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A Hellish Fairytale #1
Crowned a Traitor
Heir to Hell and the Dark Forest of Malum, Klara has been called upon to take her place as High Queen of Malum. Though Klara has no intention of ruling, her guardians want her head on a spike. Klara’s only option - escape to Kalos, Fae ruled lands free from Dark Magic. To survive the perilous journey, she needs help...
A Leprechaun with a talent for smuggling.
A mischievous Demon with swaying loyalties.
The soul of a greying Warlock.
Lycaon siblings with a talent for deception.
Destiny has an awful habit of catching up with those who run.
Trigger Warnings: Cannibalism, Death, Violence, Torture, Child Neglect
A Leprechaun with a talent for smuggling.
A mischievous Demon with swaying loyalties.
The soul of a greying Warlock.
Lycaon siblings with a talent for deception.
Destiny has an awful habit of catching up with those who run.
Trigger Warnings: Cannibalism, Death, Violence, Torture, Child Neglect
323 pages, Paperback
First published July 4, 2020
20 people are currently reading
907 people want to read
About the author
Kate Callaghan
14 books327 followersKate Callaghan is an Irish author who writes adult fantasy, romantic suspense, and feel-good Christmas romance. She’s the creator of the Hellish Fairytale series, blending dark magic and intrigue, as well as festive romcoms like The Naughty or Nice Clause. Whether she’s spinning tales of dangerous love or cozy holiday magic, you’ll find her in a Dublin café with an iced coffee, plotting her next twist.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 208 reviews
September 25, 2020
3.5 stars
This book has so much promise and such an intriguing idea.
In a world ruled by wicked and cruel Queens, tied irremovably to Hell, and destined to be one day Klara's domain - as the Heiress to Hell - we have the opposing forces of good and evil, duty and desire, freedom and responsabilty warring between each other inside Klara.
What do you do when everything you have been raised to be is everything you don't want to be? When all you want is to take control of your own life? When death and cruelty is not what you want but what you are destined to?
Klara most find the answers between ruling or living the life she has always wanted. Love, friendship, betrayal, family, death, and secrets will all consumed her life and force her to make a decision. And she will have to fight for her life to find it.
It has some most intriguing aspects and plays with really cool ideas and plots. Sadly, truly sadly, the slowness of it all muddled my feelings for it.
However, I did enjoyed it.
While being a short book, it still takes this book an awfully long time to get anywhere that we actually want to be. Seriously, halfway through it I was almost doned with it but, wouldn't you know, that was when it finally started getting interesting.
It's just that it takes way too long in worldbuilding and exposition when it could have been done quicker. At first I thought it was mostly wasted and we could have skipped all of it but, sure, I see the point of things happening as they do. I DO SEE IT. It still could have been done faster and not taken half the book to get there.
It does play with some really intriguing and deep themes that made me fall in love with it.
They were handled in a... not exactly inscopicuos way but subtler than I would have expected for something so big. Basically what I mean is that it wasn't relentlessly showed down our throats at every possible turn but rather we were allowed to sit and stew on it and arrive to our own clonclusions while Klara herself left it on the backburner to focuse on more pressing matters.
It was still very well handled. As well as all the smaller - but equally important - themes and plots that were managed through the story.
Moving on, I was dissapointed in the general cruelty and darkness this book was gonna give me. It does has a decent amount, I suppose, of mentioned and remembered or pointed out moments that give you and idea of what this world is supposed to be but the fact that it never gets past that, not really, was a huge let- down.
Was I maybe asking for a little too much out of a YA? Maybe, but I'm positive I've read others that dare sink more into it.
I mean, you are telling me all this stories and I believe you because I have little reason not to, but getting to see it for myself wouldn't have hurt at all. Or, like, being there while it happened rather than just seeing the after-effects.
We ARE talking about Lucifer himself a lot of the time and I was more scared of anything but him. Sure, the twist is fun and all but if you're gonna use such a character, prop him up as you would naturally expect Lucifer to be presented, and then NOT capitalyzed in it I'm gonna have to kindly ask you to please don't do it.
That's the thing, at no point did I feel like there were real and very tangible stakes in any of the situations I was reading about. I knew there were potential consequences, but there was a zero sense of foreboredom or mantel of anxiety coursing through my veins through even the most hair-raising moments of the book.
There were, however, many really good plot twists that I appreciated throughely.
No, I wouldn't say they were ever truly amazing and unphatomable to the point I needed to re-read something to fully wrap my head around it but they were there and they changed the story.
Honestly, I was kicking myself for not seeing some of them because they were right there for me to pick up on them and make sense of the whole ordeal.
I did ended up liking it quite a bit and I'm most definitely interested in seeing how everything pans out at the end. It's a very intriguing world and has so many aspects that I just can't get over and I need to see them fully develop.
Klara's journey is gonna be really different next time around and I really want to see that.
____________________
I did it! after struggling for weeks to manage to find time to read I finally could finish this one.
That ending had me blindsided but it makes SO MUCH sense that I can't help but be very curious about what is to come.
RTC
____________________
I honestly have little to no idea as to what I'm gonna find in this book but it looks interesting. I mean, dark fantasy is what I'm all for lately.
Bloody is probably the best way to describe what I want to find here. Maybe not super bloody or whatever, but I do want to be at least a bit chilled.
Anyway, we'll see how it goes.
“Would I prefer to be somewhere, something else? Yes, but my fate is to serve, and yours is to rule.”
This book has so much promise and such an intriguing idea.
In a world ruled by wicked and cruel Queens, tied irremovably to Hell, and destined to be one day Klara's domain - as the Heiress to Hell - we have the opposing forces of good and evil, duty and desire, freedom and responsabilty warring between each other inside Klara.
What do you do when everything you have been raised to be is everything you don't want to be? When all you want is to take control of your own life? When death and cruelty is not what you want but what you are destined to?
Klara most find the answers between ruling or living the life she has always wanted. Love, friendship, betrayal, family, death, and secrets will all consumed her life and force her to make a decision. And she will have to fight for her life to find it.
It has some most intriguing aspects and plays with really cool ideas and plots. Sadly, truly sadly, the slowness of it all muddled my feelings for it.
However, I did enjoyed it.
“Weakness is settling for a life based on what others want of you and from you.”
While being a short book, it still takes this book an awfully long time to get anywhere that we actually want to be. Seriously, halfway through it I was almost doned with it but, wouldn't you know, that was when it finally started getting interesting.
It's just that it takes way too long in worldbuilding and exposition when it could have been done quicker. At first I thought it was mostly wasted and we could have skipped all of it but, sure, I see the point of things happening as they do. I DO SEE IT. It still could have been done faster and not taken half the book to get there.
“Sometimes it’s better to be feared than loved.”
It does play with some really intriguing and deep themes that made me fall in love with it.
They were handled in a... not exactly inscopicuos way but subtler than I would have expected for something so big. Basically what I mean is that it wasn't relentlessly showed down our throats at every possible turn but rather we were allowed to sit and stew on it and arrive to our own clonclusions while Klara herself left it on the backburner to focuse on more pressing matters.
It was still very well handled. As well as all the smaller - but equally important - themes and plots that were managed through the story.
“Good and evil. There is a clear divide, we are born into our nature and pushed hard enough, it will be revealed.”
Moving on, I was dissapointed in the general cruelty and darkness this book was gonna give me. It does has a decent amount, I suppose, of mentioned and remembered or pointed out moments that give you and idea of what this world is supposed to be but the fact that it never gets past that, not really, was a huge let- down.
Was I maybe asking for a little too much out of a YA? Maybe, but I'm positive I've read others that dare sink more into it.
I mean, you are telling me all this stories and I believe you because I have little reason not to, but getting to see it for myself wouldn't have hurt at all. Or, like, being there while it happened rather than just seeing the after-effects.
We ARE talking about Lucifer himself a lot of the time and I was more scared of anything but him. Sure, the twist is fun and all but if you're gonna use such a character, prop him up as you would naturally expect Lucifer to be presented, and then NOT capitalyzed in it I'm gonna have to kindly ask you to please don't do it.
That's the thing, at no point did I feel like there were real and very tangible stakes in any of the situations I was reading about. I knew there were potential consequences, but there was a zero sense of foreboredom or mantel of anxiety coursing through my veins through even the most hair-raising moments of the book.
“A ruler doesn’t need taming.”
There were, however, many really good plot twists that I appreciated throughely.
No, I wouldn't say they were ever truly amazing and unphatomable to the point I needed to re-read something to fully wrap my head around it but they were there and they changed the story.
Honestly, I was kicking myself for not seeing some of them because they were right there for me to pick up on them and make sense of the whole ordeal.
“Mila had suffered just as Klara has, the only difference, Klara was stronger.”
I did ended up liking it quite a bit and I'm most definitely interested in seeing how everything pans out at the end. It's a very intriguing world and has so many aspects that I just can't get over and I need to see them fully develop.
Klara's journey is gonna be really different next time around and I really want to see that.
“If they insisted in hunting the Heiress of Hell, then she would show them exactly what she was capable of.”
____________________
I did it! after struggling for weeks to manage to find time to read I finally could finish this one.
That ending had me blindsided but it makes SO MUCH sense that I can't help but be very curious about what is to come.
RTC
____________________
I honestly have little to no idea as to what I'm gonna find in this book but it looks interesting. I mean, dark fantasy is what I'm all for lately.
Bloody is probably the best way to describe what I want to find here. Maybe not super bloody or whatever, but I do want to be at least a bit chilled.
Anyway, we'll see how it goes.
August 20, 2020
I have requested a copy of this book via netgalley. (Thank you) All thought and opinions shared are honest and mine.
Spoiler free review
I liked reading Crowned traitor. I think it was an enjoyable read. It was a interesting read. My attention was grabbed during the first chapter which is a good thing for me. I was quite fond of the characters and plot. Going into reading Crowned a traitor I didn’t really know what to expect when I started reading this. I did like what I read. Of course there were a couple things in the book that wasn’t to my favor. Overall I liked crowned a traitor.
“Hell corrupts everything, me not being here is probably what has kept you alive.”
-Synopsis-
Crowned a traitor is about Klara she is the daughter and heir to Lucifer. Klara really doesn’t want to rule. Klara wants to escape and live in peace in order to, she must fight her way and go on a journey to get there. She faces many obstacles through her path. Klara relies on some Lycaons and so on to help her escape. It really is an adventure.
“Enjoying the struggle?” “Go to Hell.” “Already here.”
-Plot-
The plot in Crowned a traitor was covered above in my synopsis I will be sharing thoughts on it here. The plot was what really drew me into this book. It did not disappoint! I really loved the plot. I thought it was very well thought of. I will admit that during somewhere at the middle of the book, I was confused on what was going on. It was still very interesting and shared a lot of details to make me understand again. Plot: 5/5
“Sometimes it's better to be feared than loved.”
-Setting-
The world building in Crowned a traitor was real good. It was described very vividly and I could real imagine myself there. Very descriptive which is good. Usually in my reviews I don’t include much to my setting category but I loved the setting in Crowned a traitor that I had to include it. Setting: 4.5/5
“I’m not afraid, Frendall. I’m tired. I want to live without carrying a weapon or checking food for poison.”
-Writing-
I love Kates writing style. It was highly descriptive and I absolutely was sucked into the book. I liked the pace of Crowned a traitor for me it was a quick detailed read.
Like I said previously I was a bit confused but then I did get around to understanding what was happening. Writing: 4/5
“I don’t want a life of death and cruelty.” “You’re being…” Frendall stopped himself. “Selfish? Call me my Father’s daughter. I want to lay on the fields of Kalos and never hear the screams of Hell again or walk the paths of Malum and see starving children.”
-Characters-
The characters in Crowned a traitor might be my favorite part of the book. I really love Klara. There was just something about her character I practically adored. Klaras probably my favorite character of the book. I liked Frendall but I do have mixed feelings about him. I did also like all the other characters such as Lottie, and Wolfgang. Characters: 5/5
“I might not have a heart, but I still have my dignity,”
-Conclusion-
Do I think you should read this book? Yess! I’d definitely recommend this. Overall I really liked this book. I loved all the bits and pieces of it. There are many great things about Crowned a traitor. Definitely think about reading this book
Spoiler free review
I liked reading Crowned traitor. I think it was an enjoyable read. It was a interesting read. My attention was grabbed during the first chapter which is a good thing for me. I was quite fond of the characters and plot. Going into reading Crowned a traitor I didn’t really know what to expect when I started reading this. I did like what I read. Of course there were a couple things in the book that wasn’t to my favor. Overall I liked crowned a traitor.
“Hell corrupts everything, me not being here is probably what has kept you alive.”
-Synopsis-
Crowned a traitor is about Klara she is the daughter and heir to Lucifer. Klara really doesn’t want to rule. Klara wants to escape and live in peace in order to, she must fight her way and go on a journey to get there. She faces many obstacles through her path. Klara relies on some Lycaons and so on to help her escape. It really is an adventure.
“Enjoying the struggle?” “Go to Hell.” “Already here.”
-Plot-
The plot in Crowned a traitor was covered above in my synopsis I will be sharing thoughts on it here. The plot was what really drew me into this book. It did not disappoint! I really loved the plot. I thought it was very well thought of. I will admit that during somewhere at the middle of the book, I was confused on what was going on. It was still very interesting and shared a lot of details to make me understand again. Plot: 5/5
“Sometimes it's better to be feared than loved.”
-Setting-
The world building in Crowned a traitor was real good. It was described very vividly and I could real imagine myself there. Very descriptive which is good. Usually in my reviews I don’t include much to my setting category but I loved the setting in Crowned a traitor that I had to include it. Setting: 4.5/5
“I’m not afraid, Frendall. I’m tired. I want to live without carrying a weapon or checking food for poison.”
-Writing-
I love Kates writing style. It was highly descriptive and I absolutely was sucked into the book. I liked the pace of Crowned a traitor for me it was a quick detailed read.
Like I said previously I was a bit confused but then I did get around to understanding what was happening. Writing: 4/5
“I don’t want a life of death and cruelty.” “You’re being…” Frendall stopped himself. “Selfish? Call me my Father’s daughter. I want to lay on the fields of Kalos and never hear the screams of Hell again or walk the paths of Malum and see starving children.”
-Characters-
The characters in Crowned a traitor might be my favorite part of the book. I really love Klara. There was just something about her character I practically adored. Klaras probably my favorite character of the book. I liked Frendall but I do have mixed feelings about him. I did also like all the other characters such as Lottie, and Wolfgang. Characters: 5/5
“I might not have a heart, but I still have my dignity,”
-Conclusion-
Do I think you should read this book? Yess! I’d definitely recommend this. Overall I really liked this book. I loved all the bits and pieces of it. There are many great things about Crowned a traitor. Definitely think about reading this book
September 9, 2020
2.5 stars rounded up
I don't know what to make of this book, it started out gruesome yet interesting, but went downhill for a bit. The pacing was off and even though this is just over 200 pages, it felt much longer and not in a good way. I also felt like Klara was all over the place with her emotions and actions. First she hates the Queens, then one helps her, then she protects them. Klara couldn't decide if she wanted to run away from her responsibilities or stand up and help others. Sometimes she was strong and you could see the potential leader, other times she acted like a child and was irresponsible.
The ending picked up in pace, but the twist made me feel like the whole book was for nothing. Characters I liked died and not even for a good reason. I suppose the ending was happy and I liked the romance between Klara and Frendall. Lottie is also a super cute character and I want all the good things for her.
I think the author tried to do too much with a short story and it got convoluted. Maybe a more straightforward plot would have been better.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I don't know what to make of this book, it started out gruesome yet interesting, but went downhill for a bit. The pacing was off and even though this is just over 200 pages, it felt much longer and not in a good way. I also felt like Klara was all over the place with her emotions and actions. First she hates the Queens, then one helps her, then she protects them. Klara couldn't decide if she wanted to run away from her responsibilities or stand up and help others. Sometimes she was strong and you could see the potential leader, other times she acted like a child and was irresponsible.
The ending picked up in pace, but the twist made me feel like the whole book was for nothing. Characters I liked died and not even for a good reason. I suppose the ending was happy and I liked the romance between Klara and Frendall. Lottie is also a super cute character and I want all the good things for her.
I think the author tried to do too much with a short story and it got convoluted. Maybe a more straightforward plot would have been better.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
September 3, 2022
Definitely enjoyed this re-read because I forgot so much. I feel like I still liked the same characters that I did beforehand. Not mad about that one bit because I was sort of hoping for that to happen. I also feel like my opinion on the overall story changed for the better too. I still thought the beginning started off on a slow note but that's about it. Maybe it's because I took my time reading this or maybe something just felt different. Either way, I'm super excited to jump into the sequel.
________________________
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Crowned A Traitor honestly sounded like a pretty cool and dark fantasy book that I needed in my life. However, the beginning started off pretty slowly for me. Then I had a few boring chapters that I just wanted to skim through. Yet, I kept chugging along with this book and even gave myself some - yay you read a chapter here's some cheese!
In it, you will meet Klara who is the heir to Lucifer. She isn't sure who her mom is but she has to play nice with the High Queen while they "train" her. Out of them all, I loved Lilith. She was the only who took her role seriously and protected Klara ruthlessly. She was her mother figure in a way without knowing who her true mom was.
Then you get the feeling that something isn't quite right. The entire time I was just focused on who the "traitor" really was. I also didn't trust anyone when it came to things in this book. I had so many theories as to what was going to happen and how.. but I was way off. Especially towards the end of the book.
________________________
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Crowned A Traitor honestly sounded like a pretty cool and dark fantasy book that I needed in my life. However, the beginning started off pretty slowly for me. Then I had a few boring chapters that I just wanted to skim through. Yet, I kept chugging along with this book and even gave myself some - yay you read a chapter here's some cheese!
In it, you will meet Klara who is the heir to Lucifer. She isn't sure who her mom is but she has to play nice with the High Queen while they "train" her. Out of them all, I loved Lilith. She was the only who took her role seriously and protected Klara ruthlessly. She was her mother figure in a way without knowing who her true mom was.
Then you get the feeling that something isn't quite right. The entire time I was just focused on who the "traitor" really was. I also didn't trust anyone when it came to things in this book. I had so many theories as to what was going to happen and how.. but I was way off. Especially towards the end of the book.
did-not-finish
November 7, 2020DNF'd at 3%. Liked the fairytale aspect, found the writing a little poor. I was fairly sure I wasn't going to enjoy this book and I'd just read a book that I rated 1 star.
March 25, 2022
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley (thank you IBPA). All thoughts and opinions are my own.
✅ Action near the end
🆗 World-building
🆗❌ Plot
🆗❌ Pace
❌ Romance
So… This is not a bad book, but honestly, I just could get into it. The characters hold no appeal for me, the story was predictable, and many ideas seemed to be only half-developed. I almost DNF it (not because it was bad, but because it was not good enough to get me interested).
The first 50 pages are a little confusing. We get to know Klara, daughter of Lucifer and heiress of Hell, but there are mentions of High Queens, various realms, and laws that are not explained well enough. I could not see the connections between the information I was given until the fourth chapter. There is action right from the start though so at least it was entertaining. After the first few chapters, we can understand better the world Klara lives in and the details of her current situation.
This book is an easy read, but the plotline is weak. Klara is the perfect and quite powerful daughter that Lucifer created to be his heiress. She has been put in the care of the three queens of Malum: Lilith, Abadon and Eve. Their job is to train her, but Klara is desperate to leave for good and go the realm of Kalos where things are more peaceful. She wants nothing to do with Hell or ruling or her father and she is trying to find a way to escape…. And that’s it for the first half of the book. Things start to get more interesting (Klara actually fleeing the castle and traveling to Kalos) in the second half of the book. It still takes more than 140 pages for the story to start moving forward.
Not much happens for the first half of the book. All I knew was that Klara was secretly trying to leave Malum. There is also a romantic sub-plot between Klara and her long-lost childhood best friend (we see him for a few chapters and then he disappears again until he comes back at the end because he is the one responsible for bringing Klara back to Hell), but honestly, the building of their relationship is poor. We don’t have any details about their past together and now she sees him again after so many years and she does not trust him, yet she is attracted to him. He seems quite loyal to Lucifer, but at the same time, he keeps Klara’s secrets and wants her to stay with him. Then there is a romance between Klara and a Lycaon she’s traveling with, but once again there is no building, I felt nothing between them and suddenly they are kissing passionately…
The last 50 pages are better at least. There is action, treason, and battles, but it was not enough to make me love this story. I was so bored for the first half that it's like my mind was already made. It felt as is I read a 500 pages book instead of 200 pages one.
I see the potential of this book, but too often the descriptions fell short and things felt rushed. There were a lot of dialogues and it was sometimes hard to know who was saying what. I would have liked fewer dialogues and more insight into the characters' thoughts and feelings (other than Klara’s desire for freedom).
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✅ Action near the end
🆗 World-building
🆗❌ Plot
🆗❌ Pace
❌ Romance
So… This is not a bad book, but honestly, I just could get into it. The characters hold no appeal for me, the story was predictable, and many ideas seemed to be only half-developed. I almost DNF it (not because it was bad, but because it was not good enough to get me interested).
The first 50 pages are a little confusing. We get to know Klara, daughter of Lucifer and heiress of Hell, but there are mentions of High Queens, various realms, and laws that are not explained well enough. I could not see the connections between the information I was given until the fourth chapter. There is action right from the start though so at least it was entertaining. After the first few chapters, we can understand better the world Klara lives in and the details of her current situation.
This book is an easy read, but the plotline is weak. Klara is the perfect and quite powerful daughter that Lucifer created to be his heiress. She has been put in the care of the three queens of Malum: Lilith, Abadon and Eve. Their job is to train her, but Klara is desperate to leave for good and go the realm of Kalos where things are more peaceful. She wants nothing to do with Hell or ruling or her father and she is trying to find a way to escape…. And that’s it for the first half of the book. Things start to get more interesting (Klara actually fleeing the castle and traveling to Kalos) in the second half of the book. It still takes more than 140 pages for the story to start moving forward.
Not much happens for the first half of the book. All I knew was that Klara was secretly trying to leave Malum. There is also a romantic sub-plot between Klara and her long-lost childhood best friend (we see him for a few chapters and then he disappears again until he comes back at the end because he is the one responsible for bringing Klara back to Hell), but honestly, the building of their relationship is poor. We don’t have any details about their past together and now she sees him again after so many years and she does not trust him, yet she is attracted to him. He seems quite loyal to Lucifer, but at the same time, he keeps Klara’s secrets and wants her to stay with him. Then there is a romance between Klara and a Lycaon she’s traveling with, but once again there is no building, I felt nothing between them and suddenly they are kissing passionately…
The last 50 pages are better at least. There is action, treason, and battles, but it was not enough to make me love this story. I was so bored for the first half that it's like my mind was already made. It felt as is I read a 500 pages book instead of 200 pages one.
I see the potential of this book, but too often the descriptions fell short and things felt rushed. There were a lot of dialogues and it was sometimes hard to know who was saying what. I would have liked fewer dialogues and more insight into the characters' thoughts and feelings (other than Klara’s desire for freedom).
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March 8, 2021
𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣
𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝 8𝙩𝙝 2021
Let's start with the fact that when you read a book a second time you notice a lot of things that you may have just skimmed over the first time.
I loved this book the first time and now I love it even more.
It's definitely a must read for all dark fantasy lovers.
Unbelievable gripping and terrible creepy at times, but incredible exciting story about...yeah...hell and his residents.
Yes, we're talking about Lucifer and his subordinates, wherever they live.
The whole world of creatures and demons, that exist and live in different places existing in hell's realm, that try to survive Lucifer's and his soldier's wrath.
And you know what?
He has a daughter! His heir!
And before you ask, she is nothing like her father and hates being his heir 😈
Her fight for independence and again her father's and the hell's cruel rules is an unbelievable dramatic, exciting and breathtaking story.
If you like fantasy books with all sorts of witches, demons, werewolves and wizards, that's a must read for you.
This book is so unique with so many unexpected actions, twists, intrigues and crazy exciting events that I couldn't put it down, even reading it the second time 😊
And although I've already revealed so much, that's just the tip of the iceberg of what happens in this action-packed page-turner.
Read this amazing book and enjoy.
I loved and enjoyed every single second of this book 🖤🖤🖤
𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 𝙅𝙪𝙣𝙚 13𝙩𝙝 2020
WOW! What a book! 😲
What a story! 😲
This book was really a big surprise for me.
I knew it'll be fantasy, but that's it. I went blind and I'm glad I did. This story surpassed all my expectations.
This book from hell 🤭 (sorry, I had to write it) is unbelievable gripping and terrible creepy at times, but incredible exciting story about...yeah...🤷🏻♀️ hell and his residents.
Yes, we're talking about Lucifer and his subordinates, wherever they live. No, they don't live in hell, only the elite and their servants can live there.
We're talking about his whole world of creatures and demons, that exist and live in different places and try to survive his and his solders wrath. And you know what? He has a daughter! His heir! 🤗
She is nothing like his father. She wants freedom and to be as far from the hell as possible.
She wants nothing to do with the terrible, filled with terror life under Lucifer's reign.
If you like fantasy books with all sorts of witches, demons, werewolves and wizards, that's a must read for you.
This book is so unique with so many unexpected actions, intrigues and events that I couldn't put it down.
And although I've already revealed so much, that's just the tip of the iceberg of what happens in this book.
So I recommend this book to all the fantasy lovers.
Read this amazing book and enjoy. I really enjoyed and loved it to pieces and hope for more stories by Kate and maybe from heaven this time 😉
𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝 8𝙩𝙝 2021
Let's start with the fact that when you read a book a second time you notice a lot of things that you may have just skimmed over the first time.
I loved this book the first time and now I love it even more.
It's definitely a must read for all dark fantasy lovers.
Unbelievable gripping and terrible creepy at times, but incredible exciting story about...yeah...hell and his residents.
Yes, we're talking about Lucifer and his subordinates, wherever they live.
The whole world of creatures and demons, that exist and live in different places existing in hell's realm, that try to survive Lucifer's and his soldier's wrath.
And you know what?
He has a daughter! His heir!
And before you ask, she is nothing like her father and hates being his heir 😈
Her fight for independence and again her father's and the hell's cruel rules is an unbelievable dramatic, exciting and breathtaking story.
If you like fantasy books with all sorts of witches, demons, werewolves and wizards, that's a must read for you.
This book is so unique with so many unexpected actions, twists, intrigues and crazy exciting events that I couldn't put it down, even reading it the second time 😊
And although I've already revealed so much, that's just the tip of the iceberg of what happens in this action-packed page-turner.
Read this amazing book and enjoy.
I loved and enjoyed every single second of this book 🖤🖤🖤
𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 𝙅𝙪𝙣𝙚 13𝙩𝙝 2020
WOW! What a book! 😲
What a story! 😲
This book was really a big surprise for me.
I knew it'll be fantasy, but that's it. I went blind and I'm glad I did. This story surpassed all my expectations.
This book from hell 🤭 (sorry, I had to write it) is unbelievable gripping and terrible creepy at times, but incredible exciting story about...yeah...🤷🏻♀️ hell and his residents.
Yes, we're talking about Lucifer and his subordinates, wherever they live. No, they don't live in hell, only the elite and their servants can live there.
We're talking about his whole world of creatures and demons, that exist and live in different places and try to survive his and his solders wrath. And you know what? He has a daughter! His heir! 🤗
She is nothing like his father. She wants freedom and to be as far from the hell as possible.
She wants nothing to do with the terrible, filled with terror life under Lucifer's reign.
If you like fantasy books with all sorts of witches, demons, werewolves and wizards, that's a must read for you.
This book is so unique with so many unexpected actions, intrigues and events that I couldn't put it down.
And although I've already revealed so much, that's just the tip of the iceberg of what happens in this book.
So I recommend this book to all the fantasy lovers.
Read this amazing book and enjoy. I really enjoyed and loved it to pieces and hope for more stories by Kate and maybe from heaven this time 😉
August 30, 2020
⭐3.5/5⭐
This was a fun read and a lot happens, so much in fact that it felt too rushed to meet its full potential.
Trying to fit this much adventure into less than 300 pages is doing this story a disservice. I was looking forward to picking it back up to see where Klara took us, but the descriptions would often fall short and I didn't know where we were headed or why.
Too often, there was a lot of dialogue that was mashed together, so I couldn't tell who was saying what, I'd have to pause and re-read a few times. I also wanted more internal dialogue for the characters, as it was all from Klara's POV but it came across as shallow and she spoke everything aloud it seems.
Internal dialogue helps me connect with characters and care about their fates.
I loved the premise and the story was absolutely an interesting one. I loved the references to Mythology, the fantasy elements and I was really intrigued by the characters from Hell, especially Lucifer.
We also got to see a different side of Fae, which was fantastic.
The story itself was fun, intriguing and I wanted to read it, which is what brings me back for more. I wanted more detail and I hoped for a deeper understanding of the magic system, relationships and Klara's plans.
The author shows great promise with her storytelling and imagination, I would absolutely read a sequel to this or other works by her.
✨Thank you to Kate Callaghan and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.✨
This was a fun read and a lot happens, so much in fact that it felt too rushed to meet its full potential.
Trying to fit this much adventure into less than 300 pages is doing this story a disservice. I was looking forward to picking it back up to see where Klara took us, but the descriptions would often fall short and I didn't know where we were headed or why.
Too often, there was a lot of dialogue that was mashed together, so I couldn't tell who was saying what, I'd have to pause and re-read a few times. I also wanted more internal dialogue for the characters, as it was all from Klara's POV but it came across as shallow and she spoke everything aloud it seems.
Internal dialogue helps me connect with characters and care about their fates.
I loved the premise and the story was absolutely an interesting one. I loved the references to Mythology, the fantasy elements and I was really intrigued by the characters from Hell, especially Lucifer.
We also got to see a different side of Fae, which was fantastic.
The story itself was fun, intriguing and I wanted to read it, which is what brings me back for more. I wanted more detail and I hoped for a deeper understanding of the magic system, relationships and Klara's plans.
The author shows great promise with her storytelling and imagination, I would absolutely read a sequel to this or other works by her.
✨Thank you to Kate Callaghan and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.✨
March 24, 2021
Didn't like the ending at all. What was that?
Otherwise unique story, great narrator (really loved her), a bit slow at times
Otherwise unique story, great narrator (really loved her), a bit slow at times
September 1, 2020
I didn't know what to expect when I first started reading Crowned a Traitor. I certainly didn't expect the main character to try a new waitress job in a very special restaurant where they make pizza that nobody should ever eat. When she finds out their real ingredients, her fighting skills taught by one of the three Queens that keeps her captive and "protected" will be useful. Turns out, Lucifer is her daddy and he thought she would be protected with Eve, Lilith and the High Queen. Lucifer however doesn't know everything. There's a conflict for Lucifer's throne once he'll retire. It should go to Klara but she doesn't really want it. She doesn't like Hell and spends as little time as possible there. She's not the only option and the High Queen and Eve would prefer to see their own children on the throne. This is why one day, Klara has to run.
I wish I'd loved this book more. My main problem was that I was incredibly bored in the first half of the book and after that, my mind was made up even if it became a little more interesting. It still felt like reading a 500+ pages book instead of 200 pages. It took me all day to get through this book and I wish the interesting parts would have started earlier (running with Arthur, Wolfgang and the girl). I didn't expect the last reveal about Wolfgang which left me kind of shocked but overall, I'm not really sure what to think about this book. My rating is based on my enjoyment. There was also a few typos and errors that should be edited before publication (I hope) but those didn't bother me.
(Thank you for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)
I wish I'd loved this book more. My main problem was that I was incredibly bored in the first half of the book and after that, my mind was made up even if it became a little more interesting. It still felt like reading a 500+ pages book instead of 200 pages. It took me all day to get through this book and I wish the interesting parts would have started earlier (running with Arthur, Wolfgang and the girl). I didn't expect the last reveal about Wolfgang which left me kind of shocked but overall, I'm not really sure what to think about this book. My rating is based on my enjoyment. There was also a few typos and errors that should be edited before publication (I hope) but those didn't bother me.
(Thank you for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)
October 22, 2020
Klara is the future Heir to Hell and is expected to rule as Queen over Malum. Klara has been locked away for her protection by her father Lucifer and “raised” by her three guardians who currently rule over the dark forests of Malum. Klara, however, does not want to rule and decides on a way to get free of her inherited responsibilities.
Sounds pretty straightforward right? Not today Satan. This novel was a fantastic journey. The world building is exquisite and places you in the heart of Malum and Kalos. You can picture the dark forest in your head, envision the Creatures that roam the dark shadows, feel the Hounds of Hell at your heels as your pulse races to out run them. The magic system is easy to follow and doesn’t seem outlandish or overdone either.
My favorite part is the characters. Klara is given a shroud of mystery that surrounds her creation. The reader is only given a portion of her background and as the plot progresses we learn what she really is. Who she is just captures you heart. Flawed, brave, loyal and sarcastic with a side that just doesn’t quite blend with the fires of Hell. I don’t want to give too much away because the journey and who shows up along that path are extra twists for the reader to enjoy. And those three Queens…. let’s just say Hell hath no fury like a greedy woman.
This is a book that I am adding to my shelves. I didn’t skim any pages, or fast read any paragraphs. There are some areas that may seem rushed and there is a bit of romance you will question. I guarantee though that you will be left closing the book wanting more. Telling yourself “NO that cannot be it!” Possibly even frustrated with the ending because what the Hell Satan! But I digress….. I loved this read. Everything came together beautifully and I cannot wait for Callaghan to reveal if there is a sequel.
Thank you to Kate Callaghan for the opportunity to read and review your advanced copy for an honest and unbiased review.
Sounds pretty straightforward right? Not today Satan. This novel was a fantastic journey. The world building is exquisite and places you in the heart of Malum and Kalos. You can picture the dark forest in your head, envision the Creatures that roam the dark shadows, feel the Hounds of Hell at your heels as your pulse races to out run them. The magic system is easy to follow and doesn’t seem outlandish or overdone either.
My favorite part is the characters. Klara is given a shroud of mystery that surrounds her creation. The reader is only given a portion of her background and as the plot progresses we learn what she really is. Who she is just captures you heart. Flawed, brave, loyal and sarcastic with a side that just doesn’t quite blend with the fires of Hell. I don’t want to give too much away because the journey and who shows up along that path are extra twists for the reader to enjoy. And those three Queens…. let’s just say Hell hath no fury like a greedy woman.
This is a book that I am adding to my shelves. I didn’t skim any pages, or fast read any paragraphs. There are some areas that may seem rushed and there is a bit of romance you will question. I guarantee though that you will be left closing the book wanting more. Telling yourself “NO that cannot be it!” Possibly even frustrated with the ending because what the Hell Satan! But I digress….. I loved this read. Everything came together beautifully and I cannot wait for Callaghan to reveal if there is a sequel.
Thank you to Kate Callaghan for the opportunity to read and review your advanced copy for an honest and unbiased review.
March 25, 2021
Crowned a Traitor is about Klara who is Lucifer’s daughter and heir to Hell and Malum. But there’s a problem. Klara does not want to rule Hell. She wants to be free.
Dark fantasy isn’t a genre that I read very often, so I didn’t know what to expect but wow what an amazing and captivating story! There wasn’t one boring moment in this story filled with twists, magic, adventure and creatures. And my first impression of the book was fantastic; the map and pretty layout really enhanced the reader experience!
The world building and magic system are great and so easy to follow. It is descriptive but not overly done or in a way that it became boring which I appreciated.
The characters are amazing. There’s something so special about Klara who is a strong and sarcastic character but she’s also very loyal and kind. There’s something real about her character and her dreams about being free and choosing her own fate.
I’ve got mixed feelings about the ending though. It was definitely an unexpected ending that I did not see coming, but it was a bit too rushed for me.
I highly recommend reading Crowned a Traitor!
Thank you Kate Callaghan for sending an ARC in exchange of my honest opinion.
Dark fantasy isn’t a genre that I read very often, so I didn’t know what to expect but wow what an amazing and captivating story! There wasn’t one boring moment in this story filled with twists, magic, adventure and creatures. And my first impression of the book was fantastic; the map and pretty layout really enhanced the reader experience!
The world building and magic system are great and so easy to follow. It is descriptive but not overly done or in a way that it became boring which I appreciated.
The characters are amazing. There’s something so special about Klara who is a strong and sarcastic character but she’s also very loyal and kind. There’s something real about her character and her dreams about being free and choosing her own fate.
I’ve got mixed feelings about the ending though. It was definitely an unexpected ending that I did not see coming, but it was a bit too rushed for me.
I highly recommend reading Crowned a Traitor!
Thank you Kate Callaghan for sending an ARC in exchange of my honest opinion.
September 14, 2020
trigger warning
Today, Klara starts her new job as waitress in a tavern, which will bring her one step closer to be able to run away. She'll need money - she'll need to bribe people. Because her father is the devil and three wicked queens act as her guardians.
This made sense to me in the beginning. In order to pursue her dream, a free life, she tries to earn herself some money but loses her new position as she discovers her employers smuggle human flesh which a) is illegal because b) if the wrong creatures eat it, they'll turn into ghouls. It comes to a fight and as she has had supreme combat training, she wins, if wounded.
But as I saw that she just lost her heart to be very edgy and that her name is Klara Morningstar, I knew this would be a hard read because I stopped reading fanfics years ago with the reasoning that with published books at least a professional would have edited it.
Yeah, it read like a fanfic. Klara is not like other girls. She is lonely, isolated, has been tortured and is so brave and intelligent and cunning and beautiful and she's in love with the bad boy she can't have.
So, Lucifer shipped her from hell to a place called Malum which is ruled by three queens: Eve, Lillith and Abadon. A sorceress, a warrior and a demon. A big point is made about Lillith having been the person who trained Klara, a training so hard it was torture, so she can stand what life will throw at her later. Eve, who would have been responsible for her knowledge and magic abilities neglected to do so, instead pointing her ward in the direction of the library. Abalon was responsible for... ah... nothing. But still, we're told that all three of them left their mark and balanced each other out.
The author makes sure to let you know that Klara's magical abilities are mostly based on instinct, because apparently the library is rubbish when it comes to that topic - and yet, in the last third of the book, Klara has one amazing spell after the other that will help to solve a problem.
Klara wants to flee because her life has been misery. She knew, or thought she knew, that the queens hated her, wanted her dead, and she longs for a life without constant threat, without endless training. She has been isolated, parted from her best friend she also has a crush on, on purpose. She immediately takes to the travel companions she ends up with, and does everything to save them, especially a child. It's not explained why, and feels like character inconsistency as it's not adressed in any way. When was the last time she felt companionship? Does she remember that, or are these new feelings? Or does she feel more maternal? Maybe she even comes to realise she'll have to rule and will protect her own, or percieves them as her property?
There is no way to know. What could have been an interesting angle has been completely ignored.
I can live with there being a lot typos in an advanced reading copy that is not supposed to be the finished product. Yes, it was annoying, but I am just going to assume somebody will have done something about that before printing.
What I really, really, really dislike is the inconsistency in pronouns. In the beginning, I was glad as a demon was described with they/them pronouns. In the bible, angels are depicted as genderless, which makes them non-binary in my mind. Demons are fallen angels and their offspring. It makes sense to use they/them pronouns. That was a point I noted positively. And then it pronouns were used for the same characters, not once, but multiple times. Yeah, thank you for that one.
This non binary reader is not amused.
We could talk about the author sticking to Latin, but at this point I just want to get this review over with. Just let me say that Latin is not that old and totally overrated when it comes to fantasy as a genre. If you want to portray beings as being eons old, either give them more than one language or chose something that has been around for longer. Sumerian is always a safe bet - you know, the first language we have written evidence of. You could even ignore that and chose the language of birds the people supposedly spoke before the tower of Babel and all of that confusion, or invent a celestial language like they did in Penny Dreadful.
As it stands, I got the impression that they saw that Holly Black's Folk of the Air trilogy and Netflix' Chilling Adventures of Sabrina are popular and mashed everything together without thinking about it too deeply.
One star. Read it if you love reading badly written books, ignore it otherwise.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
Today, Klara starts her new job as waitress in a tavern, which will bring her one step closer to be able to run away. She'll need money - she'll need to bribe people. Because her father is the devil and three wicked queens act as her guardians.
This made sense to me in the beginning. In order to pursue her dream, a free life, she tries to earn herself some money but loses her new position as she discovers her employers smuggle human flesh which a) is illegal because b) if the wrong creatures eat it, they'll turn into ghouls. It comes to a fight and as she has had supreme combat training, she wins, if wounded.
But as I saw that she just lost her heart to be very edgy and that her name is Klara Morningstar, I knew this would be a hard read because I stopped reading fanfics years ago with the reasoning that with published books at least a professional would have edited it.
Yeah, it read like a fanfic. Klara is not like other girls. She is lonely, isolated, has been tortured and is so brave and intelligent and cunning and beautiful and she's in love with the bad boy she can't have.
So, Lucifer shipped her from hell to a place called Malum which is ruled by three queens: Eve, Lillith and Abadon. A sorceress, a warrior and a demon. A big point is made about Lillith having been the person who trained Klara, a training so hard it was torture, so she can stand what life will throw at her later. Eve, who would have been responsible for her knowledge and magic abilities neglected to do so, instead pointing her ward in the direction of the library. Abalon was responsible for... ah... nothing. But still, we're told that all three of them left their mark and balanced each other out.
The author makes sure to let you know that Klara's magical abilities are mostly based on instinct, because apparently the library is rubbish when it comes to that topic - and yet, in the last third of the book, Klara has one amazing spell after the other that will help to solve a problem.
Klara wants to flee because her life has been misery. She knew, or thought she knew, that the queens hated her, wanted her dead, and she longs for a life without constant threat, without endless training. She has been isolated, parted from her best friend she also has a crush on, on purpose. She immediately takes to the travel companions she ends up with, and does everything to save them, especially a child. It's not explained why, and feels like character inconsistency as it's not adressed in any way. When was the last time she felt companionship? Does she remember that, or are these new feelings? Or does she feel more maternal? Maybe she even comes to realise she'll have to rule and will protect her own, or percieves them as her property?
There is no way to know. What could have been an interesting angle has been completely ignored.
I can live with there being a lot typos in an advanced reading copy that is not supposed to be the finished product. Yes, it was annoying, but I am just going to assume somebody will have done something about that before printing.
What I really, really, really dislike is the inconsistency in pronouns. In the beginning, I was glad as a demon was described with they/them pronouns. In the bible, angels are depicted as genderless, which makes them non-binary in my mind. Demons are fallen angels and their offspring. It makes sense to use they/them pronouns. That was a point I noted positively. And then it pronouns were used for the same characters, not once, but multiple times. Yeah, thank you for that one.
This non binary reader is not amused.
We could talk about the author sticking to Latin, but at this point I just want to get this review over with. Just let me say that Latin is not that old and totally overrated when it comes to fantasy as a genre. If you want to portray beings as being eons old, either give them more than one language or chose something that has been around for longer. Sumerian is always a safe bet - you know, the first language we have written evidence of. You could even ignore that and chose the language of birds the people supposedly spoke before the tower of Babel and all of that confusion, or invent a celestial language like they did in Penny Dreadful.
As it stands, I got the impression that they saw that Holly Black's Folk of the Air trilogy and Netflix' Chilling Adventures of Sabrina are popular and mashed everything together without thinking about it too deeply.
One star. Read it if you love reading badly written books, ignore it otherwise.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
October 13, 2020
Crowned A Traitor is a YA Dark Fantasy with an interesting premise and a complex storyline with fights for power and an abundance of paranormal creatures. Unfortunately, I don't think it handled this complexity well as the pacing, and a lack of information left me disinterested.
Klara is the heir to hell, but she's desperately looking for a way out. Her guardians see her as a threat to their power, and her escape plan needs to be enacted quicker than she thought. The travel towards the Kalos, Fae ruled lands, is more perilous than she had anticipated.
I wanted to enjoy this book, but it didn't handle the many elements in a way that worked for me. I love a book with depth and complexity, but we didn't spend long enough on worldbuilding or character depth to drive the story. The plot jumped around suddenly in a way that often left me a bit lost. I'm hoping the lack of paragraph breaks in when different characters speak or when a new part of action happens will be corrected before it's published as it broke up the flow of the story. This author obviously has a brilliant imagination and interesting ideas; it just didn't work for me. I think if you strongly prefer plot-driven fantasy you might enjoy this book more.
Check out my longer review for this book!
(Thank you to NetGallery and the author for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
CW: Cannibalism, Death, Violence, Torture
Blog | Twitter
Accept his punishment, get back and run. Soon there will be no more Hell, Queens, or inheritance.
Klara is the heir to hell, but she's desperately looking for a way out. Her guardians see her as a threat to their power, and her escape plan needs to be enacted quicker than she thought. The travel towards the Kalos, Fae ruled lands, is more perilous than she had anticipated.
Bile rose in her throat as Klara saw the human limbs hanging from hooks. Bodies of all shapes and sizes piled on top of one another.
I wanted to enjoy this book, but it didn't handle the many elements in a way that worked for me. I love a book with depth and complexity, but we didn't spend long enough on worldbuilding or character depth to drive the story. The plot jumped around suddenly in a way that often left me a bit lost. I'm hoping the lack of paragraph breaks in when different characters speak or when a new part of action happens will be corrected before it's published as it broke up the flow of the story. This author obviously has a brilliant imagination and interesting ideas; it just didn't work for me. I think if you strongly prefer plot-driven fantasy you might enjoy this book more.
Check out my longer review for this book!
(Thank you to NetGallery and the author for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
CW: Cannibalism, Death, Violence, Torture
Blog | Twitter
October 14, 2020
“Weakness is settling for a life based on what others want of you and from you.”
I’m stunned. I have no words to tell you how incredible this book is, but I will try to collect my thoughts. This story has everything! We have a strong heroine, unique world building, all the twists and turns, and a dash of dark humor . Kate has crafted a beautiful (and kind of creepy) world full of creatures from all different folklore and mythologies. There are demons, giants, fae, ogres, lycanthropy, ghouls, leprechauns, all the creatures. They are woven into the story in such a unique and creative way!!
The story takes place in Malum which is in between the realms of Hell and Kalos, the fae realm. It’s home to all of the questionable creatures of the world and our heroine, Klara, is the heir to Malum and Hell. That’s right folks the heroine is Lucifer’s daughter! However, Klara wants anything but to rule over these realms. The story follows her on an adventure of self discovery, with the help of some unique friends, magical powers, and a bit of luck. Will she become the ruler of Hell or forge her own path??
Not only are there some amazing characters and great world building but the writing style is so fun. There are bits of dark humor all throughout that had me laughing. Just go read this book you will not regret it!! I can’t wait to read more of her stories in the future!
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June 19, 2020
OMG!!
Klara is the daughter of Lucifer, yip you read that correctly, Lucifer!! Not only is she his daughter, but she is also his heir. Klara, however, has a different outlook on what way her life should be. She wants freedom.
I will admit I had no idea what to expect. I primarily read contemporary romance, however, at the start of the year, I promised myself that I would read other genres and this dark fantasy did NOT disappoint!
Kate has an amazing writing technique! The story was absolutely captivating and the descriptions were breathtaking, maybe a little disturbing haha! At times I felt like I was there with Klara, I could see what she saw, I could nearly smell what she smelt. Genuinely, amazing. Klara, is such a strong, independent character, I will admit I loved her rebellious and witty ways. The flow was perfect, the characters were well developed and the scene was set.
If you like dark fantasy then this book is for you! I highly recommend it.
Thank you Kate for a copy of this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Klara is the daughter of Lucifer, yip you read that correctly, Lucifer!! Not only is she his daughter, but she is also his heir. Klara, however, has a different outlook on what way her life should be. She wants freedom.
I will admit I had no idea what to expect. I primarily read contemporary romance, however, at the start of the year, I promised myself that I would read other genres and this dark fantasy did NOT disappoint!
Kate has an amazing writing technique! The story was absolutely captivating and the descriptions were breathtaking, maybe a little disturbing haha! At times I felt like I was there with Klara, I could see what she saw, I could nearly smell what she smelt. Genuinely, amazing. Klara, is such a strong, independent character, I will admit I loved her rebellious and witty ways. The flow was perfect, the characters were well developed and the scene was set.
If you like dark fantasy then this book is for you! I highly recommend it.
Thank you Kate for a copy of this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
March 21, 2023
This story takes the reader on a journey through which is occupied by its many residents including demons. Klara, Lucifer's daughter and the main character, is the heir of hell but doesn't want her inheritance. She has been trapped, quite literally, by her own father. She is mysterious and her background gets revealed slowly throughout the story. She is imperfectly perfect in her own unique way and her sarcastic side really called out to me.
I loved the world building, it's very visually descriptive. The forests and it's creatures caught my imagination the most. The magic system is simple. There are twists and turns throughout the story. Kate's hell is very much inspired by the real concept of hell with the wrath of the demons and Lucifer himself, where violence and terror is a constant.
Here's to badass female main characters, strong and brave through and through. Excited to pick up the sequel. Recommended.
I loved the world building, it's very visually descriptive. The forests and it's creatures caught my imagination the most. The magic system is simple. There are twists and turns throughout the story. Kate's hell is very much inspired by the real concept of hell with the wrath of the demons and Lucifer himself, where violence and terror is a constant.
Here's to badass female main characters, strong and brave through and through. Excited to pick up the sequel. Recommended.
June 19, 2020
* Gifted ARC *
Wow, what a fantastic story! I love reading fairytales and retellings, but it doesn’t always work. With this book, it really does though! Kate Callaghan has managed to write a book, where everything is so well described that you feel like you’re right there with Klara.
Another thing I really like is Klara. She’s cool and totally kick ass, but she’s not perfect. She’s just like the rest of us with fears and doubts. The only difference is that she’s the Heir to Hell!
Thank you Kate, for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review.
Wow, what a fantastic story! I love reading fairytales and retellings, but it doesn’t always work. With this book, it really does though! Kate Callaghan has managed to write a book, where everything is so well described that you feel like you’re right there with Klara.
Another thing I really like is Klara. She’s cool and totally kick ass, but she’s not perfect. She’s just like the rest of us with fears and doubts. The only difference is that she’s the Heir to Hell!
Thank you Kate, for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review.
October 3, 2020
I got a free copy of Crowned a Traitor through Netgalley, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to read and review it. All thoughts and opinions are my own. You can read the full review here.
Crowned a Traitor by Kate Callaghan was a quick and pleasant read, not a very demanding YA, that let me down in terms of characters and enchanted me with worldbuilding. It takes you on an adventure through the realms, following the reluctant but badass heiress of Hell. My final rating was a 3.5/5 stars because I believe imaginative worlds and stories need to be encouraged.
My copy was in a sore need of proofreading, but I'm happy to learn it's been proofread, and the mistakes - fixed.
Crowned a Traitor by Kate Callaghan was a quick and pleasant read, not a very demanding YA, that let me down in terms of characters and enchanted me with worldbuilding. It takes you on an adventure through the realms, following the reluctant but badass heiress of Hell. My final rating was a 3.5/5 stars because I believe imaginative worlds and stories need to be encouraged.
My copy was in a sore need of proofreading, but I'm happy to learn it's been proofread, and the mistakes - fixed.
September 15, 2020
‘The Doomed feed the roses with there life source. Without the souls the roses would wither and die in this climate’
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book, I had noticed when adding it to my good reads it had some low reviews but as always I never let reviews or rating deter me, just as I don’t always read the synopsis as they give to much away. As i dived in I was glad for this habbit as each page was packed with goodness.
If Lucifer had a daughter, you can bet she would be Klara, her heart is everything he isn’t but at the same time everything he deserves. She grows so much throughout the book and her journey, it almost reminds me of a sheltered teenager, all she wants to do is spread her wings and to do that she has to break some rules and then some.
Kate has written Klara with so much passion you feel it in every detail and there are a lot as the books progress, despite her power, her own emotion has depth and being as innocent and sheltered as she is her emotions are somewhat misplaced and not always handled correctly. Each page is packed full of action, rebelliousness and a reason to keep reading. A debut worth every page turned
I hate to give to much away within a book so be warned there are a few spoilers ahead.....
There is such an epic twist at the end of this book that you would never expect and boy was I overjoyed with it........ he is alive and well, that is all
Overall this book was perfect and I cannot wait for book 2
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book, I had noticed when adding it to my good reads it had some low reviews but as always I never let reviews or rating deter me, just as I don’t always read the synopsis as they give to much away. As i dived in I was glad for this habbit as each page was packed with goodness.
If Lucifer had a daughter, you can bet she would be Klara, her heart is everything he isn’t but at the same time everything he deserves. She grows so much throughout the book and her journey, it almost reminds me of a sheltered teenager, all she wants to do is spread her wings and to do that she has to break some rules and then some.
Kate has written Klara with so much passion you feel it in every detail and there are a lot as the books progress, despite her power, her own emotion has depth and being as innocent and sheltered as she is her emotions are somewhat misplaced and not always handled correctly. Each page is packed full of action, rebelliousness and a reason to keep reading. A debut worth every page turned
I hate to give to much away within a book so be warned there are a few spoilers ahead.....
There is such an epic twist at the end of this book that you would never expect and boy was I overjoyed with it........ he is alive and well, that is all
Overall this book was perfect and I cannot wait for book 2
March 10, 2024
I was wayyyy too confused throughout this entire thing and felt like I wasted too much time trying to finish this. The pacing was bad, the plot had so many holes and the twist at the end really made me feel Klara’s struggles were for nothing. I did not enjoy this at all and am surprised I actually finished it instead of DNF’g (if I didn’t need it for a challenge I would have DNf’d for sure).
June 22, 2020
A wonderfully crafted debut novel from author Kate Callaghan. The blurb caught my attention from the start and I am happy I got the chance to read it.
The story follows seventeen-year-old Klara, who is non-other than Lucifer's daughter, and heir to the throne of Hell. Guarded and trained by the three Queens of Malum, she's a skilled fighter and someday she'll become a magnificent ruler. But that isn't what Klara desires, she's a rebel at heart. She never wanted the throne, she only wanted her father to be there for her, and see her as more than just his replacement on the throne. That's why, when the opportunity to leave Malum presents itself, Klara doesn't hesitate to take it. But going against her father's wishes comes with consequences and things start to go downhill rapidly. The High Queen of Malum is out for blood and wants her dead. Her only chance of survival is to get to the Fae lands, but for that, she must put her trust in others, and that might be the biggest challenge yet.
Klara is a multilayered protagonist. She's a total badass, she's recklessly brave and strongwilled, but also compassionate, kind and sometimes fearful. She's been groomed all her life to be the queen of Hell, locked up in a castle, always training, never having time to enjoy her childhood, never having time to make friends. But she only desires freedom and a peaceful life and she'll gladly trade her place on the throne if that means she'll be able to make her own choices in life.
The writing is beautiful with vivid descriptions of the land of Malum and the Kingdom of Hell. The story takes the reader on a wonderful adventure. It was action-packed, with mystery, gritty moments, magic, and a dash of romance. The action developed at a fair pace, leaving room for an intricate plot to develop. There were twists at every turn and that kept me engrossed in the story until the last page. The secondary characters are also well developed and have substance. I loved how Lucifer and the Queen's of Malum were portrayed. I also enjoyed the subtle romance subplot between Klara and Frendall.
The ending caught me by surprise. I did not see that twist coming, even though with all the scheming and plotting that went on in this book I should have prepared myself for something big. It was brilliant and I recommend this book to everyone who loves dark fantasy novels.
*Thank you, Kate, for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows seventeen-year-old Klara, who is non-other than Lucifer's daughter, and heir to the throne of Hell. Guarded and trained by the three Queens of Malum, she's a skilled fighter and someday she'll become a magnificent ruler. But that isn't what Klara desires, she's a rebel at heart. She never wanted the throne, she only wanted her father to be there for her, and see her as more than just his replacement on the throne. That's why, when the opportunity to leave Malum presents itself, Klara doesn't hesitate to take it. But going against her father's wishes comes with consequences and things start to go downhill rapidly. The High Queen of Malum is out for blood and wants her dead. Her only chance of survival is to get to the Fae lands, but for that, she must put her trust in others, and that might be the biggest challenge yet.
Klara is a multilayered protagonist. She's a total badass, she's recklessly brave and strongwilled, but also compassionate, kind and sometimes fearful. She's been groomed all her life to be the queen of Hell, locked up in a castle, always training, never having time to enjoy her childhood, never having time to make friends. But she only desires freedom and a peaceful life and she'll gladly trade her place on the throne if that means she'll be able to make her own choices in life.
The writing is beautiful with vivid descriptions of the land of Malum and the Kingdom of Hell. The story takes the reader on a wonderful adventure. It was action-packed, with mystery, gritty moments, magic, and a dash of romance. The action developed at a fair pace, leaving room for an intricate plot to develop. There were twists at every turn and that kept me engrossed in the story until the last page. The secondary characters are also well developed and have substance. I loved how Lucifer and the Queen's of Malum were portrayed. I also enjoyed the subtle romance subplot between Klara and Frendall.
The ending caught me by surprise. I did not see that twist coming, even though with all the scheming and plotting that went on in this book I should have prepared myself for something big. It was brilliant and I recommend this book to everyone who loves dark fantasy novels.
*Thank you, Kate, for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 7, 2025
Even as a kid, I have always loved stories that focused on "darker" magic, Hell, the Unseelie, or anything similarly creepy. (In my defense, my mother and I would watch NCIS and true crime TV shows together since I was quite young, to the point that my school rang her in a fright after I said, when I was like 9 years old and everyone was expressing their firm intentions to become a singer figure ice skater actress astronaut and tennis player, that I wanted to be a forensic analyst and specialise in bloodstain analysis) Not just that, though! Found family has made me gone feral my whole life, and snarky main characters who make me have a laugh as they suffer at the hands of fate are my favourite as well.
Is it any wonder, then, that I enjoyed "Crowned A Traitor" as much as I did? Spoiler: nope! Since this wasn't my first Kate Callaghan book, I already knew that I could expect an immersive prose that would suck me in from the get-go and excellent character building. But this was my first time reading a work of hers that isn't a romcom (I had the honour of reading "Ms. Perfectly Fine" and "The Naughty or Nice Clause"), so I was thrilled to find out how she handled fantasy and action. Well, she certainly didn't disappoint! This book is aimed at young adult audiences, which is why I would advise adult readers to keep in mind that they aren't the main target audience (as in, I don't think this book "lacked spice" or "should've been more twisted and complex" in that this isn't adult fantasy).
Keeping that in mind, though? I found that it asked a number of important questions in a very honest way that made room for conversations to be had. Born and raised to become the next wicked Queen of Hell, main character Klara has never been given any choice on what her future is going to look like. Raised to be the next bone-chillingly evil ruler of Hell, she never asked for this burden that weighs her down, and I quite enjoyed having an "anti-Chosen One" of sorts as a main character. All too often the Chosen One trope applies to heroes and goody-two-shoes protagonists, but what if you were chosen to become something wicked and vile instead? I found it quite interesting to see how Callaghan approached this conversation about autonomy, and freedom, from a refreshing standpoint.
Without showing too much harsh evil, the story does present a number of interesting situations and sub-plots. Even though I would perhaps have enjoyed higher stakes, considering that it's Hell and Lucifer we are talking about and I do expect those to invoke at least some degree of anxiety when presented as antagonistic in any way..., what I kept thinking as I turned the pages was that, as a teen, I would have been FERAL over this book to the point of changing all of my social media handles to something that included "Klara". Her companions were a colourful band of merry misfits that grew on me along the way, and the final plot-twist left me wide-eyed and itching to know what happens next.
Thanks to the rich and multi-layered worldbuilding, this book made up for the slower initial pacing, and I'm curious to see where it will go from here.
Is it any wonder, then, that I enjoyed "Crowned A Traitor" as much as I did? Spoiler: nope! Since this wasn't my first Kate Callaghan book, I already knew that I could expect an immersive prose that would suck me in from the get-go and excellent character building. But this was my first time reading a work of hers that isn't a romcom (I had the honour of reading "Ms. Perfectly Fine" and "The Naughty or Nice Clause"), so I was thrilled to find out how she handled fantasy and action. Well, she certainly didn't disappoint! This book is aimed at young adult audiences, which is why I would advise adult readers to keep in mind that they aren't the main target audience (as in, I don't think this book "lacked spice" or "should've been more twisted and complex" in that this isn't adult fantasy).
Keeping that in mind, though? I found that it asked a number of important questions in a very honest way that made room for conversations to be had. Born and raised to become the next wicked Queen of Hell, main character Klara has never been given any choice on what her future is going to look like. Raised to be the next bone-chillingly evil ruler of Hell, she never asked for this burden that weighs her down, and I quite enjoyed having an "anti-Chosen One" of sorts as a main character. All too often the Chosen One trope applies to heroes and goody-two-shoes protagonists, but what if you were chosen to become something wicked and vile instead? I found it quite interesting to see how Callaghan approached this conversation about autonomy, and freedom, from a refreshing standpoint.
Without showing too much harsh evil, the story does present a number of interesting situations and sub-plots. Even though I would perhaps have enjoyed higher stakes, considering that it's Hell and Lucifer we are talking about and I do expect those to invoke at least some degree of anxiety when presented as antagonistic in any way..., what I kept thinking as I turned the pages was that, as a teen, I would have been FERAL over this book to the point of changing all of my social media handles to something that included "Klara". Her companions were a colourful band of merry misfits that grew on me along the way, and the final plot-twist left me wide-eyed and itching to know what happens next.
Thanks to the rich and multi-layered worldbuilding, this book made up for the slower initial pacing, and I'm curious to see where it will go from here.
October 5, 2020
While regular daughters ask their daddy for an allowance or a new car, Klara-Daughter of Lucifer goes to daddy for a new heart.
Klara was everything I want my female heroine to be- bold, fierce, witty, adaptable but also kind and humble when necessary. She was quite an engaging and entertaining character who was also slightly ironic character as she possesses the power of revelation but cannot accept her own truth.
“No gift comes without cost, I can reveal what others hide, but I can’t hide either”- Klara
Aside from Klara, I was ecstatic by the powerful and dominant female characters scripted by Kate Callaghan. Too often men are custodians of positions of power in battle and I loved how Kate obliterated this stereotype with Queens of Hell. Kate Callaghan built an intriguing and mysterious world that despite having its own unique identity, still paid homage to old-school fairytale classics with myths and legends such as Eve, Abadan, and Lillith.
Despite all the “Girl Power” in the air, I personally adored Kate’s rendition of Lucifer as the doting (not so doting), hard yet soft father who just wants all his children to get along.
Crowned a traitor was extremely captivating and I honestly could not put it down. Page after page, my emotions went on a grand rollercoaster of mystery, deception, and revelation. I loved that feeling of having every assumption of what’s next being totally and utterly obliterated by Kate who powered on with a deviously intriguing plot. The beginning of the book was slightly slow but the mid to end was heavy on battle scenes, a daring escape, and brief glimpses of humor.
There were some things that I really wished were pursued in this book, but hope to see in future novels:- there was a slight romance that was teased throughout the novel and I really wanted it developed more thoroughly and I wanted some more backstory on certain key characters. The eventuality of a lot of characters was crushing to me and truly highlighted the difference between cruelty of heart and action and the harsh lessons learned only through death and sacrifice
Overall, I would recommend Crowned by a Traitor and its depiction of the trials in earning power the right way and deserving to rule. This is not an absolute “happily ever after” but a fair and honest depiction of the spoils of war, the devastation of jealousy, the harsh decisions rulers must make, and the effects this can have on family life. Honestly, people who read fantasy novels and expect the characters to behave conventionally should stick to romance novels.
Huge thank you to Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), the author Kate Callaghan and NetGalley for providing me with an arc. All views and opinions expressed above are my own.
This review will be posted on my blog here: https://jessicareadsit.wordpress.com/...
Klara was everything I want my female heroine to be- bold, fierce, witty, adaptable but also kind and humble when necessary. She was quite an engaging and entertaining character who was also slightly ironic character as she possesses the power of revelation but cannot accept her own truth.
“No gift comes without cost, I can reveal what others hide, but I can’t hide either”- Klara
Aside from Klara, I was ecstatic by the powerful and dominant female characters scripted by Kate Callaghan. Too often men are custodians of positions of power in battle and I loved how Kate obliterated this stereotype with Queens of Hell. Kate Callaghan built an intriguing and mysterious world that despite having its own unique identity, still paid homage to old-school fairytale classics with myths and legends such as Eve, Abadan, and Lillith.
Despite all the “Girl Power” in the air, I personally adored Kate’s rendition of Lucifer as the doting (not so doting), hard yet soft father who just wants all his children to get along.
Crowned a traitor was extremely captivating and I honestly could not put it down. Page after page, my emotions went on a grand rollercoaster of mystery, deception, and revelation. I loved that feeling of having every assumption of what’s next being totally and utterly obliterated by Kate who powered on with a deviously intriguing plot. The beginning of the book was slightly slow but the mid to end was heavy on battle scenes, a daring escape, and brief glimpses of humor.
There were some things that I really wished were pursued in this book, but hope to see in future novels:- there was a slight romance that was teased throughout the novel and I really wanted it developed more thoroughly and I wanted some more backstory on certain key characters. The eventuality of a lot of characters was crushing to me and truly highlighted the difference between cruelty of heart and action and the harsh lessons learned only through death and sacrifice
Overall, I would recommend Crowned by a Traitor and its depiction of the trials in earning power the right way and deserving to rule. This is not an absolute “happily ever after” but a fair and honest depiction of the spoils of war, the devastation of jealousy, the harsh decisions rulers must make, and the effects this can have on family life. Honestly, people who read fantasy novels and expect the characters to behave conventionally should stick to romance novels.
Huge thank you to Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), the author Kate Callaghan and NetGalley for providing me with an arc. All views and opinions expressed above are my own.
This review will be posted on my blog here: https://jessicareadsit.wordpress.com/...
September 8, 2020
This book was totally different than what I normally read, and I loved it. I've been looking for books with morally gray characters for years since I read The Young Elites, and although I wouldn't classify Klara as morally gray, I think she bordered it. i thought the concept of this was totally unique, and as soon as I read the blurb, I knew I had to have it.
First off, the world building in this was amazing. The universe this is set in contains three worlds: Kalos (the Fae realms), Hell, and Malum. Despite every world being vastly different, I could picture each one clearly in my head. The inhabitants of each realm were loveable (or in some cases not). Our main character Klara, Lucifer's heir was poised to take over ruling both Malum and Hell, and I really liked how she actually had the priorities a heir should have.
So, I've mentioned a bit of the plot above, and I can't give much more because of spoilers, but the plot in this was also great. It was definitely action packed, and at times confusing, but it never lagged. It combined a few epic fights, a bit of politics, and a yearning for freedom masterfully until its climax. In the blurb, we are promised a leprechaun smuggler, and I was slightly disappointed that he only made a few appearances, but the rest of the crew was there.
Now, there is a slight romance in this, but its not a huge part of the story. I almost wish we had gotten a bit more of it, because it would've given the action a break. Regardless, I enjoyed its inclusion, and can totally see the characters thriving together. I liked all of the characters in this, especially Wolfgang and Lottie, who really added a bit of comedic relief to the story.
After all of my praise, my 4 star rating really comes from something that is a direct consequence of receiving an arc of this book. I struggled to enjoy this book at times because dialogue would be smashed together, making it difficult to understand who was talking, and because of some grammar mistakes. Both of those will hopefully be fixed, so then I can see my enjoyment of this going way up. I would totally recommend this book!
*I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review*
First off, the world building in this was amazing. The universe this is set in contains three worlds: Kalos (the Fae realms), Hell, and Malum. Despite every world being vastly different, I could picture each one clearly in my head. The inhabitants of each realm were loveable (or in some cases not). Our main character Klara, Lucifer's heir was poised to take over ruling both Malum and Hell, and I really liked how she actually had the priorities a heir should have.
So, I've mentioned a bit of the plot above, and I can't give much more because of spoilers, but the plot in this was also great. It was definitely action packed, and at times confusing, but it never lagged. It combined a few epic fights, a bit of politics, and a yearning for freedom masterfully until its climax. In the blurb, we are promised a leprechaun smuggler, and I was slightly disappointed that he only made a few appearances, but the rest of the crew was there.
Now, there is a slight romance in this, but its not a huge part of the story. I almost wish we had gotten a bit more of it, because it would've given the action a break. Regardless, I enjoyed its inclusion, and can totally see the characters thriving together. I liked all of the characters in this, especially Wolfgang and Lottie, who really added a bit of comedic relief to the story.
After all of my praise, my 4 star rating really comes from something that is a direct consequence of receiving an arc of this book. I struggled to enjoy this book at times because dialogue would be smashed together, making it difficult to understand who was talking, and because of some grammar mistakes. Both of those will hopefully be fixed, so then I can see my enjoyment of this going way up. I would totally recommend this book!
*I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review*
March 27, 2021
A very well written and developed plot surrounding the realised story of Lucifer and his descendants.
A unique blend of hellish demons, dark creatures and Fae.
Many twists and turns and each new character is more interesting than the last.
Great world building and character development. Broke my heart more than once, may have shed a tear or 3.
Definitely a good read for those who like the dual realm and royalty concept of cruel prince along with the Lucifer characteristics in "chilling adventures of Sabrina".
Thoughts just after reading :
I just finished this book. Yes it is 4:30am and my right eye is doing some twitchy thing, but honestly all I feel is so much excitement from this book.
The plot and world building and fully realised concept and plot was 🔥🔥🔥
Like chefs kiss level of wow.
I genuinely wish I could get the book in physical format so I could tab and highlight all the things I love in this book.
I feel so many emotions right now!!
A unique blend of hellish demons, dark creatures and Fae.
Many twists and turns and each new character is more interesting than the last.
Great world building and character development. Broke my heart more than once, may have shed a tear or 3.
Definitely a good read for those who like the dual realm and royalty concept of cruel prince along with the Lucifer characteristics in "chilling adventures of Sabrina".
Thoughts just after reading :
I just finished this book. Yes it is 4:30am and my right eye is doing some twitchy thing, but honestly all I feel is so much excitement from this book.
The plot and world building and fully realised concept and plot was 🔥🔥🔥
Like chefs kiss level of wow.
I genuinely wish I could get the book in physical format so I could tab and highlight all the things I love in this book.
I feel so many emotions right now!!
December 31, 2020
Time to clean up all the books in my 'review to come' folder for the new year!
I do not remember this book well but I couldn't figure out the point of Malum, nor why Eve is still around, and most of the book didn't make any sense to me because the info she was dumping wasn't answering the questions I had!
There were some good parts but overall I had declined to review this during the book tour and am coming back at 3 stars since all I remember is a slow beginning and all my "wtf" feelings!
I do not remember this book well but I couldn't figure out the point of Malum, nor why Eve is still around, and most of the book didn't make any sense to me because the info she was dumping wasn't answering the questions I had!
There were some good parts but overall I had declined to review this during the book tour and am coming back at 3 stars since all I remember is a slow beginning and all my "wtf" feelings!
September 4, 2020
Unfortunately, this book didn't meet the expectations I had from it’s synopsis which made it seem really interesting, but unfortunately it was too chaotic, too much mixing of mythology that just didn’t work, it felt also like it needed more editing and work on the grammar etc . Just not for me unfortunately
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
March 4, 2021
‘The last thing Klara saw was Lucius' hand breaking through her chest plate before she plunged into darkness.
Ah, shit, I'm going to have to ask Father for a new heart.’
Ah, shit, I'm going to have to ask Father for a new heart.’
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