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To Crown A Traitor
669 pages, Paperback
Published June 24, 2026
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July 14, 2026
I have been so excited to see that book 2 of the “What Lies Between Stars” duology was coming out! I ARC read “To Kill a Prince” last year and fell in love with both Cassiel and Wren. It’s so rare for me to get equally attached to both MCs, but I felt these two were perfectly matched. Both are very selfless and devoted to the people they love, but also truly care about the greater good. Which I actually found quite refreshing.
To Crown a Traitor picks up a few months after the dramatic end of the last book. I won’t go into any details (because, spoilers!), but Wren is alone, believed a traitor by both sides, and forced to hide because of the bounty on her head. Cassiel is holding the reigns of a kingdom he never wanted, angry and heartbroken.
In case you haven’t guessed already, the pining and angst in that first part of the book is about as good as it gets. 10/10, no notes.
My favourite part is the middle of the book, when Cassiel and Wren are thrown together by a quest of sorts, and a new dynamic gradually emerges. If the first book’s main trope was prince x guard, then this second tome veers sharply towards the stars-crossed lovers territory.
The supporting cast remains wonderful, very nuanced and multi-dimensional. All the characters’ psychology and motives are relatable and well-portrayed. The world-building is beautifully done : coherent, queer-normative, and vividly rendered.
Special kudos to the author for the very nice thread of foreshadowing that makes the eventual resolution all the more satisfying, if maybe less of a surprise.
To sum up my impressions of this duology: the original plot bunny grabbed me immediately, but it’s the writing that makes it a real favourite. Highly recommend adding this to your TBR! As for me, I’ll be reading another one of Macdonald’s duologies: The Girl Who Fell through time. Looking forward to it!
To Crown a Traitor picks up a few months after the dramatic end of the last book. I won’t go into any details (because, spoilers!), but Wren is alone, believed a traitor by both sides, and forced to hide because of the bounty on her head. Cassiel is holding the reigns of a kingdom he never wanted, angry and heartbroken.
In case you haven’t guessed already, the pining and angst in that first part of the book is about as good as it gets. 10/10, no notes.
My favourite part is the middle of the book, when Cassiel and Wren are thrown together by a quest of sorts, and a new dynamic gradually emerges. If the first book’s main trope was prince x guard, then this second tome veers sharply towards the stars-crossed lovers territory.
The supporting cast remains wonderful, very nuanced and multi-dimensional. All the characters’ psychology and motives are relatable and well-portrayed. The world-building is beautifully done : coherent, queer-normative, and vividly rendered.
Special kudos to the author for the very nice thread of foreshadowing that makes the eventual resolution all the more satisfying, if maybe less of a surprise.
To sum up my impressions of this duology: the original plot bunny grabbed me immediately, but it’s the writing that makes it a real favourite. Highly recommend adding this to your TBR! As for me, I’ll be reading another one of Macdonald’s duologies: The Girl Who Fell through time. Looking forward to it!
Displaying 1 of 1 review