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The Solaryn #1
A Crown of Thorned Fate
Not yet published
Expected 13 Oct 26She was never meant to wear a crown. He was never meant to kneel.
Elara Veyne believed magic belonged only to stories.
Until the night her village was shattered and the King of Thorn Court dragged her beyond the Veil.
A mortal healer from Briar Glen, Elara has no place among the fae—and no intention of surrendering to the ruthless king she was raised to fear. But within Thorn Court, a living castle of shadow, silver, and thorns, the impossible becomes real.
Magic answers her touch. A hidden power begins to awaken beneath her skin. And an ancient Thornbound bond ties her to Caelen Duskryn, the very man she has sworn to hate.
Caelen has spent his reign guarding a kingdom on the edge of ruin, bound by ancient promises and surrounded by enemies. Now prophecy has placed Elara at the center of his realm's fate, with the power to save it—or destroy it.
He can command a court.
He can wield shadows as weapons.
But he cannot command her.
Her trust must be earned.
So must her surrender.
Trapped in a dangerous court where beauty conceals betrayal and every alliance carries a price, Elara must uncover the truth about the magic awakening inside her—and why forces older than the kingdom itself seem to know exactly who she is.
Because Elara Veyne was never simply a mortal healer.
And some destinies aren't discovered.
They're remembered.
A Crown of Thorned Fate is a dark fae romantasy featuring enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, fated mates, a morally gray fae king, slow-burn tension and spice, hidden kingdoms, ancient prophecy, a sentient castle, and a touch-her-and die hero.
Elara Veyne believed magic belonged only to stories.
Until the night her village was shattered and the King of Thorn Court dragged her beyond the Veil.
A mortal healer from Briar Glen, Elara has no place among the fae—and no intention of surrendering to the ruthless king she was raised to fear. But within Thorn Court, a living castle of shadow, silver, and thorns, the impossible becomes real.
Magic answers her touch. A hidden power begins to awaken beneath her skin. And an ancient Thornbound bond ties her to Caelen Duskryn, the very man she has sworn to hate.
Caelen has spent his reign guarding a kingdom on the edge of ruin, bound by ancient promises and surrounded by enemies. Now prophecy has placed Elara at the center of his realm's fate, with the power to save it—or destroy it.
He can command a court.
He can wield shadows as weapons.
But he cannot command her.
Her trust must be earned.
So must her surrender.
Trapped in a dangerous court where beauty conceals betrayal and every alliance carries a price, Elara must uncover the truth about the magic awakening inside her—and why forces older than the kingdom itself seem to know exactly who she is.
Because Elara Veyne was never simply a mortal healer.
And some destinies aren't discovered.
They're remembered.
A Crown of Thorned Fate is a dark fae romantasy featuring enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, fated mates, a morally gray fae king, slow-burn tension and spice, hidden kingdoms, ancient prophecy, a sentient castle, and a touch-her-and die hero.
504 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 13, 2026
About the author
K.C. Hawthorne
1 book13 followersK.C. Hawthorne writes dark romantasy filled with fierce heroines, dangerous kings, cursed crowns, fated mates, and immersive fae worlds.
Her stories blend gothic luxury, emotional intensity, slow-burn obsession, and epic fantasy stakes for readers who crave powerful romance wrapped in magic, prophecy, and ruin.
When she isn’t crafting dark kingdoms and seductive sovereigns, she’s building worlds where love is war, fate is a weapon, and queens rise from thorns.
Her stories blend gothic luxury, emotional intensity, slow-burn obsession, and epic fantasy stakes for readers who crave powerful romance wrapped in magic, prophecy, and ruin.
When she isn’t crafting dark kingdoms and seductive sovereigns, she’s building worlds where love is war, fate is a weapon, and queens rise from thorns.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
I received this book from the author K. C. Hawthorne in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
I would just like to preface this by acknowledging how beautifully worded this book is. In terms of descriptive detail, it is so artfully phrased and articulately expressed.
I dove headfirst into the plot line from page one. I adored and connected with the FMC Elera’s argumentative nature and her ability to hold true to herself even when fear overwhelmed her or the fates tried to push a different path at her. The MMC Caelen is possessive in the best of ways, courting Elera slowly after a rocky meeting, while building her trust and steeling our hearts. Their relationship blooms (pun intended) along with sentient kingdom, slowly releasing truths and magic incrementally, as the plot develops. The world building directly correlated for the first half of the book with the developing relationship and release of magic as the sentient castle seemed to be all knowing and in control. The world was thoroughly described almost too often for my tastes and I felt some could have been cut out; particularly the mention of moonflowers and vines.
Although I enjoyed the characters and flowery language, I did feel that the pacing of the book was slow, too slow for me. Around 50% it did pick up and I was able to finish the book but the first half felt like a struggle to get through. That ending though… explains so much and leaves you feeling like you have to have more!
Overall it was an interesting read as I have never read anything before with a castle with its own mind and found it pretty fun. Ps. I also need a sentient home to draw my baths, provide clothes, and snacks…. All the snacks! 🍫
One of my many favourite quote:
“You are the single greatest temptation I have faced in centuries” - Caelen
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
I received this book from the author K. C. Hawthorne in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
I would just like to preface this by acknowledging how beautifully worded this book is. In terms of descriptive detail, it is so artfully phrased and articulately expressed.
I dove headfirst into the plot line from page one. I adored and connected with the FMC Elera’s argumentative nature and her ability to hold true to herself even when fear overwhelmed her or the fates tried to push a different path at her. The MMC Caelen is possessive in the best of ways, courting Elera slowly after a rocky meeting, while building her trust and steeling our hearts. Their relationship blooms (pun intended) along with sentient kingdom, slowly releasing truths and magic incrementally, as the plot develops. The world building directly correlated for the first half of the book with the developing relationship and release of magic as the sentient castle seemed to be all knowing and in control. The world was thoroughly described almost too often for my tastes and I felt some could have been cut out; particularly the mention of moonflowers and vines.
Although I enjoyed the characters and flowery language, I did feel that the pacing of the book was slow, too slow for me. Around 50% it did pick up and I was able to finish the book but the first half felt like a struggle to get through. That ending though… explains so much and leaves you feeling like you have to have more!
Overall it was an interesting read as I have never read anything before with a castle with its own mind and found it pretty fun. Ps. I also need a sentient home to draw my baths, provide clothes, and snacks…. All the snacks! 🍫
One of my many favourite quote:
“You are the single greatest temptation I have faced in centuries” - Caelen
June 1, 2026
I got a ARC copy of this book, so I think the actual writing may not be fully developed, but I will rate the story premise and characters.
The story and plot itself is a great concept. I loved how the castle and realm were more sentient, that way position and power came with more than just a crown. The antagonist was a surprise.
This was an enemies to lovers, however I appreciated the fact that it was not insta love. The characters were not overtaken by how beautiful each other was and instantly had a soft spot for the other. Their relationship was real, raw, bound by necessity, rather than an unrealistic first meeting. This allowed for a beautiful bond to develop into something stronger and more unshakeable.
On that note, it didn’t hurt that I pictured a Thranduil looking MMC ✨
The story and plot itself is a great concept. I loved how the castle and realm were more sentient, that way position and power came with more than just a crown. The antagonist was a surprise.
This was an enemies to lovers, however I appreciated the fact that it was not insta love. The characters were not overtaken by how beautiful each other was and instantly had a soft spot for the other. Their relationship was real, raw, bound by necessity, rather than an unrealistic first meeting. This allowed for a beautiful bond to develop into something stronger and more unshakeable.
On that note, it didn’t hurt that I pictured a Thranduil looking MMC ✨
August 21, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Author
★★★★★ The Castle Might Be My Favorite Character
A Crown of Thorned Fate had so many of the things I look for in a good romantasy, real enemies-to-lovers tension, a morally gray Fae king, forced proximity, great banter, a strong FMC, a living castle with entirely too much personality, and a plot that became ridiculously addictive.
The enemies-to-lovers relationship between Elara and Caelen was easily one of my favorite parts. And I mean enemies to lovers. There is actual distrust and hostility between these two in the beginning, which made the slow burn so much more satisfying. Elara isn't immediately falling all over herself because Caelen is a powerful Fae king, and Caelen definitely isn't used to having someone challenge him the way she does.
Their banter made it even better.
Elara has absolutely no problem standing up to Caelen, questioning him, or knocking that king-sized ego down a few levels when necessary. Meanwhile, Caelen gives it right back to her. Their conversations have that perfect combination of irritation, sarcasm, tension, and I definitely don't like you, so please ignore the fact that I can't stop thinking about you. I caught myself smiling during their arguments more than once.
I also really enjoyed the character growth. Neither Elara nor Caelen felt like exactly the same person by the end of the book. Elara is thrown into a completely unfamiliar world and forced to question what she thought she knew about herself, while Caelen slowly becomes more than the cold, dangerous Fae king we're initially presented with. Their development felt gradual, especially in the way they began understanding one another. The romance worked for me because their relationship changed alongside them instead of feeling like someone flipped a switch from "I hate you" to "I'm in love with you."
But can we talk about the castle?
I was not expecting a living castle to be one of the funniest parts of this book. Thorn Court has opinions, and apparently it isn't afraid to express them. 😂 The way it reacts to Elara and Caelen and occasionally seems to involve itself in situations had me laughing. At some point I stopped thinking of the castle as part of the setting and started thinking of it as another character. The fact that the castle seems to recognize Elara adds another layer of mystery to it too.
And then there's the plot.
This book became dangerously easy to keep reading. There was always another secret I wanted answered, another piece of Elara's story I wanted to understand, another interaction between her and Caelen I wanted to see, or another mystery surrounding Thorn Court that I needed explained. Between the ancient magic, court politics, hidden truths, looming conflict, and whatever exactly is happening between Elara and Caelen, I kept telling myself I'd read one more chapter.
That was a lie every single time.
I especially liked that the romance didn't completely overshadow the fantasy storyline. The chemistry between Elara and Caelen is obviously a huge part of the book, but there's enough happening outside their relationship that I was equally invested in figuring out the larger mystery. The world beyond the Veil, the politics between kingdoms, the magic, and the secrets surrounding Elara all kept pulling me further into the story.
For a debut novel, K.C. Hawthorne seriously impressed me. A Crown of Thorned Fate gave me the kind of slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance I love while still making me care about the characters and the fantasy world around them.
And somehow a sarcastic, meddling castle nearly stole the entire book.
★★★★★ Five stars. Come for the morally gray Fae king and enemies-to-lovers tension. Stay for Elara and Caelen's banter, the character growth, the addictive plot, and a castle that apparently decided being a building wasn't enough.
I am officially invested in The Solaryn Series.
★★★★★ The Castle Might Be My Favorite Character
A Crown of Thorned Fate had so many of the things I look for in a good romantasy, real enemies-to-lovers tension, a morally gray Fae king, forced proximity, great banter, a strong FMC, a living castle with entirely too much personality, and a plot that became ridiculously addictive.
The enemies-to-lovers relationship between Elara and Caelen was easily one of my favorite parts. And I mean enemies to lovers. There is actual distrust and hostility between these two in the beginning, which made the slow burn so much more satisfying. Elara isn't immediately falling all over herself because Caelen is a powerful Fae king, and Caelen definitely isn't used to having someone challenge him the way she does.
Their banter made it even better.
Elara has absolutely no problem standing up to Caelen, questioning him, or knocking that king-sized ego down a few levels when necessary. Meanwhile, Caelen gives it right back to her. Their conversations have that perfect combination of irritation, sarcasm, tension, and I definitely don't like you, so please ignore the fact that I can't stop thinking about you. I caught myself smiling during their arguments more than once.
I also really enjoyed the character growth. Neither Elara nor Caelen felt like exactly the same person by the end of the book. Elara is thrown into a completely unfamiliar world and forced to question what she thought she knew about herself, while Caelen slowly becomes more than the cold, dangerous Fae king we're initially presented with. Their development felt gradual, especially in the way they began understanding one another. The romance worked for me because their relationship changed alongside them instead of feeling like someone flipped a switch from "I hate you" to "I'm in love with you."
But can we talk about the castle?
I was not expecting a living castle to be one of the funniest parts of this book. Thorn Court has opinions, and apparently it isn't afraid to express them. 😂 The way it reacts to Elara and Caelen and occasionally seems to involve itself in situations had me laughing. At some point I stopped thinking of the castle as part of the setting and started thinking of it as another character. The fact that the castle seems to recognize Elara adds another layer of mystery to it too.
And then there's the plot.
This book became dangerously easy to keep reading. There was always another secret I wanted answered, another piece of Elara's story I wanted to understand, another interaction between her and Caelen I wanted to see, or another mystery surrounding Thorn Court that I needed explained. Between the ancient magic, court politics, hidden truths, looming conflict, and whatever exactly is happening between Elara and Caelen, I kept telling myself I'd read one more chapter.
That was a lie every single time.
I especially liked that the romance didn't completely overshadow the fantasy storyline. The chemistry between Elara and Caelen is obviously a huge part of the book, but there's enough happening outside their relationship that I was equally invested in figuring out the larger mystery. The world beyond the Veil, the politics between kingdoms, the magic, and the secrets surrounding Elara all kept pulling me further into the story.
For a debut novel, K.C. Hawthorne seriously impressed me. A Crown of Thorned Fate gave me the kind of slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance I love while still making me care about the characters and the fantasy world around them.
And somehow a sarcastic, meddling castle nearly stole the entire book.
★★★★★ Five stars. Come for the morally gray Fae king and enemies-to-lovers tension. Stay for Elara and Caelen's banter, the character growth, the addictive plot, and a castle that apparently decided being a building wasn't enough.
I am officially invested in The Solaryn Series.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was given an ARC copy by the author
4 ⭐️
2.5 🌶️
I very much enjoyed the plot and tropes of this book. It had very well written descriptions of the environment, and the castle truly making it feel sentient. The FMC and MMC are both already pretty well rounded characters from the start and leaves the plot focusing on the development of the story. I loved how it has some mystery vibes and had you learn pieces at a time till the ending where everything is finally revealed. With each revealed piece it leads to the romance between the two to develop over time along with the backstory as trust develops. It’s truly such a magical and unique story and worth reading and I’m looking forward to the second book because um hello that ending! I must know what happens now!
Cons:
For me personally I felt like this book could have had a lot less words. I felt like there was maybe a bit too much environmental descriptions on almost every page, which kinda made it feel like it was dragging the scene on sometimes (Mostly in the first half of the book). On this note, I felt like there was not a lot of character descriptions and I often found myself completely forgetting everyone in thorn court were fae. Something else I noticed was there were some points/feelings that were said 2 times in a row just worded differently and it just felt unnecessary. And lastly I’m not sure if this was just reader error on my part but sometimes in the dialogue I got very lost on who was talking and when someone was actually finished and switched to the other person or if it was just a pause in thought.
Thank you so much K.C Hawthorne for allowing me to read and review your book!
4 ⭐️
2.5 🌶️
I very much enjoyed the plot and tropes of this book. It had very well written descriptions of the environment, and the castle truly making it feel sentient. The FMC and MMC are both already pretty well rounded characters from the start and leaves the plot focusing on the development of the story. I loved how it has some mystery vibes and had you learn pieces at a time till the ending where everything is finally revealed. With each revealed piece it leads to the romance between the two to develop over time along with the backstory as trust develops. It’s truly such a magical and unique story and worth reading and I’m looking forward to the second book because um hello that ending! I must know what happens now!
Cons:
For me personally I felt like this book could have had a lot less words. I felt like there was maybe a bit too much environmental descriptions on almost every page, which kinda made it feel like it was dragging the scene on sometimes (Mostly in the first half of the book). On this note, I felt like there was not a lot of character descriptions and I often found myself completely forgetting everyone in thorn court were fae. Something else I noticed was there were some points/feelings that were said 2 times in a row just worded differently and it just felt unnecessary. And lastly I’m not sure if this was just reader error on my part but sometimes in the dialogue I got very lost on who was talking and when someone was actually finished and switched to the other person or if it was just a pause in thought.
Thank you so much K.C Hawthorne for allowing me to read and review your book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
A Crown of Thorned Fate gave me so many of my favorite romantasy elements: a powerful healer with a hidden bloodline, a terrifying shadow king who would defy an entire realm to protect her, a living castle, forgotten kingdoms, ancient magic, fated mates, and plenty of “touch her and die” energy.
Elara and Caelen’s relationship was easily my favorite part. I loved that their bond may have brought them together, but it could not complete itself without both of them freely choosing it. Caelen is protective, powerful, morally complicated, and completely devoted, while Elara never loses the stubbornness and agency that make her such a compelling heroine. And once the slow-building tension finally pays off, the spice definitely delivers.
The atmospheric worldbuilding was beautiful, especially Thorn Court and the mystery surrounding Solara. I did find some of the internal conflict and language around fate, choice, and the bond repetitive, and the pacing occasionally dragged in the middle. However, the final revelations—including the truth about Briar Glen, Elara’s ancestry, and that cliffhanger—left me genuinely excited for the next book.
A lush, spicy, fated-mates romantasy filled with shadow, Sunfire, forgotten history, and a king who would burn the world for his queen.
Elara and Caelen’s relationship was easily my favorite part. I loved that their bond may have brought them together, but it could not complete itself without both of them freely choosing it. Caelen is protective, powerful, morally complicated, and completely devoted, while Elara never loses the stubbornness and agency that make her such a compelling heroine. And once the slow-building tension finally pays off, the spice definitely delivers.
The atmospheric worldbuilding was beautiful, especially Thorn Court and the mystery surrounding Solara. I did find some of the internal conflict and language around fate, choice, and the bond repetitive, and the pacing occasionally dragged in the middle. However, the final revelations—including the truth about Briar Glen, Elara’s ancestry, and that cliffhanger—left me genuinely excited for the next book.
A lush, spicy, fated-mates romantasy filled with shadow, Sunfire, forgotten history, and a king who would burn the world for his queen.
Review of advance copy received from Author
From Chapter One, I was hooked! I felt like I was part of the world K.C. Hawthorne created, and I fell in love with the beautiful imagery and vivid descriptions. The world felt so alive that I could picture myself right there alongside the characters.
The slow-burn romance between Caelen and Elara is out of this world. I loved watching their relationship develop, and I was completely invested in their journey.
And if you think you don’t need a sentient castle who is just as sassy as Elara think again. That castle will steal your heart before anyone else.
This book pulled me in from the very beginning and kept me turning pages until the end. I will absolutely be reading Book Two when it comes out, and I cannot believe I have to wait!!!!
Thank you K.C. Hawthorne for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.
The slow-burn romance between Caelen and Elara is out of this world. I loved watching their relationship develop, and I was completely invested in their journey.
And if you think you don’t need a sentient castle who is just as sassy as Elara think again. That castle will steal your heart before anyone else.
This book pulled me in from the very beginning and kept me turning pages until the end. I will absolutely be reading Book Two when it comes out, and I cannot believe I have to wait!!!!
Thank you K.C. Hawthorne for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Received an ARC copy and so happy that I was chosen to get an early read! No Spoilers!
I absolutely loved the story and characters. If you love to immerse yourself in the Fantasy world to feel like you are right there within the pages, then this is definitely for You! The world building in this literally made me feel like I was in the story and I loved that so much. FMC that's a little feisty, Hot possessive MMC, magic, hidden identity, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, shadow daddy, slow burn, sizzling spice, fated mates to name some of the tropes. If you love reading about Fae mythology than you will absolutely love this! I absolutely loved this story and can't wait to read more! Perfect read for Fantasy Romantsy lovers, this is one you will definitely want to pick up!
I absolutely loved the story and characters. If you love to immerse yourself in the Fantasy world to feel like you are right there within the pages, then this is definitely for You! The world building in this literally made me feel like I was in the story and I loved that so much. FMC that's a little feisty, Hot possessive MMC, magic, hidden identity, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, shadow daddy, slow burn, sizzling spice, fated mates to name some of the tropes. If you love reading about Fae mythology than you will absolutely love this! I absolutely loved this story and can't wait to read more! Perfect read for Fantasy Romantsy lovers, this is one you will definitely want to pick up!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book in my opinion was written perfectly. The depth in the development of the characters does not leave me wanting for more. The realm and ALL of the characters are magnificent. My favorite character in this book is not what you would expect. To me they made it better than any of the books I have read lately and I cannot wait for the next book!
I felt like I was a part of the story as I read it. It kept me wanting to read more and more as fast as I could. I could NOT put it down. This book is currently my favorite book ❤️
I felt like I was a part of the story as I read it. It kept me wanting to read more and more as fast as I could. I could NOT put it down. This book is currently my favorite book ❤️
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an arc copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This book is slow burn in all ways. The characters are gradually revealed as the story unfolds. The story is woven for us through the realizations and experiences of Elara, a human healer who thinks she knows what it means when she’s abducted by the Fae King. Caelen is arrogant, beautiful and ruthless. But there might be something underneath, and finding out is worth the tension.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC review. The world in this book was brought to life SO vividly!!! The enemies to lovers, slow burn, magic, and the growth of the place ♥️ The characters, places, world, and emotions were described beautifully. I felt like I was inside this world experiencing it with the characters.Thank you so so much for letting me read this ENCHANTING tale!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I have so much i want to say about this book. To start out, ill say that where many books take at least a few chapters to bring you into the story, this one got it's vines (iykyk) into me right from chapter 1 and that chokehold only got deeper as I went along! This has been one of the best and most refreshingly unique into itself books that I've read in quite a while... and i read several books a week. Popular, booktok, high rated books... and im insanely impressed by this one in so many ways!
Caelyn and Elara are a stunning picture of what genuine enemy to lovers should be. Their relationship evolves in such a realistic way, not in the "hey we fell into bed and now everything suddenly is heavy like nothing ever happened and I forgot I hated you with every fiber of my being" way that we do often see. The the show burn that does turn to spice is beautifully written and open door but doesn't compete with the storyline whatsoever... which is frickin sensational. It has allll the best tropes but with originality that is all its own. I absolutely am enchanted ✨️ 🤭 by the castle ... it's magnificent! The dynamics of all the relationships is just delightful, the storyline is super full of so many dynamics that out never fails to surprise and entice.
And I absolutely 💯 love that even though it's a series, it ended in such a way that didn't leave me super frustrated on a cliff hanger that just made me angry and want to walk away from it or forget it... this one is one that will live rent free until I am more than thrilled to reunite with them again on their next adventure to see what choices are made and where it leads. But how it ended also was with enough closure that I closed the book feeling happy and content and thrilled for them... until we meet again on the mountain!
I would say that I'm ridiculously impressed especially due to this being a first book by this author, but frankly that even feels like a slight. ... first book or 20th is irrelevant, an amazing piece of work is just that... amazing. And that's precisely what this book is. Well written, encompasses everything i want in a good romantasy, and impossible to put down. One of very few i was actually crazy excited to leave my own sorry sorry review for because I wasn't everyone else to know just how fantastic it truly is!
Caelyn and Elara are a stunning picture of what genuine enemy to lovers should be. Their relationship evolves in such a realistic way, not in the "hey we fell into bed and now everything suddenly is heavy like nothing ever happened and I forgot I hated you with every fiber of my being" way that we do often see. The the show burn that does turn to spice is beautifully written and open door but doesn't compete with the storyline whatsoever... which is frickin sensational. It has allll the best tropes but with originality that is all its own. I absolutely am enchanted ✨️ 🤭 by the castle ... it's magnificent! The dynamics of all the relationships is just delightful, the storyline is super full of so many dynamics that out never fails to surprise and entice.
And I absolutely 💯 love that even though it's a series, it ended in such a way that didn't leave me super frustrated on a cliff hanger that just made me angry and want to walk away from it or forget it... this one is one that will live rent free until I am more than thrilled to reunite with them again on their next adventure to see what choices are made and where it leads. But how it ended also was with enough closure that I closed the book feeling happy and content and thrilled for them... until we meet again on the mountain!
I would say that I'm ridiculously impressed especially due to this being a first book by this author, but frankly that even feels like a slight. ... first book or 20th is irrelevant, an amazing piece of work is just that... amazing. And that's precisely what this book is. Well written, encompasses everything i want in a good romantasy, and impossible to put down. One of very few i was actually crazy excited to leave my own sorry sorry review for because I wasn't everyone else to know just how fantastic it truly is!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Since this was an early copy, it was still going through edits, so please keep that in mind when reading my review.
This story has so many things you would normally find me loving in a book enemies to lovers, forbidden bonds, ancient prophecy… all the good stuff!
However…
I unfortunately had a really hard time falling in love with the characters and following the storyline. I tried really hard to push through and finish it, but ultimately I had to DNF.
And honestly, Sometimes a book just doesn't connect with you, and unfortunately, this was one of those times for me.
BUT I am still genuinely excited to see where this author goes from here. This is her debut book, and I think there is so much potential in this story and the world she's created.
Even though I wasn't able to connect with it this time around, I will absolutely be buying a finished copy once it's published and giving it another chance. I would love to see how the story develops after the editing process.
2.5 stars⭐️ as I had trouble connecting the story and felt it was confusing at times. However there is potential and like I said, I will purchase a copy once it is published.
I would like to thank the author for an advanced copy of her work.
This story has so many things you would normally find me loving in a book enemies to lovers, forbidden bonds, ancient prophecy… all the good stuff!
However…
I unfortunately had a really hard time falling in love with the characters and following the storyline. I tried really hard to push through and finish it, but ultimately I had to DNF.
And honestly, Sometimes a book just doesn't connect with you, and unfortunately, this was one of those times for me.
BUT I am still genuinely excited to see where this author goes from here. This is her debut book, and I think there is so much potential in this story and the world she's created.
Even though I wasn't able to connect with it this time around, I will absolutely be buying a finished copy once it's published and giving it another chance. I would love to see how the story develops after the editing process.
2.5 stars⭐️ as I had trouble connecting the story and felt it was confusing at times. However there is potential and like I said, I will purchase a copy once it is published.
I would like to thank the author for an advanced copy of her work.
July 1, 2026
A highly addictive debut for romantasy lovers. While it plays into familiar tropes like fated mates and forced proximity, the eerie gothic atmosphere and the sheer chemistry between the leads make it a page-turner.
Review of advance copy
This story has a lot of potential. There are some really wonderful ideas and beautiful descriptions of the Kings kingdom, Castle, etc. However...
The story starts by dropping you into the middle with no context, world intro, and zero to none character intro. Normally I don't mind that kind of opening as long as the author catches the reader up shortly there after, which it doesn't here. This would also not be a deal breaker for me if the story was written with more prose, however there are so many flowery or clever metaphors packed into every sentence possible that it takes away from the story telling right away. In a world were we as the reader don't know what's happening, or what world we're in, it's like we have to wade through all the extra fluff to figure out where we are. It's almost as if the author is trying to prove how clever they are instead of writing a compelling story. The metaphors used are often repetitive and don't add in any way to the story telling. Also, the dialog is a bit bland and predictable.
This story has made me wonder, more than once, if it was written by AI. There doesn't seem to be any emotional connection for the reader to grab onto. Like it was written by someone (or something) that doesn't understand how to make human connections between fictional characters and real people reading about those characters.
I do recognize that the story has some gems in it. The premise is great and the imagery is beautiful once I was able to see it past all the forced, extra fluff. I would love to read this story again after some thoughtful editing.
The story starts by dropping you into the middle with no context, world intro, and zero to none character intro. Normally I don't mind that kind of opening as long as the author catches the reader up shortly there after, which it doesn't here. This would also not be a deal breaker for me if the story was written with more prose, however there are so many flowery or clever metaphors packed into every sentence possible that it takes away from the story telling right away. In a world were we as the reader don't know what's happening, or what world we're in, it's like we have to wade through all the extra fluff to figure out where we are. It's almost as if the author is trying to prove how clever they are instead of writing a compelling story. The metaphors used are often repetitive and don't add in any way to the story telling. Also, the dialog is a bit bland and predictable.
This story has made me wonder, more than once, if it was written by AI. There doesn't seem to be any emotional connection for the reader to grab onto. Like it was written by someone (or something) that doesn't understand how to make human connections between fictional characters and real people reading about those characters.
I do recognize that the story has some gems in it. The premise is great and the imagery is beautiful once I was able to see it past all the forced, extra fluff. I would love to read this story again after some thoughtful editing.
Review of advance copy received from Author
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
First of all, I want to say thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this ARC—I’m really grateful to have received an early copy.
Going into this book, the beginning drops you right into the middle of everything but as I became oriented in the world I loved how the story didn’t hand you all the answers at once. It made the journey for answers much more rewarding.
I also really appreciated the way the relationship developed between the MMC & FMC — although fate had its hand in everything, their relationship was natural, grounded, and believable. It added a lot to my investment in them and made their dynamic more compelling. I also found the idea of the castle really intriguing—it honestly added such a fun layer to the world.
NOW…the middle to the end was impeccable🖤
Once pieces of this story started clicking into place , I was hooked. I really enjoyed the secrets of the past unfolding and watching everything slowly come together.
The characters continued to keep me invested!
Towards the end everything came together in a way that made every bread crumb feel intentional, and I really appreciated that we are able to get some “aha” moments.
The ending + epilogue definitely left me intrigued to see what happens next! I think this is a story that deserves a spot on everyone’s TBR. Everything came together nicely and I found myself fully immersed in the world and the mystery unfolding.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
First of all, I want to say thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this ARC—I’m really grateful to have received an early copy.
Going into this book, the beginning drops you right into the middle of everything but as I became oriented in the world I loved how the story didn’t hand you all the answers at once. It made the journey for answers much more rewarding.
I also really appreciated the way the relationship developed between the MMC & FMC — although fate had its hand in everything, their relationship was natural, grounded, and believable. It added a lot to my investment in them and made their dynamic more compelling. I also found the idea of the castle really intriguing—it honestly added such a fun layer to the world.
NOW…the middle to the end was impeccable🖤
Once pieces of this story started clicking into place , I was hooked. I really enjoyed the secrets of the past unfolding and watching everything slowly come together.
The characters continued to keep me invested!
Towards the end everything came together in a way that made every bread crumb feel intentional, and I really appreciated that we are able to get some “aha” moments.
The ending + epilogue definitely left me intrigued to see what happens next! I think this is a story that deserves a spot on everyone’s TBR. Everything came together nicely and I found myself fully immersed in the world and the mystery unfolding.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Beautifully Written and Completely Captivating
Full disclosure: the author is my daughter, so I began this book already incredibly proud of her. But once I started reading, I found myself caught up in the story as a reader.
A Crown of Thorned Fate has everything I enjoy in a fantasy romance: an intriguing world, magic and mystery, characters with real emotional depth, and a romance that develops naturally instead of feeling rushed. Elara is strong but still vulnerable, which made her easy to care about. Caelen is complicated, guarded, and frustrating at times, but that only made me want to understand him more.
I especially enjoyed the tension between Elara and Caelen. Their relationship builds slowly, with plenty of sharp exchanges, emotional moments, and chemistry along the way. The story also had enough secrets and unexpected turns to keep me wondering what would happen next.
The ending was emotional and left me with so many questions about where the story will go from here. I’m proud of my daughter for writing this book, of course, but I’m also genuinely impressed by the world and characters she created. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
Full disclosure: the author is my daughter, so I began this book already incredibly proud of her. But once I started reading, I found myself caught up in the story as a reader.
A Crown of Thorned Fate has everything I enjoy in a fantasy romance: an intriguing world, magic and mystery, characters with real emotional depth, and a romance that develops naturally instead of feeling rushed. Elara is strong but still vulnerable, which made her easy to care about. Caelen is complicated, guarded, and frustrating at times, but that only made me want to understand him more.
I especially enjoyed the tension between Elara and Caelen. Their relationship builds slowly, with plenty of sharp exchanges, emotional moments, and chemistry along the way. The story also had enough secrets and unexpected turns to keep me wondering what would happen next.
The ending was emotional and left me with so many questions about where the story will go from here. I’m proud of my daughter for writing this book, of course, but I’m also genuinely impressed by the world and characters she created. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Absolutely spellbinding — I’m obsessed
*A Crown of Thorned Fate* completely swept me away. This book is everything I crave in fantasy: lush, immersive world‑building, characters who feel achingly real, and emotional stakes that hit with full force. Every chapter pulled me deeper in until I was fully living inside the story.
The tension is razor‑sharp, the twists are explosive, and the character growth is phenomenal. I kept pausing just to savor certain lines because the writing is that beautiful. By the time I reached the end, I was buzzing — the kind of breathless, heart‑full feeling you only get from a truly special book.
If you love fantasy that’s rich, intense, and emotionally unforgettable, this is a masterpiece. I’m already itching to reread it.
*A Crown of Thorned Fate* completely swept me away. This book is everything I crave in fantasy: lush, immersive world‑building, characters who feel achingly real, and emotional stakes that hit with full force. Every chapter pulled me deeper in until I was fully living inside the story.
The tension is razor‑sharp, the twists are explosive, and the character growth is phenomenal. I kept pausing just to savor certain lines because the writing is that beautiful. By the time I reached the end, I was buzzing — the kind of breathless, heart‑full feeling you only get from a truly special book.
If you love fantasy that’s rich, intense, and emotionally unforgettable, this is a masterpiece. I’m already itching to reread it.
Review of advance copy
I was completely drawn into Elara’s story from the moment she was taken to the Thorn Court.
Her journey from a mortal healer to someone confronting a destiny far greater than she imagined was fascinating.
Caelen was the perfect counterpart to her.
Their tension was everything.
The enemies-to-lovers dynamic felt intense.
I loved their mysterious bond.
The Fae world was dark and intriguing.
The political intrigue kept things interesting.
The prophecy added depth.
The hidden secrets worked beautifully.
Elara stood out.
Caelen lingered.
The romance hit.
The stakes felt real.
I’m hooked.
Her journey from a mortal healer to someone confronting a destiny far greater than she imagined was fascinating.
Caelen was the perfect counterpart to her.
Their tension was everything.
The enemies-to-lovers dynamic felt intense.
I loved their mysterious bond.
The Fae world was dark and intriguing.
The political intrigue kept things interesting.
The prophecy added depth.
The hidden secrets worked beautifully.
Elara stood out.
Caelen lingered.
The romance hit.
The stakes felt real.
I’m hooked.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was an ARC reader for this book. I really liked the story and the characters. The sentient castle made me think of Beauty and the Beast's castle in some way. There were a few things along the way that could have been tweaked before the final version is coming out (some repetition that didn't really bother me but maybe could annoy other readers), I also think the Hollowed could have been more prominent or at least be explained a bit more in this book. Nonetheless I'm really looking forward to book 2 since there are still a lot of questions to be answered.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I have never read a book with such detailed world building. It took my imagination to a whole new level!
I really enjoyed most of it, but did find by the end I didn’t need so much description as the story, characters and worlds had been so thoroughly imagined. I loved the characters. The banter was great but could have done with a touch more spice.
I do look forward to more books in this series.
I really enjoyed most of it, but did find by the end I didn’t need so much description as the story, characters and worlds had been so thoroughly imagined. I loved the characters. The banter was great but could have done with a touch more spice.
I do look forward to more books in this series.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you K. C. Hawthorne for this advanced read. My experience and feedback are my own.
Cannot believe this is a debut. Magical. Never knew I wanted a sentient castle but there it is. The descriptions made the pages come alive in vivid color, or in some instances lack of, but it was beautiful nonetheless. Dark can be beautiful too. Mesmerizing even. Court intrigue in another realm between worlds. I really loved the world building and all of the magical elements in detail. Felt like going through a portal and actually being there, truly. Everything from scents, to magical baths and towels, halls, and walls, to floral and thorns, dark and light. This was unique and captivating. I have read many books with these tropes but this was spun with originality. Did not expect the twist-bravo!
Loved Caelen and Elara completely. Excited to see where this series goes.
Little Thorn. "Because from the moment I met you, you reminded me of one." "Small." "Sharp. Beautiful. Impossible to ignore. The harder anyone tried to hold you, the deeper you buried yourself beneath their skin."
Cannot believe this is a debut. Magical. Never knew I wanted a sentient castle but there it is. The descriptions made the pages come alive in vivid color, or in some instances lack of, but it was beautiful nonetheless. Dark can be beautiful too. Mesmerizing even. Court intrigue in another realm between worlds. I really loved the world building and all of the magical elements in detail. Felt like going through a portal and actually being there, truly. Everything from scents, to magical baths and towels, halls, and walls, to floral and thorns, dark and light. This was unique and captivating. I have read many books with these tropes but this was spun with originality. Did not expect the twist-bravo!
Loved Caelen and Elara completely. Excited to see where this series goes.
Little Thorn. "Because from the moment I met you, you reminded me of one." "Small." "Sharp. Beautiful. Impossible to ignore. The harder anyone tried to hold you, the deeper you buried yourself beneath their skin."
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