The Crimson Crown

by B.J. Swann

Inverted Dreams. Excoriated Hearts. Terror and Horror Sublime. The twin princesses Oda and Honey are as different as night and day. Oda is a child of the dark, obsessed with cruelty and death. Honey is as sweet as her name, filled with goodwill and compassion. It is therefore a remarkably revolting twist of fate when the royal astrologer orders Oda to be married to the mild-mannered King Armand, while Honey is betrothed to King Barbus of Gutgirt, the most brutal man in the world, who tears peasants apart with his bare hands and keeps his murdered brides' bodies on display in his own bloody chamber. As the twins strive to wrest back their lives from the cruel hand of fate, they embark on a journey of self discovery that will twist them in unimaginable ways - and perhaps bare the secrets of their innermost selves. At the centre of their struggles, shining balefully over all, is the Crimson Crown of Gutgirt, a relic of terrible mystery and demonic power, whose secrets hold the key to salvation - and everlasting doom. The Crimson Crown is a Punk AF fantasy story set in the Aeon of Chaos. It contains graphic sex, violence, and disturbing material, and is not intended for the squeamish or the easily offended.

Genres: Horror, Fantasy

110 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 21, 2021

About the author

B.J. Swann is the incarnation of a cosmic demon who shall not be named. He has come to earth to usher in the Aeon of Chaos, an age of madness, mayhem, and pleasures undreamed of. He likes comic books, bubble tea, and boneless fried chicken.

Contact: bjswnn@gmail.com

Reviews

[Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third Aeon of Chaos book and an excellent third instalment at that!

I enjoy reading these books, they're so well written and the worldbuilding is incredible.

The books aren't connected story-wise, they're all different but remain ultra-violent with added smut.

The only way to describe it is extreme Dark Fantasy Horror.

A short read and lots of fun!

[Simon McHardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Their men who do not die in battle shall have both of their hands cut off, thus leaving them a nation of lonely cripples unable even to wank'. Any author that can come up with such cruelty deserves 5 stars. 'The Crimson Crown' is BJ at his disgusting best.

[DA · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm quite enjoying the world of the Aeon of Chaos and this story was no exception.
A story of two sisters who think they know who they are, but find that their true selves are not what they believe.

[Daniel Volpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent installment to BJ Swann's "Aeon of Chaos " saga. This story was great, albeit predictable. That didn't detract from the detailed characters, graphic violence and sex. Swann has a great world built and I'm looking forward to reading more of his work

[Russell Holbrook · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was different! I was really excited to read it after reading a couple of posts by the author on the horror sub-genre, Splatter Fantasy, which exactly describes this book! It has all the swords, sorcery, and is a fast-paced, blood-drenched tale. I had a lot of fun reading The Crimson Crown! I'd never read anything quite like it although it did remind me, in spirit, of the 80s fantasy film, Dragonslayer, which was one of my childhood favorites. Huzzah! :D

[Mounkey · Rating 5 out of 5]

BJ did it again my 2 favorite subjects fantasy and horror/gore! What a great story! Think of a throwback fairy type tale riddled with gore, horror, sex and throw in a good bit of fantasy. I'm not sure but i think i read a little Johnny Cash reference towards the end. lol

[Rayne Havok · Rating 5 out of 5]

B.J.'s writing is authentic and comes from a place inside where you can see he loves the craft. From top to bottom, he creates his books.
Very well done and even if you think this book might not be for you, I bet you find it really is.

[S.E. Lindberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Crimson Crown is Intense, Emotive, Dark Fantasy; Equally Enjoyable and Discomforting.

Like to read familiar, cozy mysteries or adventures? BJ Swann's The Crimson Crown is not for you. As the blurb on the back warns: “The Crimson Crown is a Punk AF…contains graphic sex, violence, and disturbing material, and is not intended for the squeamish or the easily offended.”

The Crimson Crown is for readers looking for a fresh and emotive experience that is well-crafted, but discomforting. This is extreme Dark Fantasy. The beginning radiates an insane-fairytale vibe which evolves into a climactic battle that is wholeheartedly Grimdark melee. Here’s an excerpt of some of its early, passive brutality:

[Barbus] grabbed the serving girl by the neck and forced her to kneel, so that her chin rested on the tabletop and its edge pressed into her throat. She coughed and choked, and at first Honey thought the poor girl’s windpipe might be broken, but then she began crying and begging for her life ... Blood trickled down her face and mingled with her tears. Honey wanted to say something, tell him to stop, but she was paralysed with terror. She watched as Barbus grabbed the girl’s hair and peeled back her scalp like a rind, laying bare her naked skull. Honey felt sick from the sight, but the horror was only beginning.

And that scene really is just the beginning. It continues to dish out the serving girl’s brains. Submissive Honeydew witnesses it all. This book is literally full of scenes like this. Whereas the initial chapters are grotesquely calm, they ramp up toward action-oriented warfare:

She clapped her hands on either side of an enemy’s head. His helm collapsed and his skull cracked like an egg, forcing blood and brain to go shooting through the holes in his visor. The gore splattered afresh all over her face. She stopped, blinded, senses cocooned by the hot wetness clogging her nostrils, coating her lips, overwhelming her with its scent and its taste. She tried to wipe it away but her blood-covered gauntlets weren’t suited to the task. Even when she managed to scoop it out of her eyes so she could see, it was still on her lips and in her nose, preventing her from breathing, lest she breathe it in too. A part of her was sickened, repulsed by the thick, cloying film; another part wanted to let it in, to bathe in it both inside and out.

Enjoy the Atrocity: There were instances of violent eroticism that made me uncomfortable. I kept reading since none of the madness was gratuitous, the delivery was smooth, and the horror was interrupted with (a) grim humor and (b) contrasting scenes of peace & serenity. All the scenes, no matter how vividly terrible, amplified the themes and story arcs. Ashleigh the painter is a character whose task in life is to document the carnage following the crown, and he seems to echo the author’s muse by maintaining an Atrocity Exhibit. There is cruelty that he must document and share.

The Crimson Crown is intentionally edgy. As "PunkAF" as it is, it strikes great balances. The story arcs were simple, conflicts stark, and characterizations extreme. This clarity made for a fast read. The fun uncertainty lies in the journey. You will be flipping pages anxious to know how the journey unfolds, even though you know it ends terribly. I found both Honeydew and Oda to be strangely relatable even though they are almost cartoonishly unreal characterizations. I got attached to them anyway. As Honey and Oda transform, you may ask yourself, “Do I have inner cruelty to feed?” No? Then why are you enjoying the book? Questioning your own glee while reading this Atrocity Exhibit is, in itself, disturbing.

The blood was disgusting, with a hint of deliciousness thrown in, like any other type of acquired taste. She swallowed it down, sucked in a blood-tainted breath, then licked her lips. She told herself it was only to clean her mouth, because her gauntlets were too clumsy to do so, but a part of her was howling with joy at the texture and taste. What’s happening to me? she wondered, though she already knew.

The complex of feelings was always the same – a sense of great power that gloried in itself; a bestial hunger for agony and blood; the pleasure of selfishness unbound; and, last but not least, the delicious frisson of doing the forbidden. In other words, it was cruelty, pure and simple. It had always been inside of her – she was simply just letting it out.

Title, Cover, and Summary: The cover art by Anton Rosovsky is engaging and represents the story well. The title and design deliver exactly what they should: the promise of a brutal story about an artifact called the Crimson Crown. It raises mysteries too: is the head wearing the crown a protagonist? Is the crimson referring to blood or the highlighted gem? The synopsis on the back summarizes the conflict:

Inverted Dreams. Excoriated Hearts. Terror and Horror Sublime. The twin princesses Oda and Honey are as different as night and day. Oda is a child of the dark, obsessed with cruelty and death. Honey is as sweet as her name, filled with goodwill and compassion. It is therefore a remarkably revolting twist of fate when the royal astrologer orders Oda to be married to the mild-mannered King Armand, while Honey is betrothed to King Barbus of Gutgirt, the most brutal man in the world, who tears peasants apart with his bare hands and keeps his murdered brides’ bodies on display in his own bloody chamber. As the twins strive to wrest back their lives from the cruel hand of fate, they embark on a journey of self discovery that will twist them in unimaginable ways – and perhaps bare the secrets of their innermost selves. At the centre of their struggles, shining balefully over all, is the Crimson Crown of Gutgirt, a relic of terrible mystery and demonic power, whose secrets hold the key to salvation – and everlasting doom.

Aeon of Chaos:The Crimson Crown is associated with the Aeon of Chaos (AoC) universe produced by BJ Swann. The series all share the disclaimer: “contains graphic sex, violence, and potentially disturbing material. It is not intended for children or the easily offended.” I have not read these yet, yet the introductory pages provide some context:

It is the Aeon of Chaos, a time of terror, wonder, and pleasures undreamed of. The gods are dead and the great demons gnaw at their bones. From the cannibal kingdom of Kaszanka to the sordid pornocracy of Thune life is frenzied and cheap. Fortunes and kingdoms are bartered at the swing of a blade. Lawlessness and lust rule the day, while magic and mayhem take charge of the night. Slavery and massacre swarm across the land like ants at a picnic, while notes of demon laughter dance over all like shadows of flames from the deific pyre. It is the Aeon of Chaos, and only Chaos reigns!

Other Aeon of Chaos books: The Unwithering Flower, The Court of the Mushroom King, Our Lady of the Scythe: Demon Academy

[Paul (Life In The Slow Lane) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would you like extra blood and guts with that blood and guts sir?

It's a Grimm's fairy tale, only, naughtier. And the word inchoate appears five times!

I enjoyed this story WAY more than I should have. I was going to give it ⭐⭐⭐, but the last 20% of the book was so good I decided to award ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Also...why do I feel the need to go to Confession?

Me: Bless me Father for I have sinned.
Priest: What are your sins my son?
Me: I read another one of those B.J. Swann books.
Priest: As penance, say 1,000 Hail Marys, and flagellate yourself with a pineapple on a stick ...but you'll still probably go to Hell.

[Mirror Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic addition to the Aeon of Chaos universe. Full of everything that should be in modern fantasy; gore, sex, visceral action and incredible characters, most of them bastards. Swann has crafted some of the coolest demons as well, the way they interact with the world and people is incredibly unique.

[Jim Glover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy hell

This is the first splatterpunk fantasy book I’ve read! And wow did I love it. Very fast paced short read but damn it makes you want more and more! A story about twins finding their true inner self. Get this book! I can’t stress enough it’s fantastic!!!!!

[maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent novella, a surprisingly good and quick gory read. The best way I can describe it is: picture a fairytale written in the style of the darkest and most brutal of Berserk scenes. Not for the faint of heart, but for those who can handle brutal horror and gore, I would recommend this.