Crisanta Knight: To Death & Back

Crisanta Knight #5

by Geanna Culbertson

And here I thought saving one realm was enough to fill up my to-do list.

Following the revelation that the antagonists were after the location of all of Book's genies, my friends and I knew our Wonderland road trip was far from over. With the magic fluctuation event known as the Vicennalia Aurora days away, antagonists and magic hunters hot on our tail, and my treacherous brother Alex and I in competition to claim Excalibur, matters were becoming larger-than-life very quickly.

I was one of those matters. My Pure Magic powers of life were growing incomparably strong. As I discovered the extent of my abilities, I was being tempted by the corruption that came with them. But how could I stop? Camelot's terrain was unlike anything we'd ever encountered. From evil kings to bloodlusting Bluebeards to the Questor Beast, I needed my magic now more than ever. This world and so many others depended on me.

And yet, as my friends and I ran against the clock, our enemies, and the prophecies of the future that pursued us like hungry shadows, I'd come to learn one thing with absolute certainty. One thing that I would keep learning again and again. In a world where my beliefs about goodness and morality were being tested, and my soul was at stake, it was not my abilities of life that were my most valuable strength; it was my friends.

They were my greatest source of magic.

The Crisanta Knight series

Book 1 - Protagonist Bound;
Book 2 - The Severance Game;
Book 3 - Inherent Fate;
Book 4 - The Liar, The Witch, & The Wormhole;
Book 5 (to be released in April of 2019) - To Death & Back.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

440 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2019

About the author

Geanna Culbertson is the award-winning author of The Crisanta Knight Series, a fairytale fantasy epic told from the empowering perspective of Cinderella’s daughter. Since Book One’s release in May 2016, the series has won many awards, including a Mom’s Choice Award for best family-friendly media, a Living Now Choice Award for “best lifestyle and world-changing books” in adventure fiction, a Benjamin Franklin Award for best books in Teen Fiction, and many more.

Culbertson graduated USC with the Discovery Scholar honors thesis "Beauty & the Badass: The Origins of the Hero-Princess Archetype." Her passion for both hero and princess main characters sent her on a quest to understand the core pillars of the hero-princess, and in accordance, create a unique series that captures these ideals while also exploring themes such as the power of change, taking fate into your own hands, self-acceptance, trust, the morality of taking life vs. mercy, love interest dynamics, and more.

Culbertson and her series are proud sponsors of various nonprofits including Girls on the Run, Read to a Child, and Girl Scouts. Culbertson is a strong advocate of the missions of these organizations and first got involved with Girls on the Run because of their shared vision of “a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential.” The Crisanta Knight series has been featured in Girls’ Life Magazine as recommended reading for preteen and teen girls. And Culbertson is a regular speaker at schools for an array of age groups (from elementary schools to major universities). She has also given keynote speeches and spoken on panels at many book festivals and bookseller conventions. Her series (six books released as of November 2019) has earned acclaim in 16 countries.

In addition to authoring The Crisanta Knight Series, Culbertson is a full-time manager at a leading digital marketing firm, representing over 25 clients from an array of industries. When Culbertson is not working or writing, she can likely be found at her local karate studio (she is a black belt), getting into shenanigans with her closest friends, or exploring delicious foods across the land!

Reviews

[Riddhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fifth book of the series is the best one I have read so far. The adventure and the fight between protagonists and antagonists continues. Crisa is the most admirable character. The book has action, adventure and lot of mystery. The quest for Excalibur is not easy and the journey is very exciting to read. I love this book and can't wait for the next book.

[Natasha den Dekker · Rating 4 out of 5]

** I won this book as part of a competition and this is an honest review**

This series gets better and better and there are some sequences that would be excellent on film/small screen IMO. (I'm thinking about the scene in the ballroom is reminiscent of the card scene in Now You See Me 2). The story progresses A LOT and more so than the other books, there's a lot of character development for everyone around Crisanta as well which was nice to see, 5 books in and I'm glad I get to see how other characters are faring on this madcap adventure. The crossing between worlds reminded me of the Hat in Once Upon a Time (it shouldn't but it does!). Most importantly, the best thing about this series is that I it's a proper old-school page-turner and now I want the next one.

One of the best storylines, was Crisanta's feelings about killing and hurting people and how this effects her magic, I think that this is something that is going to develop and it's interesting to see how it divides the group i.e. end justifies the means/self defense vs. IT'S ALWAYS WRONG.

[Angel (Bookn.All.Night) · Rating 5 out of 5]

As one thing after another piles on top of the already ever-expanding quest...the group now makes their way from Oz to Camelot in search of Excalibur.

In order to retrieve the memories that show where the genies of Book are held so they can thwart the antagonists and keep their realm safe ... Crisa, SJ, Blue, Daniel and Jason must journey to Avalon and suffer through peril, chaos, magic hunters, traps, death ... you name it. All in a day's work 🤣🤣

Of course appearances from Bluebeard (so not what you think), Merlin, Gweneviere and The Lady of the Lake help to keep the geek factor going for me. Throw in the witty remarks that kept me laughing, the personal growth and life lessons that slow you down and hit the heart, and the sheer power of friendship portrayed and holy cow what a journey.

This is absolutely one of my new favorite series. Tears will fall when I have to turn the last page that will finish off this journey 🤣🤣

[Ileana Renfroe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 5th book out of an expected 8th series story. The story is about Crisanta Knight the protagonist who comes from a world called “Book”. This magical world has a mysterious prophet and each book starts with a prologue prophecy.

This is an easy enjoyable book to read. It definitely encompasses adventure and mystery. What happens to Alex, Arian, and Mauvrey in the end? Does The Lady of the Lake send Daniel, Jason, and Crisanta back? What about the Four Waters of Paradise? You have to read the book to find out, but I highly recommend it. Some questions get answered while others leaving hanging, knowing they will probably be revealed in the next book. Can’t wait for the next installment.

[Living My Best Book Life · Rating 4 out of 5]

To Death & Back was a thrilling and enchanting YA novel that gave a unique twist to known characters from fairytales. This is book 5 in the series and was my first time reading a book by Geanna. I'm so glad I read this book because it reminded me about how great the YA genre can be!

I loved being introduced to Crisanta Knight. She was powerful, confident, and a leader. In this book, she is on a journey to claim Excalibur. There are lots of scary, magical, and all-around enjoyable moments in this book.

Geanna Culbertson did an amazing job at surrounding Crisanta with amazing supporting characters. Together they made the story fun and fresh!

Overall, I give To Death & Back 4 stars. It is a great YA/fantasy novel that mixes both the light and dark sides of a fairytale.

[Elinor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really really enjoyed this book!
I got sent it by geanna and hadn't read the first four books but still loved this one. I think because I hadn't read the others it took me a while longer to get into the book but once I did it was pretty fast flowing.
I love all the relationships between characters and I thought the worlds were really cool and I loved the story arc and the ending was really sudden and now I want to read the next book!
I'm a big fan of the Merlin TV show so loved the Camelot setting too!

[Jeanna Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 5th book did not disappoint. There was lots of action, questions answered and questions leaving the reader wanting more. I'm really enjoying Crisanta's adventure even if it's going to take a couple years to finish, I'll be waiting.

[Rachel Brantley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another awesome Crisanta episode!!

I was so SHOOK when I got to the end!! I NEED MORE! 😫 This story has kept me going for a while now. Its going to be hard waiting for the next one ..

[Kathryn Rossati · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual with this series, this book was a blast! I loved every moment of it and can't wait until the next is released!

[Chiara | wordsbychiara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Walking into a series with its fifth book is a new experience for me, but seen that the author claims the books in the Crisanta Knight series can be enjoyed as standalones, I decided to try To Death and Back because of its core theme: Arthurian lore. I love stories about King Arthur and Camelot, but I rarely consume any books on the topic and this seemed like the perfect opportunity.

TO DEATH AND BACK starts off with a detailed description of previous important events and I found that really helpful to get a feel of the story I was walking into. In To Death and Back, Crisanta and her friends are on a quest to claim Excalibur before the “antagonists” (among whom is her brother). To do so, they venture to Camelot, but during their adventure Crisanta must also face her growing powers of Pure Magic which could lead her on the road to corruption. These trials constantly challenge Crisanta and force her to question herself and her morality…but to find out what happens, you’ll have to read the book!

So let’s start with the obvious question: can To Death and Back be read without reading the previous four books in the series? The simple answer is yes. The author provides not only the aforementioned introduction, but paragraphs within the book itself to briefly explain characters, prophecies, relationships and anything that the reader might otherwise not understand. I can’t speak for the other books, but this one was easily read on its own. Despite this, I do feel like I might have appreciated some character dynamics more if I’d been following them from the start but it didn’t impact my overall enjoyment of the story.

I was very happy with the world-building of this novel. The Crisanta Knight characters draw from fairytales that we all know. Crisanta, for example, is Cinderella’s daughter. Her friends SJ, Blue and Jason are related to Snow White, Red Riding Hood and Jack and the Beanstalk. The way the author was able to bring so many different stories together and create a vast universe in which stories had a limitless potential was really interesting and I could feel the whimsicality I love so much of fairytales in every page.

The cast of characters was also very interesting. I loved seeing Culbertson’s interpretation of the characters belonging to Arthurian lore (Merlin in particular, because he reminded me so much of Disney’s Sword in the Stone, which is one of my favorite movies!), but I especially loved Crisanta’s group of friends. Even without reading the previous installments, I could feel the genuine love that connects these characters and was able to navigate their dynamics quite easily. My favorites? Crisanta and Daniel, of course. My ship senses are tingling.

The many action scenes, the fast pace and the fun tone of the story make it the perfect read for readers of any age, but I find it particularly indicated for younger audiences. If you love fairytales, definitely give this series a shot!

Thank you to the author for sending me a copy! All opinions are my own.

[Cassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You know, Daniel taught me something a long time ago, he showed me that asking for help doesn’t make you helpless. Relying on other people doesn’t mean you’re weak; it means you trust someone else as much as you trust yourself.”

Following the previous books, the fifth instalment picks up where the last story arc has left. With the Vicennalia Aurora approaching soon, the stakes have never been higher. Crossing realms and fighting for different people, Crisa and her friends race against the clock to claim the famous Excalibur against her brother and the antagonists. Will she be able to check all the boxes on her to-do list and save lives?

The author never stops impressing the readers with her works. Like I have said before, the fifth book in the series is equally as gripping as the previous books, if not more. As the plot unfolds with a ticking clock, I find myself on the edge of my seat. The spell-binding storyline, complex and fully-fledged characters, meaningful messages.

The author is remarkably skilled at delivering messages. This time we explore the moral ambiguity of taking life. Crisa suffers a lot with this topic given how easy it is for her to cross the Malice Line. Should we kill villains? Are they “faceless, nameless numbers that you can destroy to balance out some abstract scale of good and evil”? Is it fine to be morally grey? Those are great food for thought. On the other hand, Crisa is acing the hero-princess vibe saving people wherever she goes disregarding herself. Despite (or especially with) her flaws, she is an inspiring person worth looking up to. The book is refreshing and motivates readers to become better persons.

This time Crisa and her friends are going to Camelot, a famous realm known with the rise of King Arthur. Not only do Gwenivere and Morgan La Fay show up, but also Merlin, and the Bluebeards. I am riveted by the exciting scenes and important realisation of Crisa’s power. Arian clearly did not see that coming. I just hope Crisa will be there to save Jason twice. I do not want him to die the second time (in the story). Anyway, every part of the story is deeply engrossing like the previous books.

On the other hand, the Kai’s entrance is unavoidable and holds significance to the story. She heightens the complexities of the story (a lot) and makes the story more exciting and intense.
I still think a lot about the result brought by Kai in the story. Apart from that, Blue’s heroic behaviour allowing her to acquire monster powers is also of much importance to the story. It makes Jason’s death inevitable and foreshadows the later “twist”.

Moreover, it goes without saying that the characters appeal a lot to me. Multi-dimensional, complex, realistic, they endear themselves to us with their personality, actions and motives. Fully flawed, the characters are relatable and inspire us to improve like them. Their weaknesses are what makes their strengths shine. Unconventional, rebellious, sassy, and stepping into the morally grey area, Crisa is also smart, resourceful, strong, brave and loyal. She lives up to her hero-princess dream and motivates others to do the same. Similarly, SJ, Blue, Jason, Daniel and a lot of other characters have their own special personality traits and complexities that draw us to them. They are all fully fledged characters that make readers feel totally invested in the story, which is one of the most impressive parts of the story.
Every well-read person knows that conflicts are essential to a great story. I feel compelled by the story's unrelenting conflicts. Numerous internal struggles and external conflicts brew like a stew and scale up Crisa’s challenges. The suspense keeps the reader glued to the book.

Without a doubt, the book is a must-read as well as the other books in the series and I highly recommend you to read it. I encourage people of all ages and from all walks of life to read it and appreciate it. The series will thoroughly entertain fantasy lovers and readers of the Harry Potter and the School for Good and Evil will certainly enjoy this book. Beautifully-written and inspiring, never cliché or mundane.

In short, I hope I have successfully persuaded you to read the series after reading this book review. I sincerely hope that you will fall in love with the series and treasure it as much as I do. It is original, captivating and awe-inspiring. I would like to express my gratitude to the author for writing such an amazing series. She is an inspiration.

“Now I know better. The person you love should not make you want to settle for the easiest version of yourself. They should make you want to be the best you can be.”

[Kym's Open Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cinderella’s kid, combat boots, swords and magic? Sign me up! This book has all the adventure anybody could want! Book is an enchanted realm with the children of our favorite fairy tales; Cinderella, Snow White, Red Riding Hood and more.

This is book 5 in a series and I was thrown right into fighting and excitement. I picked this one because it has a weapon on the front (totally my jam) and more importantly, I couldn’t pass up a story about King Arthur. Which might I add, in my head he totally had the voice of Sean Connery from First Knight which I haven’t seen in years! I did not complain. Best voice ever!

I loved getting thrown right in and meeting Crisanta and King Arthur and her friends but with this being book 5, I felt left out of the adventures I missed of Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz and so many more. The previous books sound just as exciting and Culbertson has an incredible imagination that just kept running.

It’s easy to see the loyalty and love Crisanta and her friends have for one another but also to protect the realm. I was thrown through one adventure after the next and never felt a lull.

It’s easy to read and not be confused about the previous books. There are periodic stories that come back into play and there is an explanation to keep the reader up to speed. At times these were large info dumps and I learned to just keep reading and not try to remember everything because I rarely felt lost. I wish I could’ve had more Sean Connery… I mean, King Arthur, but I believe he is more present in other books.

In my content review, the violence is very high. Don’t let this scare you off. There is a lot of fighting but not a lot of blood or detail that some would find offensive. There are a few more intense scenes with death or blood but details are still minimal.

I recommend this for young readers wanting to get into YA or anyone able to read this long of a book. Those that love adventure and a fast-paced story will love this.

Thank you to Geanna Culbertson for the opportunity to review her book in exchange for an honest review.

[Lois (thecarrotstories) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another awesome book from the Crisanta Knight series! The adventures just kept coming one after another and not one disappointed me.

This time the story was mostly set in Camelot as the group of heroes and princesses set out to claim Excalibur. Being a magical and enchanted realm with kings, knights, wizards and witches, the story was definitely very exciting.

It was a fun read with a suspenseful plot that kept me wanting more. A great book to pick up to come out of a reading slump. I would most certainly recommend this book to all readers out there who loves a good adventure.

I am, once again, so very happy that I was introduced to this series by the author herself. I can’t wait to read the next book releasing on my birthday!

[♣Bookishbellee♣ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crisanta Knight: To Death and Back

4 stars

It’s been a hot minute since I’ve read a book I was fully invested in from the very first sentence. Crisanta Knight: To Death and Back changed that. This is the type of book, regardless of age, you will genuinely enjoy reading as I definitely did. It’s one of those feel good books you’ll be reading with a honest smile on your face because of the author’s clever world building and brilliant story telling. I wholeheartedly did not want to mentally leave this world long after finishing the book.

I haven’t read the previous books in the series but I definitely need to now. But regardless, picking up the fifth book in the series was not confusing in the slightest. The author does such a phenomenal job of proficiently fleshing out the world in the prologue that I felt as if I had known these characters for ages. And the world was immaculate. Cleverly built and wholesomely good, I couldn’t get enough it.

With vivid descriptions and never a dull moment, this is one I struggled to put down and one I can’t recommend enough. I think many readers will enjoy the easy, humorous writing style and the fairytale-like, whimsical overall feel of the novel.

[Alexa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes Crisanta Knight's story and turns up the volume to full blast! It's a race to Excalibur and there's a realm's worth of baddies to outwit on the way - but Crisa always shows up with sass and style!

I couldn't put it down! This new book confronts Crisa with difficult choices between life and death and the opportunity to see the full spectrum of potential in her powers. Now Crisa is asking genuinely intriguing questions about what it means to be a hero and fight for justice.

I also loved the new characters along for the adventure in this book. Whether a celebrity from literature or an acquaintance from Book, their additions to the adventure create interesting new opportunities for allies.

Once you start, you'll be whisked away by the intricately woven story like it's a magic carpet ride. This series is bursting with imagination, riveting plot turns, and a vast cast of characters that will keep you turning pages.

[Fierymermaidbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a super fun read! we start out with Crisanta on the path to find Excalibur to put Arthur back on the throne. She has to outrun the villains including her brother to get to it first. She makes it to the boar head and it took a piece of her soul to bless her! Then she got captured by King Rampart. I was so shocked when she died and immediately came back to life. I can’t even start to rant about how the Bluebeards are horrid😂 I loved how kooky and vague Merlin is. I also love how Geanna used Crisantas dreams to warn the readers of the future scenes of the book. When Jason’s vision came true I was so worried that she wouldn’t be able to fix it but she did! I shipped Daniel and Crisa and when they almost had to kiss for CPR I was so excited. By then end of the book I need to know more!

[Sanjana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah morality! What is the good and what is the bad? Grey areas exist and it was described very well in this book. One of the best series I've read and I will recommend it to everyone (I've already been talking my friend's ears off about this book). The characters (again, another thing I won't stop raving about) are so well developed! They have all rounded personalities and their flaws that are very real. These are the flaws that you and I have which make the characters very relatable.
There is a clear divide between the good and bad characters but when it comes to Crisa's actions, the lines blur. This is explored as one of the themes of the book along with the magical elements. It also gives you a new perspective about fairytales when they all don't seem like the happily ever after we've read as children.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing Crisanta Knight's quest to save Book and the other realms from the evil magic hunters and antagonists.
Crisa's magic is growing ever stronger and so is her desire to keep the balance and ensure the Pure Magic doesn't take her over and turn her evil. But with so much on the line she needs all her strength and power. Full of mysterious prophecies and dreams of the future, the book keeps you guessing as to what will actually happen.
So much has happened since we met Crisanta as a young school girl with just the usual expectations on her. Now she's fighting the world and growing stronger all the time.

[Julie Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fifth book in the Crisanta Knight series. This book has to be my favorite, but mostly because there are a lot of moments between my favorite ship. There are a lot of things going on in this book with Crisa being hunted by Arian and his goons, facing perilous danger left and right, discovering secrets, and, of course, the retelling of even more fairytales. I absolutely LOVE this book!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the title of this one because... like... she actually... ok never mind. I LOVE Book 5, especially because I love a good Camelot story. The whole adventure to find Excalibur before Alex made it extra exciting! And can I just say again how much I love these characters??? Like I love them alot. This series only gets better and better!

[Pradeep Gunda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this series so much. Book was full of mystery, suspence and adventures. The journey in different wonderlands and challenges crisa and her friends faced were intriguing. Can't wait to read next book.

[Jennifer Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic story

This series is one of the best, I've read in quite some time. I can hardly wait until the next book is published. The story line is amazing and keeps you entertained throughout the book. This is a great twist on old classics.

[Margaret Weber · Rating 5 out of 5]

The books in this series just keep getting better. This is book 5 and the action and adventure did not disappoint. Crisa and her friends faced challenge after challeng on their quest to find excaliber. I had all the feels in this book and could not put the book down.

[Mary Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting

This book had me enthralled early on. I enjoyed all aspects f the characters and their adventures. It’s my favorite of the series, do far.

[Geneviève (thefreckledbookworm)]

I tried reading this one a few times, and I simply can't get into it. I was originally lead to believe that this is a YA book, but it feels much more middle grade to me. I don't particularly enjoy the writing style, and the story line is a bit confusing. A lot of characters are introduced at first, and they're hard to keep track of. The whole world really reminded me of the TV show Once Upon a Time. Since my 2020 resolution is to DNF books I simply can't get into, I'm letting this one go. Thank you to the author for sending me a copy, and my apologies for not finishing it!

I think younger readers could definitely enjoy this book more!