидко пришла в фокус, але я зважаю на стан і відданість головної героїні 😅
Після всіх відгуків я чекала дві речі: шось огидне і детектив. Але я якась не така, бо мені було норм 😅 Ну повзають десь там личинки, ну з ким не буває, нагадайте мені розказати історію про холодильник в гуртожитку після зимових канікул, я то все пережила 🤣
А от детективна лінія мені сподобалась, коли авторка кидала нас туди сюди, змушувала повірити в шось, потім над цим же замислитись, поставити під сумнів, ну клас 😏
В мене були думки хто Вейл з самого початку, як вони були в кареті, але я не стала сильно замислюватись, вирішила просто читати 😅
Загалом, історія цікава, таке я щє наче не читала, фентезі з дрібкою детективу подобається, любовна лінія - якось швидко пришла в фокус, але я зважаю на стан і відданість головної героїні 😅
Want to Read
May 16, 2026uuuugh fine, i'll read it
April 21, 2026
This was entertaining but not really all that dark, to be honest. It had rather graphic imagery of the rot, but it was not dark like her Ravens duet.
I will say I knew who Vale was right off the bat. The twist was definitely not a twist because it was so obvious from the beginning, but I still had a good time. Reaaaally don't know where the story is going from here, so at least there's that element of suspense.
I will say I knew who Vale was right off the bat. The twist was definitely not a twist because it was so obvious from the beginning, but I still had a good time. Reaaaally don't know where the story is going from here, so at least there's that element of suspense.
May 28, 2026
OH. MY. GOD! 👑🙏
Яка книжка 🫣🫶🔥
Стосунки з нею в мене складалися як з отим хлопом, з яким зустрілася і він тобі зовсім не подобається, навіть трохи (не трохи) огидний, але щось змушує тебе спілкуватися з ним далі, хоча тобі так важко з ним вести повноцінний, зрозумілий діалог.. Він намагається тебе звабити всілякими поетичними фразочками, описами, епітетами та вишуканими порівняннями 🥴🤪 А потім ваше спілкування закручується, розкривається і ти вже просто без розуму від нього, тому що, виявляється, він такий цікавий, загадковий та непередбачуваний, що тримає ваші стосунки у постійній приємній напрузі і хочеться ще і ще 🤣
Початок книжки - це витримка для відчуття стабільності шлунку та нервової системи 🤢 "Фу блядь, фу нахуй" я сказала разів з 20 🤣 Але авторці треба віддати належне - її талант передачі атмосфери та поглиблення у середовище просто феноменальне.. я шкірою відчувала всю ту гниль, гній та всепоглинаючу огиду🙈
З героїв-чоловіків маємо блондинчика і брюнетика.. Щоб там хто з них не робив і не казав - моє серце завжди віддане брюнету 😁
Але ж скільки тут поворотів, твістів та загадок, які хочеться розгадувати разом з героями 🔥 Основний твіст я вгадала - ура, ура, я молодець! 👑💃👯
На фіналі я вже була в такому захваті, що дуже хочеться читати далі і дізнатися всю історію! Я в половину того, що нам подали не вірю і будую всілякі варіанти та теорії 😁
Таке в мене враження, що у 2й частині ми ще наїмося скла та переживемо весь спектр емоцій..
Чудова книжка, хоч давалася вона мені не просто ❤️🔥
Яка книжка 🫣🫶🔥
Стосунки з нею в мене складалися як з отим хлопом, з яким зустрілася і він тобі зовсім не подобається, навіть трохи (не трохи) огидний, але щось змушує тебе спілкуватися з ним далі, хоча тобі так важко з ним вести повноцінний, зрозумілий діалог.. Він намагається тебе звабити всілякими поетичними фразочками, описами, епітетами та вишуканими порівняннями 🥴🤪 А потім ваше спілкування закручується, розкривається і ти вже просто без розуму від нього, тому що, виявляється, він такий цікавий, загадковий та непередбачуваний, що тримає ваші стосунки у постійній приємній напрузі і хочеться ще і ще 🤣
Початок книжки - це витримка для відчуття стабільності шлунку та нервової системи 🤢 "Фу блядь, фу нахуй" я сказала разів з 20 🤣 Але авторці треба віддати належне - її талант передачі атмосфери та поглиблення у середовище просто феноменальне.. я шкірою відчувала всю ту гниль, гній та всепоглинаючу огиду🙈
З героїв-чоловіків маємо блондинчика і брюнетика.. Щоб там хто з них не робив і не казав - моє серце завжди віддане брюнету 😁
Але ж скільки тут поворотів, твістів та загадок, які хочеться розгадувати разом з героями 🔥 Основний твіст я вгадала - ура, ура, я молодець! 👑💃👯
На фіналі я вже була в такому захваті, що дуже хочеться читати далі і дізнатися всю історію! Я в половину того, що нам подали не вірю і будую всілякі варіанти та теорії 😁
Таке в мене враження, що у 2й частині ми ще наїмося скла та переживемо весь спектр емоцій..
Чудова книжка, хоч давалася вона мені не просто ❤️🔥
May 25, 2026
I truly enjoyed the book, though it was a total rollercoaster. First of all, that Liv's fantasy medieval vibe is something else. Very atmospheric.
Elara really won me over. She’s just a regular girl, but she’s wise beyond her years because life’s been hard and she matured very early.
She smart and strong , Sometimes fragile, sometimes rebellious.
But what really hooked me was the investigation into how to break the curse. My god, I changed my mind and my suspicions so many times! And even though I predicted a few things, others just left me speechless and blow my mind.
The author is so good at misleading you, and you just let her do it because everything finally makes sense by her words and you finally found all the puzzle peaces. But then it turns out that piece you found was from a different puzzle altogether.
Elara really won me over. She’s just a regular girl, but she’s wise beyond her years because life’s been hard and she matured very early.
She smart and strong , Sometimes fragile, sometimes rebellious.
But what really hooked me was the investigation into how to break the curse. My god, I changed my mind and my suspicions so many times! And even though I predicted a few things, others just left me speechless and blow my mind.
The author is so good at misleading you, and you just let her do it because everything finally makes sense by her words and you finally found all the puzzle peaces. But then it turns out that piece you found was from a different puzzle altogether.
May 25, 2026
Це був винос мозку. Але дещо в приємному сенсі.
Світоустрій. Мені дуже сподобалось, що він не перевантажений. Ми маємо королівство, де люди мають "недуг". Всі без винятку. Хтось раніше, хтось пізніше. І маємо мету: змінити це. Все просто. Атмосфера повністю відповідає моїм очікуванням. Як то кажуть: впізнаю руку майстра.
Елара. Донька гробаря. Її родина займається похованнями. І тут авторка просто майстерно передала всю суть подальшого сюжету. Елара розумна, вона не цурається гнилих трупів, гнилі на живих людях. І саме тому, вона так ідеально підійшла на відведену роль. Спокусити короля. Який вже почав гнити. І виглядає.....ну страшно. Ще й шоу такі влаштовував 🙈. Елара дуже цікаво розслідувала цю справу: як зняти прокляття. І я сама не завжди встигала збагнути всі сюжетні повороти.
Вейл. Такий собі dark horse. Дуже скритна паскуда. Але поки не списую його. Бо здається він не такий поганий як я думаю))))
Каель. Ну почну з того що він золотоволосий король. Фє. І він настільки добропорядний, що аж скули зводить. До кінця книги ти не розумієш позитивний він перс чи "ах ти ж підар вусатий"
Сюжет. Ой, це було дуже смачно. Кожен раз коли я думала, що задачу вирішено. І все стало на свої місця. Ага, хєр там!!!!
5/5⭐. Мені дуже чподобалось
Світоустрій. Мені дуже сподобалось, що він не перевантажений. Ми маємо королівство, де люди мають "недуг". Всі без винятку. Хтось раніше, хтось пізніше. І маємо мету: змінити це. Все просто. Атмосфера повністю відповідає моїм очікуванням. Як то кажуть: впізнаю руку майстра.
Елара. Донька гробаря. Її родина займається похованнями. І тут авторка просто майстерно передала всю суть подальшого сюжету. Елара розумна, вона не цурається гнилих трупів, гнилі на живих людях. І саме тому, вона так ідеально підійшла на відведену роль. Спокусити короля. Який вже почав гнити. І виглядає.....ну страшно. Ще й шоу такі влаштовував 🙈. Елара дуже цікаво розслідувала цю справу: як зняти прокляття. І я сама не завжди встигала збагнути всі сюжетні повороти.
Вейл. Такий собі dark horse. Дуже скритна паскуда. Але поки не списую його. Бо здається він не такий поганий як я думаю))))
Каель. Ну почну з того що він золотоволосий король. Фє. І він настільки добропорядний, що аж скули зводить. До кінця книги ти не розумієш позитивний він перс чи "ах ти ж підар вусатий"
Сюжет. Ой, це було дуже смачно. Кожен раз коли я думала, що задачу вирішено. І все стало на свої місця. Ага, хєр там!!!!
5/5⭐. Мені дуже чподобалось
May 30, 2026
At the beginning, I had the urge to DNF this book, but I’m glad I didn’t, because the last third and the ending were just wow! Such a unique and captivating plot.
May 23, 2026
DNF @ 41% Damn, I really wanted to like this book because I loved Feathers So Vicious and Shadows So Cruel and this book had so many five star reviews!
I have no idea whatever new writing style Liv Zander decided to take on for this book but it completely ruined it for me. Every sentence is strung together metaphorically and not in a good way. Just tell the damn story and stop trying to make every sentence poetic and beautiful.
I get that some people may like this style of writing but only if it’s done right. As a reader I don’t want to be pulled out of the story line to focus on the lyrical writing of the book.
Reading this book felt like amateur slam poetry night by someone who just learned what a metaphor is. :(
I have no idea whatever new writing style Liv Zander decided to take on for this book but it completely ruined it for me. Every sentence is strung together metaphorically and not in a good way. Just tell the damn story and stop trying to make every sentence poetic and beautiful.
I get that some people may like this style of writing but only if it’s done right. As a reader I don’t want to be pulled out of the story line to focus on the lyrical writing of the book.
Reading this book felt like amateur slam poetry night by someone who just learned what a metaphor is. :(
May 15, 2026
Crown Me Dead by Liv Zander
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
✔️Dark Romantasy
✔️Cursed Crown
✔️Secrets and Lies
Wow what a book! It stuck its hooks in me immediately and it didn't let go. Straight to book two tonight! I really done want to spoil this in any way for anyone wanting to read it but if you're looking for a short dark romantasy this is the one to do, it has less than 300 pages and you will be hooked!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
✔️Dark Romantasy
✔️Cursed Crown
✔️Secrets and Lies
Wow what a book! It stuck its hooks in me immediately and it didn't let go. Straight to book two tonight! I really done want to spoil this in any way for anyone wanting to read it but if you're looking for a short dark romantasy this is the one to do, it has less than 300 pages and you will be hooked!
April 10, 2026
Liv Zander's prose is as captivating as always.
It should be no surprise I had to finish this within a day.
I'm both eager to read the conclusion and feeling spoiled that it's just around the corner.
It should be no surprise I had to finish this within a day.
I'm both eager to read the conclusion and feeling spoiled that it's just around the corner.
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