What do you think?
Rate this book
Pearls and the Crowns #2
The Crown
Deborah Chester, national bestselling author of the acclaimed fantasy trilogy The Sword, The Ring, and The Chalice, now concludes the riveting saga of a princess blessed by lightand a warrior consumed by darkness.
304 pages, ebook
First published November 4, 2008
2 people are currently reading
123 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Chester
55 books153 followersThe internationally published, award-winning author of 41 novels, Deborah Chester has written Regency romances, historical romances, young adult, science fiction, and fantasy. She is a tenured professor of professional writing in the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Oklahoma, where she teaches novel and short story writing.
She holds a B.A. with General Honors and an M.A. in Journalism; both degrees are from the University of Oklahoma, where she studied professional writing from author/teachers Jack M. Bickham, Robert L. Duncan, and Pulitzer-nominee Carolyn Hart. Chester has been writing professionally since 1978, and has used three pseudonyms – Jay D. Blakeney and Sean Dalton and C. Aubrey Hall for some of her science fiction and fantasy works.
In 2004, she was inducted into the Writers Hall of Fame of America.
She holds a B.A. with General Honors and an M.A. in Journalism; both degrees are from the University of Oklahoma, where she studied professional writing from author/teachers Jack M. Bickham, Robert L. Duncan, and Pulitzer-nominee Carolyn Hart. Chester has been writing professionally since 1978, and has used three pseudonyms – Jay D. Blakeney and Sean Dalton and C. Aubrey Hall for some of her science fiction and fantasy works.
In 2004, she was inducted into the Writers Hall of Fame of America.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 28, 2015
The second book of the Pearls and the Crowns was a nice surprise.
The rhythm of the story is a lot more dynamic than the first book. A lot more things are happening and the main characters become more real. Lea gets the chance to show off her powers and Shadrael reveals his true self.
Still, there are some thing that lack in my opinion. I never understood how and why the two fell in love. Reminds me more of the Stockholm syndrome than some deep and moving feeling. And the other characters do not get the possibility to unfold and develop. Even if they were not around, it would still be ok. Their role is somewhat vague.
However, as a whole the book was a nice and refreshing one. It provides a relaxing read after a long and hard day. I do recommend it.
The rhythm of the story is a lot more dynamic than the first book. A lot more things are happening and the main characters become more real. Lea gets the chance to show off her powers and Shadrael reveals his true self.
Still, there are some thing that lack in my opinion. I never understood how and why the two fell in love. Reminds me more of the Stockholm syndrome than some deep and moving feeling. And the other characters do not get the possibility to unfold and develop. Even if they were not around, it would still be ok. Their role is somewhat vague.
However, as a whole the book was a nice and refreshing one. It provides a relaxing read after a long and hard day. I do recommend it.
February 9, 2024
I love the fantasy, I love the plot, I just don’t quite understand how the characters love each other so strongly when they’ve hardly spent any time together. Otherwise good. Very well written and fast paced
March 28, 2021
ok...... o.O
November 13, 2022
Now that I've reread this book I only now noticed that it was a spinoff series. Now I will rectify my mistake and read Caelan and Elandra's original story.
February 22, 2014
Real rating is maybe a 2.8?
I didn't care for the first book in this series, The Pearls. This one stepped up it's game however and I found myself enjoying this more than the first (though I think though should receive the same rating). My biggest complaint with the first was the lack of character to Lea. I can't say that it changes much in this one, though I may have just found her more tolerable as I had less of her to deal with. My real enjoyment in this novel was watching all the well placed plans of these characters fall to the ground. Shadreal, for one, falls apart. He spends most of the book wounded or in the beginning, drunk. His brother seems to go mad by the end, mad or blind to the idiocy of his plans. We even see more of the dark priests. Though I did find myself enjoying this book I do have a few concerns.
Reading over other readers thoughts after the first book I found myself seeing the uncomfortable Stockholm syndrome being brought up several times in reference to Shadrael and Lea's relationship. Honestly, I can see it as well. The romance comes out of nowhere, and is hastily explained as being 'forseen' by Lea before the books ever began. This is hinted at vaguely a few times, but I'm still left with the bad taste in my mouth about the whole thing. The messy politics of both books are seemingly fixed by this romance (and one weirdly random murder 10 pages from the end). I can't help but find it a weak resolution, and wonder on the wisdom of the great Light Bringer emperor for even agreeing to the whole mess. It could be because he didn't see Lea in the mess of the book that he doesn't realize his 'wise' sister really acts more like a teenager in many ways than the great and wonder princess she should be.
As far as the character development goes you can see a little in our two leads. Shadreal deals with the loss of Lea poorly for most of the book and when he final receives what it is he is looking for you see him behave more humanly. He remains essentially the same man, and at times acts exactly as I expected him. Though small though he seems to take a few steps in the right direction. Lea on the other hand is presented as becoming less 'innocent' and more shadow-touched. It affects her a bit, nothing big, and in the end I was disappointed that I didn't get to see her really (wo)man up and start to take charge. Eventually she is saved by her brother and Shadreal, without the one of the two she would have died early in book one. It's disappointing, and again as far as strong female leads not a stellar example.
I gave it a solid three this time, mostly for the tension the book seemed to have constantly throughout it. I was fairly engrossed, even irate the few times I was interrupted in my reading. I'm happy to have the series behind me, it was an interesting yet unimpressive read.
I didn't care for the first book in this series, The Pearls. This one stepped up it's game however and I found myself enjoying this more than the first (though I think though should receive the same rating). My biggest complaint with the first was the lack of character to Lea. I can't say that it changes much in this one, though I may have just found her more tolerable as I had less of her to deal with. My real enjoyment in this novel was watching all the well placed plans of these characters fall to the ground. Shadreal, for one, falls apart. He spends most of the book wounded or in the beginning, drunk. His brother seems to go mad by the end, mad or blind to the idiocy of his plans. We even see more of the dark priests. Though I did find myself enjoying this book I do have a few concerns.
Reading over other readers thoughts after the first book I found myself seeing the uncomfortable Stockholm syndrome being brought up several times in reference to Shadrael and Lea's relationship. Honestly, I can see it as well. The romance comes out of nowhere, and is hastily explained as being 'forseen' by Lea before the books ever began. This is hinted at vaguely a few times, but I'm still left with the bad taste in my mouth about the whole thing. The messy politics of both books are seemingly fixed by this romance (and one weirdly random murder 10 pages from the end). I can't help but find it a weak resolution, and wonder on the wisdom of the great Light Bringer emperor for even agreeing to the whole mess. It could be because he didn't see Lea in the mess of the book that he doesn't realize his 'wise' sister really acts more like a teenager in many ways than the great and wonder princess she should be.
As far as the character development goes you can see a little in our two leads. Shadreal deals with the loss of Lea poorly for most of the book and when he final receives what it is he is looking for you see him behave more humanly. He remains essentially the same man, and at times acts exactly as I expected him. Though small though he seems to take a few steps in the right direction. Lea on the other hand is presented as becoming less 'innocent' and more shadow-touched. It affects her a bit, nothing big, and in the end I was disappointed that I didn't get to see her really (wo)man up and start to take charge. Eventually she is saved by her brother and Shadreal, without the one of the two she would have died early in book one. It's disappointing, and again as far as strong female leads not a stellar example.
I gave it a solid three this time, mostly for the tension the book seemed to have constantly throughout it. I was fairly engrossed, even irate the few times I was interrupted in my reading. I'm happy to have the series behind me, it was an interesting yet unimpressive read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 10, 2014
Set in the same universe as The Ruby Throne trilogy, this tells the story of the Light Bringer's sister, Lea.
The plot was complex enough to hold my attention. It was a very simple adventure story with a little romance mixed in.
That being said, you really shouldn't read the books in Pearls and the Crown until you've read The Ruby Throne, since the author did much of the world building in that series. Since the Ruby Throne trilogy is worth a read, it shouldn't be too much of a burden.
It wasn't long enough, in my estimation, because I blasted through each book in a matter of hours. I would've liked to have seen more plot development, more intrigue to it, as some of the subplots which could have been expanded on seemed to have just been left hanging. Oh, and a little more work on the romance part too.
Still, a good, clean read and I recommend it.
The plot was complex enough to hold my attention. It was a very simple adventure story with a little romance mixed in.
That being said, you really shouldn't read the books in Pearls and the Crown until you've read The Ruby Throne, since the author did much of the world building in that series. Since the Ruby Throne trilogy is worth a read, it shouldn't be too much of a burden.
It wasn't long enough, in my estimation, because I blasted through each book in a matter of hours. I would've liked to have seen more plot development, more intrigue to it, as some of the subplots which could have been expanded on seemed to have just been left hanging. Oh, and a little more work on the romance part too.
Still, a good, clean read and I recommend it.
August 5, 2021
Ich hatte mir kürzlich Band 1 dieser Dilogie bei einer Rebuy-Bestellung mit besorgt, damit ich dann auch endlich mal Band 2 lesen kann.
Band 1 fand ich dann ja schon nicht so gut, aber Teil 2 war noch schlechter.
Worum geht es?
Lea ist immer noch in den Händen von Shadrael und seinen Männern und soll an die Schattenpriester übergeben werden, die einen Krieg mit dem Kaiser (ihrem Bruder) führen wollen.
Dafür, dass man eigentlich schon früh ahnt, worauf es hinaus läuft, hat es sich gezogen wie Kaugummi und wirklich nicht sonderlich viel Spaß gemacht. Definitiv nichts, was ich weiter empfehlen würde. Von mir gibt es daher auch nur 1,5 ⭐.
Band 1 fand ich dann ja schon nicht so gut, aber Teil 2 war noch schlechter.
Worum geht es?
Lea ist immer noch in den Händen von Shadrael und seinen Männern und soll an die Schattenpriester übergeben werden, die einen Krieg mit dem Kaiser (ihrem Bruder) führen wollen.
Dafür, dass man eigentlich schon früh ahnt, worauf es hinaus läuft, hat es sich gezogen wie Kaugummi und wirklich nicht sonderlich viel Spaß gemacht. Definitiv nichts, was ich weiter empfehlen würde. Von mir gibt es daher auch nur 1,5 ⭐.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2011
I don't know why I read this one when I found it's predecessors so uninteresting. I must truly have been desperate (or I hate to leave things unfinished). I felt this work was unfocused and silly. I still think the supposed love that springs up between the two main characters was unrealistic and sounded a lot more like Stockholm syndrome than anything to base a marriage on. The sad thing is that as unimpressed as I was by this book, I'm even more unimpressed with myself for continuing to read it, just because I had to finish the series (insert obligatory eye roll here).
January 24, 2011
I was a bit... shocked by the ending. So shadrael saves tje whole of the emperor's army an the ulinians by killing brathel essence.... and nothing happens? No mob acclaiming no "enemies" showing him respect for what he'd done... no nothing.... He's still seen as the backstabing blackguard who kidapped the princess? That was a bit too much of an omission when both books are supposed to lead to this huge war (dead people versus living)
Other than this rushed and lacking end.... great book!
Other than this rushed and lacking end.... great book!
March 1, 2014
I would actually rate this 2.5 stars. I was very disappointed with this one after the first book. I felt like I missed an entire book in the middle where Lea and Shadrael fell in love. They spent most of the book separated, and the book was really hard to get through because I didn't believe in any of the characters' motivations or emotions. It finally picked up in the last quarter or so, which is why I didn't give it 2 flat stars.
March 12, 2016
Decent, but it's one of those books that you read an just think to yourself 'the author just needed to reach a little BIT further and it could have been mind blowingly amazing,' but the author didn't, so it's just okay. I'm glad I was able to get my hands on one of her books though, as oddly most libraries don't carry them for some reason...
December 3, 2008
Phenomenal conclusion to the series begun with "The Pearl." This book had me on the edge of my seat and had many unexpected twists. If you pick up the first, I recommend you have the second handy...and time to read both since you won't want to put them down.
January 21, 2009
A must read for fantasy lovers. Some war, but not too much. Magic and romance combine for an unpredictable, adventurous love story.
January 9, 2011
I liked the first book enough that I went and got the second book but the story in the second book sort of fell flat. I was expecting more of a change in the heroine from book one to book two, but she remained too perfect, and too nice to be of much interest.
May 31, 2009
Interesting. These two books were good, with likable characters and interesting plots, though she did take some big leaps, plotwise.
January 21, 2014
Terrific!
October 3, 2014
Meh :/
September 23, 2015
I loved Deborah Chester's other books: The Ring, The Chalice and The Sword so I was pretty excited for this one.
Not even worth it. Bummer.
Not even worth it. Bummer.
December 15, 2015
This was fantastic.
February 20, 2016
Had a lot of potential......... but no.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews