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Crowning Heaven
Heaven Cassidy has only ever wanted one a family. But when she opens a letter from her long-lost mother, she finds herself running for her life. Swept into a world of proud queens and ancient feuds, Heaven must decide whether her dream is worth taking on the responsibility of two kingdoms, one of which wants to crown her and the other to kill her.
452 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2018
2 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
About the author
Emily Hayse
13 books148 followersEMILY HAYSE is a lover of log cabins, strong coffee, NASCAR, and the smell of old books. Her writing is fueled by good characters and a lifelong passion for storytelling. When she is not busy turning words into worlds, she can often be found baking, singing, or caring for one of the many dogs and horses in her life. A native of Michigan, she currently resides in Southern California.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 25, 2018
~ I received a free advance review copy of this book, therefore all of the following opinions are my own ~
Crowning Heaven tells a familiar rags-to-riches tale, long-lost princess and all. Some might call it cliché, but I really never mind a cliché as long as it’s done well. On the whole, I think Crowning Heaven pulls it off rather successfully. I loved the world-building Hayse put into the two kingdoms that feature most prominently in the story, and all their differences in culture and patterns of thought. The latter is something that can easily be overlooked when creating a brand-new world, but the Rodhacarians were very different from their Castellani kin in familiar, realistic ways.
For example, the Rodhacarians are a fairly stoic, level-headed people that don’t believe in old superstitions. The Castellani are passionate, and more inclined to believe the old stories. The both have their “pros and cons,” so to speak, and while I agreed more with Rodhacarian thought, the Castellani were not all wrong, either.
I also loved the descriptions of the landscape, (and clothes)! Rodhacar seems to be a wild land, untamable and beautifully rugged. They also had the Fire Plains, something that reminded me a little of Bism from The Silver Chair, but on the surface of the earth, and minus salamanders, jewels, and gnomes. It was a unique twist to an otherwise very cold, stormy, Scandinavian sort of country.
The things I wasn’t so keen on basically boil down to Heaven’s utter acceptance of everything she’s told—especially in the beginning. She never once wondered if maybe, just maybe, these strangers weren’t telling the truth. She was also willing to marry simply because she was told to, and not necessarily for love. And she ended up picking a guy who could have been her father?? That seems a little odd to me. A strong female character doesn’t have to be a tail-kicker, but Heaven seemed to be too far on the other end of the spectrum. I appreciate the fact that gentleness was one of her best traits, but I sometimes wondered how they expected her to stand the strain of ruling a whole country.
Also, the dialogue came across a little stunted, a few parts could have been chopped to quicken the pace with no damage to the plot, and most of the characters seemed pretty similar. Granted, they all had different physical appearances and backgrounds, but their personalities could have been boosted a little. Wren, Athen, and Nic were probably the best developed out of all of them.
In closing, Crowning Heaven delivers a tried-and-true story: a high fantasy telling the story of a girl named Heaven, who suddenly finds herself leading a war between two countries. It’s a very clean tale all told, with Tolkien-esque elements, and I think Hayse shows great promise as a writer.
Crowning Heaven tells a familiar rags-to-riches tale, long-lost princess and all. Some might call it cliché, but I really never mind a cliché as long as it’s done well. On the whole, I think Crowning Heaven pulls it off rather successfully. I loved the world-building Hayse put into the two kingdoms that feature most prominently in the story, and all their differences in culture and patterns of thought. The latter is something that can easily be overlooked when creating a brand-new world, but the Rodhacarians were very different from their Castellani kin in familiar, realistic ways.
For example, the Rodhacarians are a fairly stoic, level-headed people that don’t believe in old superstitions. The Castellani are passionate, and more inclined to believe the old stories. The both have their “pros and cons,” so to speak, and while I agreed more with Rodhacarian thought, the Castellani were not all wrong, either.
I also loved the descriptions of the landscape, (and clothes)! Rodhacar seems to be a wild land, untamable and beautifully rugged. They also had the Fire Plains, something that reminded me a little of Bism from The Silver Chair, but on the surface of the earth, and minus salamanders, jewels, and gnomes. It was a unique twist to an otherwise very cold, stormy, Scandinavian sort of country.
The things I wasn’t so keen on basically boil down to Heaven’s utter acceptance of everything she’s told—especially in the beginning. She never once wondered if maybe, just maybe, these strangers weren’t telling the truth. She was also willing to marry simply because she was told to, and not necessarily for love. And she ended up picking a guy who could have been her father?? That seems a little odd to me. A strong female character doesn’t have to be a tail-kicker, but Heaven seemed to be too far on the other end of the spectrum. I appreciate the fact that gentleness was one of her best traits, but I sometimes wondered how they expected her to stand the strain of ruling a whole country.
Also, the dialogue came across a little stunted, a few parts could have been chopped to quicken the pace with no damage to the plot, and most of the characters seemed pretty similar. Granted, they all had different physical appearances and backgrounds, but their personalities could have been boosted a little. Wren, Athen, and Nic were probably the best developed out of all of them.
In closing, Crowning Heaven delivers a tried-and-true story: a high fantasy telling the story of a girl named Heaven, who suddenly finds herself leading a war between two countries. It’s a very clean tale all told, with Tolkien-esque elements, and I think Hayse shows great promise as a writer.
June 7, 2018
A solid debut from a promising new author, Crowning Heaven called to mind for me both Jennifer Nielsen and Queen Victoria.
Heaven, a young woman raised on earth, finds herself caught between kingdoms when she is whisked through a portal (here called a "star-road") and learns that she was the result of a forbidden marriage between the monarchs of two rival nations. With her parents now dead, Heaven is rightful heir to two opposing thrones, and the only person who might unite her parents' peoples... if they don't kill her first.
Crowning Heaven is often ambitious in its stakes and scope. The timeline of the story definitely feels like it could have been stretched into a series, but readers will appreciate that the author did not endlessly prolong the story just to make more books. This has all the gravitas of an epic series, but also has a beginning, middle and end - perfect summer reading for anyone looking for a standalone fantasy adventure.
In true fashion of epic fantasy, there are a LOT of characters to follow - especially in the middle act as new faces continue to join the company - which could daunt some readers, but many of these characters take interesting turns in the third act, and the large cast is worth following.
On that note, this book surprised me multiple times, and it is really rare that a book can do that. There were several twists I truly did not see coming, and even a romance/marriage subplot involving multiple suitors unfolds in a truly unexpected way and never devolves into annoying YA romance tropes.
This book reminds me of Jennifer Nielsen in that it called to mind what I love about The False Prince - fantastical but nonmagical setting, court intrigue, and plot twists. And Heaven calls to mind the young Queen Victoria... called on to reign, she struggles against not only the doubts of her new subjects, but also her own self-doubts as she ascends to rule.
If you love YA fantasy but you need a break from long series, this is a great standalone, and I am eager to read whatever the author writes next!
Heaven, a young woman raised on earth, finds herself caught between kingdoms when she is whisked through a portal (here called a "star-road") and learns that she was the result of a forbidden marriage between the monarchs of two rival nations. With her parents now dead, Heaven is rightful heir to two opposing thrones, and the only person who might unite her parents' peoples... if they don't kill her first.
Crowning Heaven is often ambitious in its stakes and scope. The timeline of the story definitely feels like it could have been stretched into a series, but readers will appreciate that the author did not endlessly prolong the story just to make more books. This has all the gravitas of an epic series, but also has a beginning, middle and end - perfect summer reading for anyone looking for a standalone fantasy adventure.
In true fashion of epic fantasy, there are a LOT of characters to follow - especially in the middle act as new faces continue to join the company - which could daunt some readers, but many of these characters take interesting turns in the third act, and the large cast is worth following.
On that note, this book surprised me multiple times, and it is really rare that a book can do that. There were several twists I truly did not see coming, and even a romance/marriage subplot involving multiple suitors unfolds in a truly unexpected way and never devolves into annoying YA romance tropes.
This book reminds me of Jennifer Nielsen in that it called to mind what I love about The False Prince - fantastical but nonmagical setting, court intrigue, and plot twists. And Heaven calls to mind the young Queen Victoria... called on to reign, she struggles against not only the doubts of her new subjects, but also her own self-doubts as she ascends to rule.
If you love YA fantasy but you need a break from long series, this is a great standalone, and I am eager to read whatever the author writes next!
July 12, 2018
This book is so totally out of my usual genres, so I am really surprised I liked it! Kudos to the author!
The worldbuilding was so well done; descriptive enough I could picture this entirely new world, so different from earth. But not too descriptive that I got lost. The plot, while probably slightly cliche, was still incredibly enjoyable and unique to me. It had enough of its own quirks and uniquenesses that I didn't find it cliche at all. Full of twists and turns, it kept me in my seat and turning pages into the wee hours of the morning. There were several plot twists that had me completely shocked (which is hard to do).
The characters were so unique and adorable, and I loved them all! (Well, most of them.) From Heaven to Swift, to Nic, to Thrasi (<3), to Willow. (Breac and Thrasi were two of my favorites!) All were so one-of-a-kind. There were a few times I mixed up a couple of the background characters, as there were some similar names, but it didn't draw me out of the story too much. The MC, Heaven, is such a realistic and relatable character, struggling with her new position and knowledge, yet handling it with great grace.
Then the ships. *major spoilers: read at your own risk*
Overall, this was an incredible debut from Emily Hayse! I definitely look forward to reading more by this talented author! Highly recommended!
The worldbuilding was so well done; descriptive enough I could picture this entirely new world, so different from earth. But not too descriptive that I got lost. The plot, while probably slightly cliche, was still incredibly enjoyable and unique to me. It had enough of its own quirks and uniquenesses that I didn't find it cliche at all. Full of twists and turns, it kept me in my seat and turning pages into the wee hours of the morning. There were several plot twists that had me completely shocked (which is hard to do).
The characters were so unique and adorable, and I loved them all! (Well, most of them.) From Heaven to Swift, to Nic, to Thrasi (<3), to Willow. (Breac and Thrasi were two of my favorites!) All were so one-of-a-kind. There were a few times I mixed up a couple of the background characters, as there were some similar names, but it didn't draw me out of the story too much. The MC, Heaven, is such a realistic and relatable character, struggling with her new position and knowledge, yet handling it with great grace.
Then the ships. *major spoilers: read at your own risk*
Overall, this was an incredible debut from Emily Hayse! I definitely look forward to reading more by this talented author! Highly recommended!
December 3, 2018
Oh my goodness, I loved this book! I'm going to write a more detailed review soon, but for right now, I'm rating this 4.5 stars.
I'm just gonna go cry myself to sleep now...
I'm just gonna go cry myself to sleep now...
December 30, 2019
This wasn't quite what I expected going in, but I still quite enjoyed it!
The general outline is a familiar story: Earth girl discovers she's a lost princess set to inherit the throne on another planet. What I appreciated in Crowning Heaven was the attention to detail in developing the three major cultures, especially in having different characters epitomize those cultures in different ways. I especially enjoyed the different speech patterns that revealed the backgrounds of the characters and watching Heaven's speech change the more time she spent in Rodhacar (particularly when she code-switched around her friends who had spent time on Earth).
There is a large cast of characters. Hayse does well differentiating them, but at times I wished there were fewer so that I could have gotten to know them a bit better. That is also a testament to how well-done they were, because I did like them all enough to wish for more time. I also wished Heaven had found more female friends in Rodhacar, maybe sisters of the boys she befriended, but that is merely personal preference.
The pacing is gracefully well-managed, with awareness of how much time would need to pass for Heaven's growth, for travel, for battles, etc. but without getting bogged down. As I think this is a standalone book, I would have liked a bit more denouement at the end to see the lasting ramifications the story's resolution.
I look forward to more by Hayse! If you like lost princesses, well-developed cultures, and lovable supporting casts, go read Crowning Heaven.
The general outline is a familiar story: Earth girl discovers she's a lost princess set to inherit the throne on another planet. What I appreciated in Crowning Heaven was the attention to detail in developing the three major cultures, especially in having different characters epitomize those cultures in different ways. I especially enjoyed the different speech patterns that revealed the backgrounds of the characters and watching Heaven's speech change the more time she spent in Rodhacar (particularly when she code-switched around her friends who had spent time on Earth).
There is a large cast of characters. Hayse does well differentiating them, but at times I wished there were fewer so that I could have gotten to know them a bit better. That is also a testament to how well-done they were, because I did like them all enough to wish for more time. I also wished Heaven had found more female friends in Rodhacar, maybe sisters of the boys she befriended, but that is merely personal preference.
The pacing is gracefully well-managed, with awareness of how much time would need to pass for Heaven's growth, for travel, for battles, etc. but without getting bogged down. As I think this is a standalone book, I would have liked a bit more denouement at the end to see the lasting ramifications the story's resolution.
I look forward to more by Hayse! If you like lost princesses, well-developed cultures, and lovable supporting casts, go read Crowning Heaven.
January 1, 2019
Crowning Heaven introduces a complex fantasy world at war, and a young woman seeking a place to belong as she works to bring peace.
The story moves quickly, starting moments before Heaven's life takes a turn far beyond anything she could have imagined. I really liked how Heaven took to her role as heiress—it happens quickly, but she approaches the situation with plans to do her best and hopes of bringing peace to the countries that are unfamiliar but also a part of her.
It took me a while to remember all of the characters, since the cast is pretty large, and to feel like I had a grasp on how the world worked, and sometimes I found myself wishing there was just a little more to the layers of the story and the characters. But once I was more familiar with each character and their roles to their homelands, I truly enjoyed seeing the world through their eyes and Heaven's, and wanted to see how things would play out. (Definitely some surprises there!)
Overall, Crowning Heaven is a unique and entertaining fantasy story!
The story moves quickly, starting moments before Heaven's life takes a turn far beyond anything she could have imagined. I really liked how Heaven took to her role as heiress—it happens quickly, but she approaches the situation with plans to do her best and hopes of bringing peace to the countries that are unfamiliar but also a part of her.
It took me a while to remember all of the characters, since the cast is pretty large, and to feel like I had a grasp on how the world worked, and sometimes I found myself wishing there was just a little more to the layers of the story and the characters. But once I was more familiar with each character and their roles to their homelands, I truly enjoyed seeing the world through their eyes and Heaven's, and wanted to see how things would play out. (Definitely some surprises there!)
Overall, Crowning Heaven is a unique and entertaining fantasy story!
December 27, 2025
A wonderfully classic fantasy, peopled with men so brave, so noble it makes your heart ache. There’s loyalty and treachery, fighting hard for what is good, and so much loss. But it’s beautiful, even in the grief.
It’s a good sized cast, and even though most didn’t get much page time, they all left a mark, with their own unique flair. I grew quite fond of all of them, but Tyr and Athen most of all—strong, quiet men, who protected and supported Heaven through it all without a thought for themselves.
Such a lovely read, and I enjoyed immensely my time soaking in this world and its people!
It’s a good sized cast, and even though most didn’t get much page time, they all left a mark, with their own unique flair. I grew quite fond of all of them, but Tyr and Athen most of all—strong, quiet men, who protected and supported Heaven through it all without a thought for themselves.
Such a lovely read, and I enjoyed immensely my time soaking in this world and its people!
December 27, 2025
Oh, my gosh! This was so beautiful! I'm not usually a portal-fantasy fan, but this book (the first by one of my newest favorite authors Emily Hayse), kept drawing me that I snagged a copy from a library.
And oh, how I fell in love with this incredible story of Heaven as she embarks on an incredible journey to claiming her birthright as queen of two kingdoms divided by an ancient feuds, "one of which wants to crown her and the other to kill her". This held my attention captive for several days (my heart pounding) until I couldn't fall asleep until I finally reached the end!
Hayse is so incredibly gifted in introducing so many unforgettable characters from different cultures! And the plot twists that made my jaw drop (especially about a certain man who won't be named). And oh how my heart was wrought by so many emotions portrayed in this book, especially in the midst of war. And yet, it's a beautiful book about courage, hope, loyalty, and doing the right thing.
And oh, how I fell in love with this incredible story of Heaven as she embarks on an incredible journey to claiming her birthright as queen of two kingdoms divided by an ancient feuds, "one of which wants to crown her and the other to kill her". This held my attention captive for several days (my heart pounding) until I couldn't fall asleep until I finally reached the end!
Hayse is so incredibly gifted in introducing so many unforgettable characters from different cultures! And the plot twists that made my jaw drop (especially about a certain man who won't be named). And oh how my heart was wrought by so many emotions portrayed in this book, especially in the midst of war. And yet, it's a beautiful book about courage, hope, loyalty, and doing the right thing.
April 30, 2021
This book is beautiful.
Despite having very little actual magic or fantasy elements, it reads like a high fantasy: intrigue, warring nations, ancient myths, and moments of doom and soaring hope. The writing style itself has a high fantasy feel to it, and the whole story is just beautifully tragic. Emily Hayse has a way of capturing life in little moments of time that is both real and grounded and captures the magic of being alive.
Heaven is a thoroughly likeable main character: her struggles, while larger-than-life in a sense, feel relatable and tug at the reader’s heartstrings. All the other characters—Tia, Jani, Nic (ah, *him*), Breac, Thrasi, Athen, and so many others—are vivid and interesting and unique, all with their own voices and personalities that jump off the page. Even the smaller characters are painted in lifelike strokes, and you get the feeling you’re simply looking in on their lives.
The plot isn’t necessarily action heavy, mostly because Heaven isn’t an action heroine—it’s more of an intrigue-focused book with some good twists and a lot of tension and a thoroughly villainous villain. (Seriously, I loved her in a villain sort of way.) And some really, really beautiful moments.
This book made me cry. And that’s a compliment.
Despite having very little actual magic or fantasy elements, it reads like a high fantasy: intrigue, warring nations, ancient myths, and moments of doom and soaring hope. The writing style itself has a high fantasy feel to it, and the whole story is just beautifully tragic. Emily Hayse has a way of capturing life in little moments of time that is both real and grounded and captures the magic of being alive.
Heaven is a thoroughly likeable main character: her struggles, while larger-than-life in a sense, feel relatable and tug at the reader’s heartstrings. All the other characters—Tia, Jani, Nic (ah, *him*), Breac, Thrasi, Athen, and so many others—are vivid and interesting and unique, all with their own voices and personalities that jump off the page. Even the smaller characters are painted in lifelike strokes, and you get the feeling you’re simply looking in on their lives.
The plot isn’t necessarily action heavy, mostly because Heaven isn’t an action heroine—it’s more of an intrigue-focused book with some good twists and a lot of tension and a thoroughly villainous villain. (Seriously, I loved her in a villain sort of way.) And some really, really beautiful moments.
This book made me cry. And that’s a compliment.
August 19, 2019
Really fun portal fantasy book! Emily Hayes writes in an older style, which reminded me a lot of books I loved growing up, and I just adored getting that feel from this book!
Lost royalty is one of my favorite tropes, and Heaven Cassidy is such a great character. She's way more level headed about the whole situation than I would have been though, let's be honest. lol! There's escapes, political intrigue, battles, and all of the amazing guy characters!
Seriously, I'm just ready for an entire book on Athen, because he's the best and you can't change my mind!
The book started a little slow, but once I got into the main storyline, I read most of the book in a day because I couldn't put it down! Some sad bits at the end that I totally didn't see coming, but it's all about war and sacrifice, and willing to do anything for the cause you believe in and it was kind of beautiful.
I really enjoyed the book, and feel like it's going to be one of those books that I'll pull out on a rainy day or cloudy winter day to curl up and read again!
Lost royalty is one of my favorite tropes, and Heaven Cassidy is such a great character. She's way more level headed about the whole situation than I would have been though, let's be honest. lol! There's escapes, political intrigue, battles, and all of the amazing guy characters!
Seriously, I'm just ready for an entire book on Athen, because he's the best and you can't change my mind!
The book started a little slow, but once I got into the main storyline, I read most of the book in a day because I couldn't put it down! Some sad bits at the end that I totally didn't see coming, but it's all about war and sacrifice, and willing to do anything for the cause you believe in and it was kind of beautiful.
I really enjoyed the book, and feel like it's going to be one of those books that I'll pull out on a rainy day or cloudy winter day to curl up and read again!
May 22, 2018
Sorry- jumbled dry mess
1. The bare bones of the story is here, but the heroine does very very little- a speech, a song and saves one person.
2. Characters are introduced and killed just for shock value. First time it happened I thought ok the author is surprising, but when it happened for the 10th time.
3. Please name all the characters called by someone plain woman is odd, even with your explanation
4. One country is so much weaker than the other makes me wonder why they haven’t been conquered already.
5. The book pr viably could’ve been a two book series just so we could have some character development and see what the countries are really like. World building needed to be better.
Spoilers
5. The villains only loses due to an act of extreme stupidity
1. The bare bones of the story is here, but the heroine does very very little- a speech, a song and saves one person.
2. Characters are introduced and killed just for shock value. First time it happened I thought ok the author is surprising, but when it happened for the 10th time.
3. Please name all the characters called by someone plain woman is odd, even with your explanation
4. One country is so much weaker than the other makes me wonder why they haven’t been conquered already.
5. The book pr viably could’ve been a two book series just so we could have some character development and see what the countries are really like. World building needed to be better.
Spoilers
5. The villains only loses due to an act of extreme stupidity
September 21, 2021
Loved this coming-of-age, Christian portal fantasy. If you're looking for a good noblebright read, pick this one. I enjoyed the friendships that the MC built with the people around her, and I liked the resolution to the conflict, although I wish that the book had been a bit longer, because I think it would have benefited from some more exploration of a few characters. Overall I enjoyed it and would read it again.
March 5, 2019
A thoroughly enjoyable and captivating read! It started a bit slow, but it took off like a rocket about a third of the way through and I couldn't put it down. Some of the relationships felt a bit rushed, but overall it was a great adventure!
March 9, 2020
Amazing story and very real characters!! I couldn't stop reading!!
February 7, 2021
An action-packed tale of bravery and sacrifice full of loveable characters and surprising twists!
September 28, 2022
3.5 stars
Good world building, interesting characters that learned and changed. Plenty of action and surprises.
Good world building, interesting characters that learned and changed. Plenty of action and surprises.
December 29, 2024
This book was enjoyable to read but felt a little rushed. It was just okay for me. I didn't love it but I also didn't dislike it.
July 5, 2021
I have mixed feelings about this book. Much of it reminded me of my own writing, especially the style of voicing. It felt like something I'd written, even if the story itself wasn't something I'd ever think of. And like many of my early drafts, the characters are sadly not as deep as Emily's other works, but I still love them. I still ship Heaven with Thrasi (or even Athens), regardless of how the book ended. I really hate the ending and love it at the same time. This is such a beautiful story and has such a beautiful message. But I might just have to wait a year or more before rereading because I need to let my heart heal after being broken so many times in this book...
On another note, why is it that all my favorite authors kill the angelic characters that deserve to live? *sobs*
On another note, why is it that all my favorite authors kill the angelic characters that deserve to live? *sobs*
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews