The Briar Crown

Zemkoska Chronicles #1

by Helen Rygh-Pedersen

They say love conquers all… but can the conquered ever love the conqueror?

Twenty-five years ago, there was life. Twenty-five years ago, there was peace when the descendants of the dryads and naiads kept all life in balance. Until one fateful night when the Oderbergs invaded, executed the royal house of Domonov and took Domovnia for their own, ruling with an iron fist and an edict of fear.
Roslyn Pleveli, like most of the orphans of that night, wants revenge and an end to the persecution of her kind. Yet, even if the Domovnian’s use of magic was permitted, she wouldn’t be much help, able to command only a few lowly weeds. But everything changes when she saves the life of an injured young man in the forest not knowing it was the prince of the Oderbergs himself. Ordered to see to the rest of his treatment, Roslyn is snatched from her home and all that she loves by his soldiers.
Now, in the Oderberg stronghold, she has the chance to change things. With the royal family within her grasp all she has to do to free her people is kill them… but can she do it, or will something more powerful than revenge heal the wounds of the past?

Genres: Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Audiobook, Romance, Romantasy

362 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 18, 2023

Reviews

[Esmay Rosalyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew virtually nothing about this story before going into The Briar Crown, but I had heard such amazing things about this author’s debut, Waking Ursa Minor, that I just took a leap of faith and hoped for the best. And wow, what a wonderful surprise this was! A sweeping and heartwarming fantasy romance with great political intrigue and alluring nature magic, what more could you want?!

This is the story of the young and fierce Roslyn Pleveli, who wants nothing more than to see her land and people be freed from the iron rule of their invaders, the Oderbergs. For 25 years, the Domovnians have been oppressed and persecuted for their nature magic, but now sparks of rebellion are stirring. As a lowly Hedgie, able to command but a mere few weeds, Roslyn always thought that she wouldn’t be of much help in her people’s quest for revenge. Yet, when she finds herself ordered to live at the Oderberg stronghold after saving their prince’s life, she might just end up being the key to freedom and equality for her people. If only her feelings don’t end up getting in the way of her mission to kill the royal family…

I was utterly enchanted by this story from the moment I started reading. This might be a harsh and brutal world, but the story never felt bleak to me. For one, I loved the way the nature magic made this world feel so vibrant and alive. The author has created a deep history and rich lore for this world and its inhabitants, which was woven seamlessly into the story. I loved learning about the different magical abilities, they just filled me with a sense of wonder.

But aside from that, these characters are also just delightful to follow. They are generally just good people who refuse to give up hope, which makes it so easy to root for them. They might not be the most complex characters ever, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t well-developed. Both Roslyn and her love-interest have their own internal struggles to overcome and their dynamic is complex and compelling. There’s a bit of a star-crossed lovers scenario going on and I loved seeing them grapple with their conflicting duties and feelings. The love-interest is also just unfairly charming and I can’t fault Roslyn for falling head over heels in love.

Now, I wouldn’t necessarily call this insta-love, but there’s certainly an instant infatuation/lust situation. I personally enjoy my romances a bit more slow-burn, but that didn’t stop me from loving their dynamic either way. Their interactions are amusing, tender, heartfelt and overall just filled my heart with joy.

While I was personally more invested in the characters and their messy emotions, I did end up being pleasantly surprised by the way this plot developed and played out. The author did a great job of balancing the romance and the political elements, which made this story just incredibly engaging. And while the final resolution was maybe a bit predictable, I liked that there were some surprising reveals and revelations along the way. The brilliant pacing and the captivating writing style also just kept me glued to the page, so I ended up breezing through this comforting story like nobody’s business.

Overall, I had a fabulous time with this story, so now I am even more excited to go back to check out Waking Ursa Minor and will be looking out for anything she writes next!
If you need a good, comforting fantasy romance with loveable characters, dangerous political intrigue, satisfying reveals and enchanting nature magic, then I highly recommend checking out The Briar Crown.

Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[C.J. Daley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very interested in the author’s journey to narrate the novel herself, so when I saw an ARC sign up, I jumped right on it. The narration is vivid, distinct and overall a fantastic job for a first outing!

Other than following along with the author’s narration journey, the only thing I knew going into this was that I was a fan of the cover. I believe this falls under what people are calling romantasy, which is not typically my bag, but this one is done pretty spectacularly. The fantasy world isn’t just a backdrop, it’s living and deep and filled with lore. The romance is front and center in the plot, but the author doesn’t leave the world building or characterization behind. I thought the love interest was interesting and believable, and the climax and twists took it to something other than just romance.

Now there is a bit of spice…the author teases it several times without going there, but then it finally does. Spice is not for me, but I thought the use of it was in the correct places for sure.

I’m impressed as this is my first from the author, and I’m sure it won’t be the last now. Personally a 4/5*.

[Terry Rudge · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a pleasant suprise this book was.
I dont mind fantasy romance but it's definitely not my go to. However after loving Reign and Ruin from spfbo7 I was happy to try another indie fantasy romance.

The book moves at pace, the story has some of your favourite tropes and they were done excellently.

What particularly stood out , was the fluid and flowing prose. I was captivated by the writing and immersed into the world from the opening chapters.

I personally like a bit of a slow burn romance in this genre, however in this story there wasn't much hanging around. That said, I think it worked in favour of the story and meant that we got a chance to have character depth, right from the start. There was some spice in the book too, and I was TOTALLY HERE for it. It was done well, wasn't OTT and fit the story and characters perfectly.

I really appreciated the magic system too. I've never read a plant based magic system before but this landed for me. The author left enough mystery and explained perfectly when needed.

Finally, I listened to this as an audio and I think the author did a wonderful job narrating her own book . I am definitely keen to read more from the author

[Lucia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book. Didn't realise it was a retelling till I read Author's note at the end. Magic system based on plant affinity was very versatile and well incorporated into the worldbuilding and my favorite part of the story.

What I found lacking is romance, it is a slow burn romance, but I also feel like most of the romantic development happened off page. I wanted more character interactions to establish the relationship and make it believable before the resolution in the end.

Overall, enjoyable fantasy romance with the good characters, plant-based magic system and an immersive plot.

[Krystle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook of The Briar Crown, and I very much enjoyed it! I understand the author herself narrated, and it was delightfully delivered. I started this book while I was at the gym, and it had me laughing literally out loud in public! I then finished it while I was away on my road trip, and thank the merciful gods for earbuds. The Briar Crown continued to be funny and entertaining, and it also became deliciously horny.

Roslyn, you wonderful minx you.

The Briar Crown checked a lot of boxes for me. Earth Magic, yes. Humour and never taking itself too seriously, yes. Big themes about colonialism, and illegal magic?! Hell yes! Romance that was at times so hot it made part of my spine melt? Omg yessssssssss.

No one can deny that The Briar Crown is well written with beautiful but accessible prose. It’s thoughtfully world built with original ideas, delivered with familiar fantasy staples that are well loved for good reason. Roslyn starts as an underdog, but rises to the occasion under pressure. Any quibbles once again lay within the realm of my personal taste, and were not a reflection on quality. For example, perhaps I’m too much the grimdark author and reader, and I found myself wondering why enemies repeatedly left each other alive, especially during the culmination of the last section. There is also a push-pull will-they-won’t-they between Roslyn and her love interest, and at times I found myself wondering why Roslyn was so fast to forgive him. I think this choice was made for the sake of pacing — The Briar Crown runs tight and short and for the most part this works very well — so I can understand the decision (and forgive me, Helen, if I’m being overly presumptions and I’m wrong), but also sometimes I wanted just a little bit more meat to chew on.

These quibbles aside, I did very much enjoy The Briar Crown, and it left an impression on me that makes me think fondly of it even now, these many weeks after I finished listening. I will definitely be buying the rest of this series!

[Isabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Briar Crown is a book that I had a lot of feelings about in both directions. It’s a story that I overall really enjoyed and am glad I decided to pick up but that upon closer inspection I had a lot more thoughts about.

Something I loved was the magic system. I’ve been very partial to plant-based Magic systems since figuring out that’s what I want to do in my own book so I’ve loved picking up those books since. I liked that people had different affinities and strengths related to those affinities and how they chose to depict them in their everyday lives. It was such a neat detail to include. The world-building in general was something I really enjoyed. Having two characters from opposing belief systems meet and discuss those beliefs felt well done without making it feel like info-dumping at convenient spots of the story.

That being said, I did feel that there were just a couple of other rather convenient and predictable things in the story that made things much easier for the MC, though overall I felt the flow well done with good details scattered throughout to show the author does pay attention to the little things as well and can tell a good story even with components that might be well known to some readers already.

My other big issue relates to the characters. The majority of the supporting cast felt a little one-dimensional and almost entirely negative for the majority of the story. I don’t mind an Us Against the World type story but a little more variety would’ve been nice. Roslyn also accepted her new identity pretty quickly but maybe that’s just me thinking so because I would be freaking out a whole lot more in her situation. Hah.

Other than that, this was an excellent reading experience and I really enjoyed myself. It has a very easy to read prose that I quite enjoyed and that propels you through the story quickly. It had a couple of really funny lines that had me laughing out loud. I also liked the spicy bits but for those readers that aren’t really into that, I would say to still give the story a try because there isn’t a ton of that. As I said, I really enjoyed this book and hope you guys will give it a try. I’ve already bought Waking Ursa Minor by this author because I want to read more of her writing!

[Joshua Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on SFFINSIDERS.COM

If you love the whimsy of Naomi Novik’s Uprooted or Spinning Silver, mixed with the dark fantasy aspects of Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse, you’ll love this book.

The Briar Crown is the first book in The Zemkoska Chronicles by Helen Rygh-Pedersen, a series of standalone fantasy stories that retell various fairytales. It is also a tremendously entertaining, fast-paced fantasy story that was heartfelt and thoughtful in all the right places. For me, this book did a lot of things well, and ultimately served as the icebreaker I needed to get out of a serious reading slump in the genre.

The story begins with our main character, Roslyn, trapped within the confines of mundane, lowly life. She belongs to a race of people known as Domovnians, those who can bend nature to their will. The people themselves are treated similarly to the skaa in Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn books, for example, and this interested me as Roslyn served as the basis for discussing various aspects of colonialism throughout the book. Though the story presents as a simple enough romantasy, there is much more at play in the worldbuilding and characters, The Briar Crown therefore is no one-trick pony.

From the get-go, Helen Rygh-Pedersen’s prose captured me and carried me through the story effortlessly. The world has a charm to it that can only be described as fairytale-like, but it also doesn’t take itself too seriously, and there were many laugh out loud moments for me as I read through it, including a particular royal aunty that I believe most readers will agree with me, was hilarious in more ways than one.

Roslyn’s story, linked to her mysterious origins, is well-developed and actually quite intricate, and it meant that I felt thoroughly invested in her successes and failures, and found myself rooting for her all the way to the end. Her love interest, which I won’t explain here for spoiler-reasons, was also an interesting character with an eccentric family that all toed the line when it came to politicking and maintaining power.

However, one small criticism I must make of the story is to do with Roslyn’s motivations, and the believability of some things in the story in general. Far too often I found myself unable to suspend disbelief, usually in instances related to Roslyn’s decision-making or private revelations. There were several moments in the story where I was unsure of how much Roslyn truly embodied the range of emotions she said she embodied, and this made her come across, in my opinion, as inauthentic and underdeveloped.

For most readers, I think this will be a non-issue, and they will be able to look past these moments in the story because as a whole, the plot is so captivating. But for me, they stood up as minor distractions. However, this was not something that seemed to break the story for me, because the worldbuilding and external conflicts she had to manage were so interesting, and the character interrelationships were fascinating to observe, especially from a political point of view.

The Briar Crown, in summary, is a riveting single-pov fantasy story with a well-crafted world, interesting nature-based magic system, and a romance plotline that, though marketed as the main one, acts more as a compliment to the larger machinations at work in Domovnia. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with it and recommend it as a top indie read of 2024. This year, I’ve found myself to be a slower reader than usual, but this book broke me out of that cycle, and I consumed it in three days. Go check it out, as well as the sequels, one of which is launching right around the corner.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was provided an ARC by the author of her newest fantasy romance book, and I was not disappointed! It was spicy and full of some of my favorite tropes. It is book one in The Zemkoska Chronicles and is a retelling of The Nettle Princess. I had an absolutely wonderful time with this book, getting to know the characters (and totally despising other characters), always wondering what was going to happen next. The main character, Roslyn Pleveli, is lovable and conflicted. The magic is interesting and creative, and the only downside is that there is no more to read until the next book comes out!

[Luke Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked this book up on a whim because it was on sale and ended up enjoying it far more than I expected to... When a chance meeting between Roslyn, a Domovnian (dryad) with rudimentary magical powers controlling dandelions and nettles, and Frederik, the younger son of the human king who conquered and persecuted her people, ends with him being indebted to her for saving his life, she's brought to the capital to serve as his personal physician. With her people's expectation that she will strike at their oppressors warring with the feelings building from a growing realisation Frederik wishes to bring peace and build bridges between their peoples after years of war, what will she do?

I must admit the ending was a little too happy for my liking (though perhaps given this is a fairy tale retelling, that shouldn't be too surprising), but overall a fun, sweet little fantasy romance that's given me ideas for my own attempts to write that into my own stories (the steamier scenes in this were quite fun) and Helen Rygh-Pedersen has definitely intrigued me enough to read again if there are more to come in this series...

[R.V. Wilbur · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰,” 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐝, “𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐝, 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐚 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡? 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦, 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞.”
𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭. “𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲, 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬!”
“𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭?”
“𝐓𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡!”

𝐇𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝. 𝐇𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐤𝐚𝐫𝐝’𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬, 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝. 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐝.
“𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐡𝐞𝐫.”

“𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬?”
𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐤𝐞. “𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬.”

“𝐈𝐟 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐝𝐨 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐬, 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐥𝐲𝐧, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞.”

_____________________

This book was a magical, breath of fresh air in the fantasy genre perfect for lovers of classic fairytales, Defy the Night, These Bitter Blooms, and A Thousand Heartbeats.

Roslyn might hold the lowest form of magic, but what she lacks in ability she makes up for with her compassion and talent as a healer. Known as a Hedgie, her “Affinity” type as magic is referred to, she only has the ability to control the lowest form of nature: weeds. But the nettles and dandelions turn out to be the simplest things in her world when she accidentally saves the life of the Prince; the son of the very man who invaded her land and segregated everyone with an Affinity, stealing away everything they ever knew and overthrowing their Royals, killing everyone in their path. When the Prince summons her to the castle as his personal healer, the rebels desperate to take back their land charge her with using her proximity to assassinate the Prince and then when the opportunity presents itself, the King himself. But the more Roslyn gets to know the Prince the more she comes to realize that he is fighting for peace as much as the rebels are, and as she draws closer to him she also draws closer to learning secrets about her own past. But will their passion for a better future and their feelings for each other be strong enough to overcome a mad king and a band of rebels bent on revenge?

I absolutely adored this story!! Roslyn was such a tenacious lead and her love for even the smallest things around her paired with her pure fire for justice and a better future was the perfect combination. I loved seeing her growth, her longing for something real, and her desire to live a life that she could thrive in, and watching her choose herself and her values over what others might pressure her into was perfect.

Frederik was the most surprising little misunderstood cinnamon roll!! I loved his backstory, devastating as it was, and how he was just as misunderstood by the world around him as he was by the rebels. I loved his compassion and drive to make things right and above all I LOVED his fierce loyalty. Even though it was misplaced with his wicked brother and insane father, when it shone for the kingdom, the people, and above all else Roslyn it was pure strength and I loved him for it.

The sparks between these two were burning off the page long before the spice even kicked in and I adored their banter and chemistry. That combined with the mystery of Roslyn’s past and the political tension that Frederik faced made for an intense and engaging read that I finished in two sittings!!

I seriously cannot recommend this book enough. The story, the world, the characters (main and otherwise…looking at YOU Captain Dietrich, you precious man, you!!!), the magic structure, and the absolutely breathtaking visuals made this just an all around excellent read. And while it is the first in a series, I enjoyed the fact that it could be read as a complete, stand alone story…even if I am already longing to continue the adventure in this world!!

Thank you so much to the author for sending me a copy of this magical story in exchange for my honest review.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, my word. Where do I even start? Yet another glorious story from Helen Rygh-Pedersen. A story about uniting two peoples separated by hate and war and strife. A beautifully wrought magic system where those with the Affinity can manipulate plants to their wishes, for good or for evil. Where enemies become lovers. Where good trumps wicked. Even found a new-to-me troupe: one bathhouse! Can’t say I wasn’t disappointed by that! Our main character, Roslyn, is a fierce soul with a fiery temper, who just wants equality for her people and to gain their land and peace back from those who stole it from them. She’s thrown into the hands of the enemies with the command that she heal Prince Frederick of his injuries, but is only a Hedgie, her only Affinity is to nettles and dandelions. She soon discovers he wants the same things she does. Fredrick was such a wonder to read. His character is stunningly flawless. I could just drink him up. I found myself setting this book aside to savor it longer only to pick it up a few minutes later because I just could not wait to dive back in. The writing flows so impeccably smooth and quick, it was hard to read this quick paced fantasy with any sort of leisure. I had a sneaking suspicion, based on reading Helen’s other book, Waking Ursa Minor, that I would love this tale too and I was right.
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I received an eARC in exchange for my honest review, these thoughts are my own.

[Kaitlyn Lopez-Collier · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the Oderbergs invade the royal house of Domonov, they slaughtered their people and seized the throne. The house of Domonov brought peace to the land because they had both the dryads and naiads to keep life in balance.

Roslyn Pleveli grew up an orphan because of this and she’s able to command weeds and make herbs more effective for healing. One day she’s out and finds a man who got attacked by a wild boar. She heals him and then comes to find out he’s the prince of Oderberg.

As a “reward” the prince has her come to the castle as his personal healer. I love that Roslyn is quick to speak her mind even in the presence of royalty. She has a sharp tongue and that combined with her healing qualities, it reminds me a lot of Claire Fraser from Outlander. You see a lot of steamy tension between the Prince and Roslyn with some spice scenes down the road.

This book really surprised me because it has everything you could want from a romantasy story.

You get:

⚔️Enemies to lovers
⚔️Steamy tension with a little spice
⚔️Magical female main character
⚔️Prince who wants peace
⚔️Fighting and rebellion
⚔️A sweet HEA

Check this out if you’re looking for your next fantasy read ❤️

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this story and can't wait to read more. This story kept me turning page after page. I loved the characters in this book- so full of life. I knocked it down a star because it didn't make me feel emotions as much as I wanted to, but I still loved it and can't wait to read more in this series.

[꧁ Brutally Honest ꧂ · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hate when the writing feels so YA except for that one sex scene that was glossed over but emphasized the feelings so “here now it’s adult”. Like this line, which gave me such a huge ick: “the lips between her legs were tingling”. And who talks about how sexy the circumference of a neck is?????

This is the most boring book with the worst juvenile writing and bland characters. I rolled my eyes so many times. The magic system was glossed over so many times I never got a feel of it so it’s more of a side thing that sometimes happens so the bad guys can be bad.

[Patrícia R.]

DNF at 69%

I tried to push through and finish it but I really just couldn't bear it any longer. Predictable storyline (or maybe I have just read too much of the genre) and too many illogical nonsense things for me to be able to enjoy it. I did like the magic that manifests as an afinnity to plants though. Other than that...not for me.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored The Briar Crown! Roslyn was a fantastic protagonist, and I loved following her journey and her conflicts. I loved the one bathroom trope! The writing style was compelling, and the plot gripping. When I wasn't reading this, I was looking forward to when I could pick it up again. Do yourself a favor and read this book!

[Ela (Mouse333) · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn’t like anything about this book.

Roslyn is living in a small town as a healer so when she stumbles upon an injured man, she helps him, not knowing that he’s the prince. Later she’s taken to the palace where she’s supposed to be his personal healer. She and the prince discover that their goals overlap, and they spend time together.

Roslyn is all about living a quiet life and not bringing attention to herself, and yet at the beginning when she discovers she wasn’t invited to the rebellion, she completely changes her mind, and her sole goal becomes to kill the king. When she gets to the palace and a great opportunity presents itself for her to do what she wants, she decides that she can’t do it in the end. However, this was written in a way where she would be thinking about what she wants to do, then she’ll be uncertain, then she’ll go back to wanting to do it, and then again, she’ll say that it’s not in her. All the indecisiveness was annoying and when she suddenly decides to act at the end, it didn’t feel like her character.

Frederik, the prince, wasn’t any better. He was all about Domovnians being equal and yet his attempts also seemed weak.

Their relationship didn’t seem developed either. They would have arguments about Domovnians and their rights, and Roslyn would try to help Frederik with his injury, and that was about it, but after one outing in public, they can’t stop thinking about each other.

There were other characters, but they weren’t shown much. Even though I didn’t like what the king was doing, I liked how he actually did something about his goals (like ordering Roslyn to poison him), unlike Roslyn and Frederik. I didn’t understand Margitte, who despises Domovnians and treats them poorly, and yet she’s the first to accept them at the end. The captain was another character that seemed to change his attitude every few chapters – I understood his explanation to Roslyn, but it didn’t seem like he was coming back for her at the end.

The ending was annoying because it didn’t feel like Roslyn actually tried to tell Frederik (although, when did she try to do anything, instead of just pondering the possibility?).

I was really interested in the magic - how each Domovnian had their own plants that they could control. However, it wasn’t really shown. The magic is forbidden, but there are moments when Roslyn can do it and even when something happens, she never truly struggles with it and can do anything she wants.

The characters were too wishy-washy, the magic wasn’t really developed (everyone could just do it) and I didn’t like how things happened. I’m definitely not going to continue with the series, and I don’t think I’ll be trying other books by this author.

[Scareads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delectable, adorable fantasy romance!

Ever since the Oderbergs invaded Domovnia and executed its royals twenty-five years ago, the Domovnians have been little better than slaves and prisoners in their homeland for having the magical ability, called afinity, to influence plants. The story starts off with Roslyn, a Domovnian with little power, discovering a plot among her townsmen to kill the Oderberg royals. Roslyn despises the cruelties the Oderbergs and their soldiers have done to her countrymen, but as a healer and overall gentle soul, she does not agree with the taking of life. When she stumbles on a wounded Oderberg (quickly revealed to be one of the princes), she does what any healer would do.
Prince Frederik wants peace between the Oderbergs and the Domovnians, and after Roslyn saved his life, he sees her as a way to bridge their people together and has her brought to the castle to become his personal healer. This unfortunately is problematic for Roslyn because not only does she find herself at odds with her enemies, she finds herself unable to perform the task her countrymen have asked of her: to kill the royal family.

With Roslyn being as gentle as her character was, this was a very adorable story. Rather fast paced, the story proceeds smoothly, taking the reader on a journey through Domovnia to experience not only a lovely blossoming relationship but also to discover the history behind this world. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of the audiobook book, and it was absolutely wonderfully narrated by the author herself. Her voice is very soothing, which matched the tone of the book, and she switched between accents with practiced ease. Its one of those romances that sweep you off your feet with a gentleness that has your cheeks heating with happiness. I definitely recommend this sweet book, and I will happily be picking up the second book when it comes out.

Now while I enjoyed Roslyn's innocence and loved how well the writing and plot encompassed it, it didn't go well with the occasional emphasis made of her thinking on and wanting to follow through on her countrymen's plot to kill the royals. Sometimes those thoughts felt forced considering the situations and how little she usually thinks of it. I will also also note that at some point in the first third, prince Frederik goes into a melancholy state where he oddly ignores Rosyln. While it is revealed further on in the book why this happened, it did not make sense at the time, and it took me out of the story. Just know there is a reason, keep reading, the story is worth it. Another reason I rated it 4 stars out of 5 is because of predicatability. I predicted many of the twists early on which unfortunately took away some of the enjoyment.

Thank you to the author for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

[Ginger Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roslyn Pleveli is now on my list of favorite female main characters I've read this year! I listened to this book on Audible and the author narrated it herself! This is one of my favorite books of all time, and the author did an AMAZING job narrating it. I was literally hooked from beginning to end, the story just got better and better!

The Oderburgs and the Domovnians have been at odds for 25 years, since the invasion of the Oderburgs and the killing of the Domovnian royal family. The Domovnians have nature magic, which they call the Affinity. Everyone has an Affinity to a different type of plant, with the most powerful able to control trees. Since the hostile takeover of their land, the Domovnians have been forbidden to use their magic for any reason. To do so is punishable by death.

Roslyn has almost no magic, and her only affinity is with briar weeds and dandelions. She was orphaned as a small child during the battle that claimed their lands, and Roslyn was raised by a human healer who taught her herbalism. One day, Roslyn is foraging for herbs deeper in the forest than she's normally allowed to go, when she stumbles upon an injured man who is close to bleeding to death. She has no idea who he is other than he is an Oderburg, but it is her duty as a healer to help everyone. Upon saving his life, she learns he is Prince Frederik, sworn enemy of her people.

It is after this incident that she learns of a rebel plot forming to kill the Oderburg King and his two sons. When she is summoned to the castle to be the private healer for Prince Frederik, the rebels demand she do her duty to Domovnia and kill the royal family.

This book is a romantic fantasy with a slow burn build up, enemies to lovers between Roslyn and Frederik. Frederik sees their friendship as an opportunity to rebuild relations between the two nations, but of course nothing can ever go to plan in these types of situations. The spice is spicy and the drama had me biting my nails off! Romance aside, this was a great fantasy book! The world building was as beautifully detailed as the cover, the magic mechanics were unique and exciting, I just loved every moment.

I recommend this book to everyone who enjoys romantic fantasy books, especially the audiobook!

[Cristina Machado · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Briar crown"is first book in Zemkoska series, by Helen Rygh-Pedersen. It is loosely based in a lesser know Grimm's fairy tale, something I thought very refreshing in the so many fairy tale versions we can find in fantasy romance. The story develops around the encounter between Roslyn, a young Domovnian healer, and Frederik, the Oderberg prince, whose life is saved by Roslyn. Things, however, are quite complicated, apart from the class difference between them. Domovnia was invaded many years ago by the prince's people, who oppress the Domovnians, preventing them from practicing their magic. Forced to accompany the prince on his recovery at the royal palace, Roslyn fall in love with the prince, who she discovers is a charming man willing to make peace between their two peoples. The author has created an enchanting tale of two people yearning for peace in a world troubled by political intrigue and ethnic hatred. The hero is really that cute and charming boy that we would all like to meet someday, and it's easy to understand how Roslyn fell in love with him. The story involves secrets regarding the heroine's parentage, which I think could be further explored by the author (Roslyn realized very quickly who she really was, and the story could have gained in intensity if she took a little longer to discover). On the other hand, the magic system and worldbuilding are extremely detailed by the author, which I really only have to praise. The Domovnians' affinities with plants, their flora-based magic, inherited from the naiads and dryads, are unique in fantasy romance I already read. Helen is to be congratulated for the richness with which she explored the diverse possibilities offered by plants. Now, I'm really curious to know more about Zemkoska world, especially about Eredzhi culture (I think we will see Princess Aylin again, and may be some djinn magic). In all, I recommend this to all fantasy romance readers looking for a warm love story, with an especially charming hero and a magic system that's really different.
I received an arc by the author for an honest review.

[Tom Mock]

This is not a full review. I read through the beginning of all 300 SPFBO9 contest entries. This was a book I wanted to read more of.

The invaders are escalating the punishment for using magic. What were whippings will now be execution. But life goes on as best it can.

The conceit of the setting won me over for this next light novel. Not only the oppression of the local population, which makes for good conflict, but the nature of the magic that seems commonplace, like turning a yard into a field of flowers.

The book opens with the consequence of using such magic (whether or not it was done as an act of love): a public whipping with a forced attendance.

Our female MC and her lover feel like distinct characters, and the adult nature of their relationship is appealing. Add that to the active start of this novel, and I think it will make for a fun read.

This does struggle to introduce its non MC characters. The whipping is abstract. It is not happening to a person, as such, until we learn surprisingly late that the man being whipped is known to our MC.

An old woman emerges from the crowd. She confronts the guard captain who is strangely cowed by her. We learn that our MC knows this old woman very well, but we don’t learn anything else about her.

The bulge in her lovers pants and the size of his arms seem as important (if not more) than these other people.

She also seems to have nothing to do today and can spend her morning oddly trailing her lover, but this, along with the style, are what make me call this a light novel. That something IS happening makes these details seem trifling.

I think this is another lesson in action, however ordinary, being a boon to storytelling. And there is something charming about our lovers‘ relationship (swerves in emotion aside). I’d like to know what happens next. This just passes my humble test.

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was provided a free copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

When I think of bingeable books from now on, this one will be near the top! I tore through the audiobook of The Briar Crown in only a few days and it was an excellent distraction during my housework and while I recovered from Covid.

This lighthearted romantasy will sweep adult Disney/fairytale/panto fans off their feet. Rygh-Pedersen's professional-grade narration was utterly captivating throughout (and got even better as the story continued) and I highly recommend the audiobook for the level of character and charm that she brings to each of her characters. The exuberance of the audio really made the story jump off the page and it easily sucked me in.

The novel follows a herbalist named Roslyn as she is ripped from a life of anonymity into a dangerous world of court politics. To make matters worse, the court in question is that of an invading empire that has taken control of Roslyn's country and oppressed her people. Summoned to care for the invaders' ailing prince, Roslyn is torn between adhering to her values as a healer and her loyalty to her starving people. If that sounds bleak, don't be fooled--all is not what it seems andThe Briar Crown's focus is on both the romance that lies at the heart of the plot and on a textured portrayal of Roslyn's work as a healer.

This character-driven romantasy is a delightful romp and one I heartily recommend to fans of the genre. If spice is your thing, it also has some very well done sex scenes!

I've noticed other reviews calling this YA, so do want to note that although I'm sure many YA fans will love the book, it is an adult novel. While the book's opening may give YA-vibes, it quickly moves on and is (to my mind) firmly in the adult age category.

[A. M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

[I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review]

First of all, the audiobook is very well done and Rygh-Pederson has a talent for giving every character their own personality. It's always nice when writers narrate their own books and they manage to do it well.

[Mild spoilers ahead]

However, I sadly don't think I'm the intended audience for this, but that's probably my own fault for picking up a book based on the cover instead of really checking out the blurb. The book is well written, I'm just not a fan of romance. The setup for the romance feels quite stereotypical, with the girl from the oppressed group meeting the prince "who isn't like his evil father" and instantly falls in love with him, without really getting to know him. I don't really feel like the main character and love interest had a lot of chemistry or even enough interactions that would have made them develop feelings for each other. I'm generally not a big fan of insta love and royals as love interests, so this book just really wasn't for me.
I think I should have read the blurb more carefully or maybe this is a lesson in not straying too far from the things you know you like, because I'm definitely more of an enjoyer of "revenge through killing the royals" than a "healing through kissing the royals", especially when they seem to deserve it.

All in all, if you like these kinds of romances, I'm sure you'll also like this book. It is well-written and the background lore sounds interesting enough, even if I wish the story would have delved a bit deeper into it. The characters feel a bit too stereotypical for me, but I understand that romance often plays more with set character roles than other genres might.

[Robin Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

They say love conquers all… but can the conquered ever love the conqueror?

Twenty-five years ago, there was life. Twenty-five years ago, there was peace when the descendants of the dryads and naiads kept all life in balance. Until one fateful night when the Oderbergs invaded, executed the royal house of Domonov and took Domovnia for their own, ruling with an iron fist and an edict of fear.

Roslyn Pleveli, like most of the orphans of that night, wants revenge and an end to the persecution of her kind. Yet, even if the Domovnian’s use of magic was permitted, she wouldn’t be much help, able to command only a few lowly weeds. But everything changes when she saves the life of an injured young man in the forest not knowing it was the prince of the Oderbergs himself. Ordered to see to the rest of his treatment, Roslyn is snatched from her home and all that she loves by his soldiers.

Now, in the Oderberg stronghold, she has the chance to change things. With the royal family within her grasp, all she has to do to free her people is kill them… but can she do it, or will something more powerful than revenge heal the wounds of the past?

The Briar Crown is a beautiful fantasy novel that is both captivating and engaging. A wonderful fantasy romance full of magic and heart and a great deal of intrigue and captivating suspense.

Though I prefer a slow-burn myself, I still adored the characters and following their relationships growing throughout. And who can resist a good enemies to lovers too?

Overall, this was just a seriously delightful book to read and I cannot wait to follow along in the next book.

[Ash Oldfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely Ah-mazing! I have been in such a reading slump and this fast paced, suspenseful Fantasy Romance was just the cure I needed.

First, let me fan girl about the magic system for a moment. This book uses nature magic in a way I have never read before. It is woven seamlessly into the story and had me thinking about nature in a way I never have before. I loved it so much.

The main character of Roslyn is strong, independent and loyal. What I especially loved about her character is that she doesn't do dumb things just because it helps the author move the plot along. Roslyn thinks through her actions, and although she isn't perfect and makes mistakes, it's not the sheer stupidity that has seen me dnf a few books lately.

Roslyn's love interest was Frederic and I loved everything about him. He is smart, kind, caring and considerate. He proves you don't *have* to be morally grey to be desirable.

This was a slow burn romance with enough spice without distracting from the overall story. And although it is technically part of a series (and you will fall in love with the world and want to read more) this feels like a complete story in and of itself.

I'm so glad I picked this book up off my TBR pile. It was a wonderful distraction from life for a while. Big recommend!

[Emily Diem · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a new favorite series for me! I listened to the audiobook version of The Briar Crown, narrated by the author, and cannot speak highly enough of the entire experience.

The story drew me in right from the beginning and kept me captivated until the very last page. I love the main character and how she develops throughout the book. The author did such an amazing job bringing this story to life with the narration. Each different character had a unique and engaging tone that kept me listening and immersed me in the story.

I always know when a book has my full attention when I cannot get the story out of my head when I'm not reading/listening to it. The Briar Crown did that for me. I found myself sneaking in fifteen minutes here and five minutes there, just to find out what would happen next.

This series is a new favorite of mine, and I cannot wait for the audiobook to come out for the second book in this series. I will definitely be listening to it as soon as it is available. In the meantime, I have added all of the author's other books to my TBR and can't wait to be captivated by the worlds, characters, and stories she has created.

Five stars! Highly recommend.

[Victoria Seidel · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH. MY. GOODNESS! Helen Rygh-Pedersen thank you so much for creating this world and sharing Roslyn’s story. The Briar Crown is the first book in the Zemkoska series and only leaves you wanting more! The enemies to lovers Fantasy Romance is impeccably written, well-paced and highlights a unique magical system.

The Briar Crown’s main character, Roslyn, is fierce despite her position in the political structure set forth by the magical system in place and is determined to utilize the tools and knowledge she has to bring value to her people. Helen’s wonderful character development makes it easy to fall in love with Roslyn, but there is no doubt that Lady Margitte, who is nothing short of hilarious, deserves a spotlight. Every character is both complex and compelling, adding depth and breathing life into the story.

A must read, without a doubt and will surely end up on my top ten by the end of the year – and its only January!

Oh! I can’t forget about the spice, because who doesn’t love a little spice and romance! 🌶️🌶️🌶️ so good!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!!
*Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

a folklore type tale with nature magic

Firstly I must remark on the beautiful cover art of the book. It totally encapsulates the theme of nature magic in the story.
This is a YA story about non magical humans vs humans with magic from nature. We have dryads, naiads, satyrs, centaurs, and fauns. This type of magic attracted me to this tale. I enjoyed the different Affinity magic by the users. I liked seeing how each one could manipulate nature and what each element could do. Of this I would have liked to see more.
I thought the romance was too sexual for my taste, and would have liked a slower romance instead. Some of the coarse language bothered me too. I thought it was abrupt and over the top for some characters. Also the idea of an Eastern princess of another religion to marry a prince from the West would not happen peacefully, if at all. But despite some of these details, I enjoyed the overall story.
There were surprise events that changed the course of the main characters’ path, and that was a welcome twist. The magic of botanical elements was the highlight and star of this book. It also ends with a quest, which I will happily read about in the future.

[Nirav · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you had to start an audiobook journey, better to start with this series where the author has narrated the book themselves! I so loved the story but the fact that it was my first audiobook also enhanced the experience for me.

Now, there is a chronological sequence and a publishing sequence of the books in the Zemkoska series. I had previously read Apple Seeds, which so far is the first in the chronological series even though Briar Crown was the first release (unless Helen decides to right a prequel to that too! knowing her, she might already have it planned!) so, I found that I could understand the lore much better having read that book.

The story does stand on its own and you could definitely read this first, but my personal suggestion would be to go chronologically.

The FMC was brilliantly written! The pacing was quite perfect for my taste! The side characters were quite memorable, especially in the modulated voice of the author. The MMC also had a quite satisfying arc. There is loss, hope, and a ton of swoon!

Helen has always been an author easy to recommend due to her impeccable and masterful storytelling, and this book is no exception.

[Abbey Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where should I even begin? I read this book rather fast! It gripped me! The characters spoke to me just the way I look for when picking up a new book. Their good qualities and imperfections, which all led to character growth. I was rooting for Roslynn from the get go! She was fierce, smart, and resourceful.

I found her a refreshing main character. While her insecurities held her down from the way she was treated in her community, she learned to persevere and STILL be a badass FMC.

I loved to hate of the villain, he had motivations to do what he did and while I understood his reasonings, I absolutely wanted him to fail. That was so brilliantly done, and Eik’s character is someone I see in many of us here in real life.

The romance was sweet, steamy, and wonderful. I love Frederick and Roslynn’s relationship, and like most have said before me, I’m always into an enemies to lovers!

If you like fantasy romance, enemies to lovers, he falls first, a unique magic system and a gripping story to keep you turning pages. Give this book a read!