A Crown of Chains

by Erin Phillips

Becoming queen is not the end of a fairytale; it is the beginning of a nightmare. When the queen is exiled, every beautiful young woman in Florencia is forced to become kingsmaids - royal concubines - but one lucky girl from those gathered will be chosen as queen. Or maybe not so lucky. Roxana Willows, a wingless fairy with the rare ability to read minds, has seen King Frederick’s cruelty in the stories her uncle tells, and fears that the only thing worse than being a kingsmaid is being the king’s wife. While her heart already belongs to another, she feels obligated to obey her uncle when he tells her to hide her heritage as a fairy in hopes of being chosen as queen. But becoming queen is the last thing Roxana wants, and it will cost her everything... A Crown of Chains is a fantasy retelling of the Biblical story of Queen Esther, with fresh twists based on the original context that is sure to thrill in this timeless tale of miracles in the midst of forgotten faith. Filled with political intrigue, forbidden romance, and dire stakes, A Crown of Chains is perfect for fans of Red Queen, The Selection, and The Cruel Prince.

Genres: Fantasy, Christian, Christian Fiction, Romance, Fiction, Retellings, Young Adult

466 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2022

About the author

Stories teach the heart to believe, and Erin tries to fill every second with stories, whether it’s an audiobook while on the go, a movie with her hubs, or just snuggling up with a good book. She is not afraid of a dark story, for the Light is often the most brilliant in the dead of night.
Erin graduated from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts with a B.F.A. in Costume Design & Technology, and lives in North Carolina with her husband, Jeremy, and their happy corgis, Parker and Fable.

Reviews

[Nathaniel]

*note* I never meant for this review to gain so much attention and shoot up to the top of the reviews for this book. I've considered deleting it, but I also....still stand by it and like it to exist for its purposes. So this is just another apology because I feel terrible each time someone likes this review.

--

If I can credit this book for one good thing, it's that it made me reread the book of Esther in a new light and really appreciate the strength it took for Esther to do the things she did.

I'm going to approach this review carefully for a couple reasons. 1: I really respect Erin Phillips and I enjoy the content she makes on Instagram. She is a kind, loving human who makes Instagram a brighter place. 2: A lot of my friends are huge fans of this and I don't want them to take offense to this review. I'm not marking this review for spoilers but in comparing this story to the Biblical account of Esther, I will be pointing out a few events in this book.

I do have things to say, though. When I purchased this, I was intending to gift it to my Oma for Christmas. I'd heard so many good things about this 'strong Biblical fantasy retelling' and I thought it would be the perfect gift for her. I'm so glad I read it first. I know she wouldn't like this and I didn't enjoy it for the same reasons. I actually felt convicted while reading it because of a few creative liberties Erin took.

Now I think that a retelling is meant to showcase an old story in a new light, and this book actually accomplishes that quite well in one way, but ruins a lot of the story. I think Biblical retellings should be very close to the original tales for a couple reasons, but mainly because people believe they actually happened and have a whole faith based on them. It feels strange to take that story and twist it into something else.

The part that bothered me from the start was making Mordecai bad. In my reread of Esther, the thing I really picked up on was how gracious, kind, and caring Mordecai was. He took in his niece and raised her as his own. When she was taken to the court, he stopped by every day to make sure she was okay. He was involved in his community and wasn't using Esther for political gain.

In this book, he’s harsh. He pushes Esther (not her name in the book but I’m going to use the Bible names) to enter the palace and become queen so that he can have more power. Esther can read thoughts and she sees his hunger for power when the guards come to take her away.

Now one thing I liked about this book is the fact that it made me consider the gross reality behind the story of Esther. The fact that these girls were taken from their family’s and, when they were rejected, joined the kings concubines. The king was not a good man. These girls were being subjected to a very twisted, disgusting life beneath his rule.

That said, the book embellished it a little. Girls were killed or sent off to be servants if they didn’t please the king. Some of it just felt a bit…gratuitous. Show me the darkness, make me experience the harsh reality, but don’t then make it feel SO unconnected to the events in the book of Esther.

Then the relationship between Esther and the king was so messy in this book. In Esther, he is quite respectful and there is no sign of animosity and hatred between them. I didn’t like the way Erin made them so spiteful and had the book a constant drama between them. It felt off to me. And throwing in a whole extra romance with someone who wasn’t the king was uncalled for. Esther running around behind the king's back and keeping secrets from him was definitely a bit icky to me.

And the faith part was wrong too. In Esther, she hides the fact that she's Jewish but that doesn't mean she turned her back on her faith. In this book, Esther completely ignores her faith until she needs it in the end. 'You were brought here for such a time as this', that basic but good foundational Bible lesson taken from this story, fell really flat when the main character didn't even believe that God cared about her.

So there were things I definitely didn’t like. Parts of the book were entertaining, but I think Erin took a few too many freedoms for my taste. I look forward to reading a book from her that isn’t a Biblical retelling. This review is not meant to be an attack at Erin. It’s simply my opinion and take on this book. As mentioned before, I have a lot of respect for her and I love supporting her. I just know that these books won’t be for me.

Hope you all have a wonderful day. Feel free to ask questions or argue against my points in the comments. Maybe I’m being too hard on this book.

[Erin Phillips]

ENDORSEMENTS
“I cannot stop thinking about this book! Brilliant and imaginative, A Crown of Chains offers a fresh take on the Biblical story of Esther, infusing the fantastical with an unmistakable sense of purpose. Erin Phillips is a brave voice in the YA genre. I’ll be counting down the days until her next release.”
— Caroline George, author of Dearest Josephine and The Summer We Forgot (HarperCollins)

“A Crown of Chains by Erin Phillips left me speechless. There were times I had to put this thought-provoking book down just to process my emotions, only to pick it back up again, unable to stay away from the story for long. Roxana’s tale is one of heartbreak and intrigue, despair and hope. Despite knowing the familiar story of Esther, I still found myself surprised by this fresh and imaginative take on the Biblical narrative. Fans of Kiera Cass and Tosca Lee will rejoice over this breakout novel that inspires readers to cling to faith even in the darkest of times.”
— Sara Ella, award-winning author of the Unblemished trilogy, Coral, and The Wonderland Trials

“Phillips weaves a masterful story that accurately reflects the pain and struggles found in the story of Esther. Set against the backdrop of a beautiful fantasy world, it draws you in and doesn’t let you go. With rich prose, a strong message of faith, and a climax that leaves you reeling, A Crown of Chains is the story this generation needs to hear.” 
— Anna Augustine, author of When You Found Me

“Beautifully moving and bittersweet, Phillips takes the Biblical story of Esther and weaves together something God-honoring and original. This story was incredibly hard to put down, and I’ve walked away with a greater appreciation and understanding of the Biblical narrative as a whole. Overall enchanting and gut-wrenching, layered with an element of healing and peace.”
— Alissa Zavalianos, author of The Earth-Treader

“Emotional and shocking, A Crown of Chains is the type of book that inspires its readers to be fearless. Erin Phillips took an already inspiring story, Esther in the Bible, and honored it with her creation of Roxana. This book is beautiful, raw, and just incredibly well done.”
— R.J. Setser, author of The Tunockian Chronicles

“Erin Phillips writes a beautiful retelling of the Biblical Esther story, weaving Scripture into a fantasy tale that does not sugarcoat wickedness, but also portrays hope, justice, and faith in the One who writes all our stories perfectly. Emotional, mesmerizing, and vivid in writing style, it's a story that will stay with you for weeks to come.”
— Cheyenne van Langevelde, author of Between Two Worlds

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
Thank you to everyone who has trusted me to tell them the beloved story of Esther without the rose-colored glasses and a bit of added magic. I feel very honored for this opportunity to retell one of God’s carefully crafted stories and I am in awe of how a girl He used to accomplish His will thousands of years ago can encourage the hearts of girls like me today 💖

If you want to stay up to date on all the details, be sure to sign up for my newsletter (on my website) and follow me on Instagram @erinphillipsauthor. I look forward to bringing you more news soon!

CHECK OUT MY RESEARCH
Want to know more about what motivated my versions of characters like Arsin (Mordecai), Frederick (Xerxes), and Lilith (2nd Favorite)? Check out the Reimagined from Reality series on my blog: https://erin-phillips.com/category/th...

[Bree · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book made me mad. I hated how the author portrayed the story of Esther. The inaccuracy of different parts of the story and the fact that she made the uncle look like a villain just really did not settle well with me. I sincerely hope that people do not read this book thinking that it follows an accurate viewpoint of Esther’s story. Mordecai was a godly man and he did an excellent job of raising Esther after her parents died. He did NOT just send her off to the palace for his own selfish desires. He NEVER abandoned her. Also the whole thing with there being a lover involved, totally inaccurate and just disgusting.

I understand that this story was not intended to 100% portray the story of Esther, but I can not stand by the way the author made it appear as though Esther/Roxana was not a devout Christian the whole time and made it seem totally okay to be cheating on her husband, even if he was an awful man.

Even if this wasn’t supposed to be a story based on Esther, I still wouldn’t be able to condone it. The sheer amount of immorality that was taking place was just awful. Making it seem okay that Roxana had a secret lover because her husband was abusive is just so not cool. Honestly this book was sickening to me. I was so excited to read it because who wouldn’t love a retelling of Esther but in a fantasy setting? I loved the fairy aspect to the story, but that was legit the only thing I liked.

Would honestly NOT recommend this book to anyone…

[Paris (parismaereads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

A high fantasy retelling of Esther. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the beginning and end very much follow the biblical account of Esther, and I enjoyed getting lost in Roxana’s own unique storyline and character development in the middle.

While I would consider this a high fantasy because of the characters used, the realm and magic (or lack thereof) are simple to follow, especially if you know the story of Esther. The different species of high fantasy beings (Fairies, Satyrs, Gnomes, Giants, humans) all represent different people groups and nations during the rule of the Persian Empire. Readers get a real look at what life would’ve been like as a conquered nation living in a large Persian city.

While some may find this book intense during some parts, it gives depth to the biblical account of Esther by evoking the emotions and fears of the girls that were taken to be Kingsmaids. In reality, I think what happened historically was far worse than how Phillips portrayed it in A Crown of Chains. You don’t have to dig too deep into Persian history to see depravity and debauchery.

My favorite part of the entire book - it made me run to the word. I immediately wanted to be in the text of Esther, to remind myself of the biblical account so that I could compare it to Roxana and her plot. Additionally, I loved the Easter egg nod to Daniel!

[Annie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I saw the author promoting this book on an Instagram reel, and I was intrigued. She promised a dark, fantasy retelling or Esther, and I took the bait. Perhaps, I thought, this would differ from the bad reputation of Christian fiction. Unfortunately, it didn’t.

The pacing in this book is almost nonsensical. The climax of the story of Esther, Haman’s (in this case Viceroy Moghdam) plot to destroy the Jews (in this case fairies) is not even revealed until page 361 of 411. Most of the biblical retelling element is speed through in the last 50 pages.

The characters are flat and inconsistent. Owen, Roxanna’s love interest, contributes nothing personality wise. He’s willing to do anything for her, but we have little clue as to why except for vague mentions that they liked each other in the past. There conversations are boring and repetitive. The king has no consistent personality at all. One moment he’s a rapist, the next he’s uninterested in sex. One moment he’s tyrannical, the next he’s merciful. Both of these problem characters are unaided by unrealistic, choppy dialogue, which is muddied by too much interjection of narration. Here’s a snippet of dialogue of Fredrick picking Roxanna up for a party, with the excessive narration removed to demonstrate the disjointedness-

“Maybe I was wrong about you. I’ve decided to put the rumors to rest. I won’t have enemies believing you make me an easy target.”

“I would never make it easy.”

“For your sake as well as mine. You’re always good at putting on a show, even when it’s difficult.”

“Is that an apology?”

“Let’s show them you’re a queen who won’t be trifled with.”

While some scenes are better than others, many read like that.

Roxanna’s mind-reading powers, though interesting, actually lower the stakes of the book. We know the king won’t kill her because he needs her powers. The power she wields over him give her a boldness Esther could not have, so it makes Roxanna appear less brave. Additionally in the book the thoughts Roxanna reads are italicized, but there are other inconsistent uses of italicization that make it unclear whether what’s italicized is a thought or not.

I’m just not sure about the replacement of a marginalized group with fairies. Just doesn’t sit right. Though Roxanna being born as a fairy without wings was interesting.

And poor Mordecai! What a slandering of his character though Roxanna’s cruel Uncle Arsin.

While some of the concepts in this book were interesting, it just wasn’t executed well.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phillips weaves a masterful story that accurately reflects the pain and struggles found in the story of Esther. Set against the backdrop of a beautiful fantasy world, it draws you in and doesn't let you go. With rich prose, a strong message of faith, and a climax that leaves you reeling, A Crown of Chains is the story this generation needs to hear.
•
4.5 out of 5

[Ava ✿ (ia) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ☆ ! 🕯️
⤿ erin phillips, my new fav indie author!

the crown weighs down on me like gilded chains

🌸 ── overall thoughts :
I love this book with all my heart! it is an absolutely stunning retelling of the book of esther, one of my favorite books of the bible! the author was so smart for how she switched the story to fantasy <3 I always gasped when the pieces of the og story fell into place with this one. I looked forward to reading this every day once I finished school, I was so sad to finish it!

👑 ── the characters :
roxana omg I loved her so much! her character growth ahhh so amazing in every aspect- her courage, faith, etc. im so proud of her, how she wore her crown of chains so well <3 I hope she finds her true happily ever after, since we didn’t get to see it. owen was fine, their romance had blossomed before the book started and I feel like I would’ve liked him better if I had watched him and roxana fall in love, yk? I personally didn’t think he did much for roxana, besides putting her life in danger. anyways I loved all of roxana’s friends at the palace- chary, clement, & sergus!

“I found the courage to open my eyes, to see that I was never alone in the dark.”

xoxo, Ava <3

⊱✿⊰

[AnnaScott · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I read this book several months ago as a beta reader, and just realized that I never actually wrote a review for it. So here we are :)

Any time I read a retelling, I am always curious to see how closely the author follows the original, because while I want all of the things that made me love the original, I don't want it to be super predictable. Erin did an incredible job of pulling in all of the key points from Esther's story, while still keeping me in suspense. There were so many plot twists that kept me guessing, and I loved this book both for it's own story and as a retelling of Esther.

Erin also did an amazing job with her world building, her characters, and really everything. It was so original and you could see her attention to even the tiniest details. My favorite part, though, was how this story made me reevaluate Esther's story. I had subconsciously always pictured the story of Esther as the Veggie Tales adaptation, which is nice and innocent and fun. This book forced me to rethink this, and realize that the reality of Esther's life was not as lighthearted as it is often presented. It even prompted me to go back and re-read Esther and study it more deeply, looking at it through this new lens. I have a whole new level of respect and appreciation for Esther and her story after reading this book.

So overall, this book is an excellent piece of YA fantasy and an equally excellent biblical retelling. Combined it's just perfection.

[Alissa J. Zavalianos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Endorsement:
Beautifully moving and bittersweet, Phillips takes the Biblical story of Esther and weaves together something God-honoring and original. This story was incredibly hard to put down, and I’ve walked away with a greater appreciation and understanding of the Biblical narrative as a whole. Overall enchanting and gut-wrenching, layered with an element of healing and peace. I eagerly anticipate whatever else Phillips writes next!

Review:
Wow. This was my first time reading a book by Erin Phillips and it for sure won’t be my last. Phillips is exceptional at her pacing, keeping me in suspense the entire time. Her writing is beautiful, capturing the most important details and seamlessly flowing from one scene into the next. I’m seriously blown away.

So many quotable moments and the Biblical connections were beautifully spot on.

Thank you for gifting the world with your words, Erin!!

[Caitlin Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

A fictional retelling of the story of Esther, A Crown of Chains is an incredible fantasy book. After just a few pages, I fell in love with Erin's storytelling and writing style, and I knew I would love this book from start to finish--and I was right. This story was touching, inspiring, and beautiful. As with all books, there are some elements to the plot that are predictable, but one thing Erin did took me by surprise (Chapter 53), and I texted her right after finishing the scene and told her, "HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?! 😭 " I love a good book that catches me off guard, and this book was definitely one of them.

All in all, A Crown of Chains is a beautiful story with themes of forgiveness, faith, and bravery. If you love fantasy and biblical retellings, this is absolutely the book for you! Well done, Erin! 💛

"In darkness we gain a deeper understanding of light's brilliance. And I found the courage to open my eyes, to see that I was never alone in the dark."

[Cheyenne Langevelde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I even begin?

I had a lot of doubts before starting this book. I'm not a fan of Biblical retellings or Biblical fiction in general, due to them messing up Scriptural truths. I also am not the best reader for faery/satyr/gnome style stories. I've read a few good ones, but most aren't my cup of tea.

However, this book blew me out of the park.

While it took me a few chapters to really feel the story begin, and it also took me a bit to figure out Roxana's gift and how it translated into the story, I absolutely loved this book. I'm not sure I've ever binged an eARC this fast.

The story is a wonderful and highly accurate retelling of Esther, delving into the truths of scripture while setting it in a lush fantasy world. I loved seeing the faith journeys of many of the characters, and I have to say this is the first book in awhile whose plot twists kept surprising me. Every time I thought I'd figured everything out, the author shocked me by revealing something totally unexpected. I especially loved the details with clothing—you can definitely tell the author is a seamstress. From a historical standpoint, I also enjoyed getting to see the portrayal of King Xerxes in King Frederick. Knowing the true, historical character (who really was a total psycho!), I appreciated seeing this shown in the story without making him this soft lovey-dovey king overnight. Finally, the ending nearly brought me to tears. Beautiful way of wrapping up the story while still leaving the storyline to be continued.

My only regret is that I want to read more and there is no more. (Also, may have had my heart broken over a certain something...if you know you know...)

Erin Phillips writes a beautiful retelling of the Biblical Esther story, weaving Scripture into a fantasy tale that does not sugarcoat wickedness, but also portrays hope, justice, and faith in the One who writes all our stories perfectly. Emotional, mesmerizing, and vivid in writing style, it's a story that still stay with you for weeks to come.

[Celestria · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have heard only good things about this book and was really intrigued by a fantasy retelling of Esther. But in my opinion the author completely ruined the story by making every character super unlikable. How can I root for the Esther character, Roxanna, when shes sneaking around behind her husband's back and cheating on him with another man? I know he was awful and abusive, but just because he was unfaithful, doesnt make it okay for her to be too. Like I get how she must have felt and if I was in her shoes, I cant say I wouldn't be tempted to do the same, but that still doesnt make it okay. So the king was awful, she was awful, her uncle was awful, and then her lover is KILLED, which I was upset about at first, but then I thought, thats what you get for sneaking around and cheating I guess, so I cant even be mad really. And what was that ending??? The King has been nothing but physically and mentally abusive and talk down to her the entire book and then at the end he is just like, "yeah so ima head out to fight a war or somethin', you can be in charge while im gone and get rid of all my concubines, I'll see you in a few months or years I guess." And shes like "okay bye" and thats it??? I know the story of Esther wasnt all romantic sunshine and roses and rainbows necessarily, but this book went slap off the rails and was just depressing. I havent been this disappointed in a book in a while. That being said, the author is a talented writer and all that, I just dont like the direction she went with this story and I rate books based on my enjoyment of them, so thats why its so low. I know a lot of people enjoyed this and thats fine, but it wasnt for me at all, so please dont get mad at my harsh review lol.

[Morgan Giesbrecht · Rating 5 out of 5]

“In darkness we gain a deeper understanding of light's brilliance. And I found the courage to open my eyes, to see that I was never alone in the dark.”


I am shook. 😭😍

Going into this book, I was scared for my heart, and rightly so, haha, because it is a rollercoaster of emotions. But even more so, it is a beautiful story of hope & courage, of a young woman finding her voice & her fight, of light triumphing over darkness.

Personally, I love Esther retellings, and this one was no exception. I can’t tell you how excited I was find this one a “non-romantic” version of the story.

This story shows the gritty reality of Roxana’s story, including sexual assault (off screen, but alluded to). Though it’s a topic I’m sensitive to, Erin handled it with such tact & grace that I didn’t find it at all triggering. But it was definitely heartbreaking. There is no sugar coating. No making Frederick into a good romantic guy (because he wasn’t). And my heart was smashed in pieces over a particular scene… if you‘ve read it, you know. 😭

The cast captured my heart, particularly Roxana & Owen & the servants at the palace! Her uncle made me mad at the beginning, and as for King Frederick… *insert internal fuming*

It is a heart-stirring story of courage that I won’t soon forget with the reminder that God makes no mistakes in our stories — beautifully done, Erin! 💛

[Isabel Anderson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was very excited to read this book, a ‘Biblical’ fantasy retelling. Like many others I heard about the book and author through Instagram, but I'm sorry to say it does not live up to its promise of Biblical truth. Honestly, I loved many aspects of this book: the fantastical society of elves, fairies and satyrs, as well as wyverns, were successfully thrilling and intriguing. When I started reading the book, I was excited by the first few chapters and I sped through the entire book in a couple of weeks. Indeed, there were many carefully crafted lines which I loved and admired, particularly at the end of the chapters. However, despite the potential I can see in Philips' writing, I'm afraid I won't be reading another dark fantasy Biblical retelling by her. Esther was not a cheating rebellious teenager, but a strong young woman who relied on God alone for her strength despite her situation, not craving love from a secret boyfriend nor relying on her own personal advantages (portrayed in Roxanna's magic). Furthermore, I disliked the overindulgence in graphic deaths and continual theme of the King's apparent delight in raping young girls in contrast with his also soft lovable side which we are invited to sympathise with. I was also upset to see Mordecai's character portrayed as greedy and corrupted. I think Philips largely misses the point of the Biblical story and the lessons taught. The Book of Esther shows the complete reliance on God the Jews needed, which further outlines the Gospel and Christ's perfect timing and love. Moreover, great care is needed when it’s Biblical truth we are handling: the Book of Esther does not need graphically darkening and twisting. If you are looking for a book to give to your daughters, I do not advise you give them this. After reading a Biblical retelling, I want to be inspired to go and read God's word, to read about the real Esther. Instead, this beautiful Bible story appeared distorted and nothing close to the narrative I was taught and loved growing up. Some reliance on God was there, but was easily overshadowed and overwhelmed in the bigger picture. I understand Phillips' emphasis on dark fantasy and the idea that the world is not like a fairy tale, and to help girls who struggle in our broken world. However, her story appears to encourage the feminist world view rather than aligning with Christian teaching.

[Bryn Shutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fresh retelling of one of history's most ancient stories.

I loved how the settings, the different races, and the themes were all woven so masterfully together. This is a tale worth rereading again and again.

[Emily B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!! Wow wow wow. Gripping and emotional and I feel a bit hollow now because I NEED to cry over it but have no tears. Bravo, Erin Phillips!! Everyone, go read this book right now. Thank you and goodnight. ♥️

[Tiffany Goldman · Rating 4 out of 5]

My heart was trampled and then revived by this beautiful book.

A Crown of Chains is a fantasy story inspired by the biblical book of Esther in the Bible, and while I’m quite familiar with the story of Esther (I try to read it every year), the fresh twists that the author takes had me second guessing what would happen next!

The author does not pull any punches in depicting the reality of what it must’ve been like to be picked among many other girls to be a royal concubine. And yet there was care taken to not only write it realistically but still do so with grace and not in a graphic or gratuitous way. I’d definitely feel comfortable enough to recommend it to a teen and I actually plan on using this book as reading/study material for my kid(s) when they’re old enough!

If I had my physical copy while I was reading this, I’d totally chuck it somewhere at certain points! And then hug it to my chest at other moments! It’s just that good, even if it means emotional damage for me, I always admire it when a book can really pull at my heartstrings.

It’s not always easy to balance both light and dark in a story but Erin Philips was able to do that here with A Crown of Chains and I commend her for that!

I was immersed in the story, fully present with the characters, especially the heroine, Roxana! It was like I could not only see the story play out in my head but feel the textures and hear the sounds as well.

The faith interwoven in this story felt real, even relatable as we witness not only Roxana’s faith journey but even some of the side characters which I really liked seeing.

“Horns or no horns, wings or no wings, I guess those things don’t matter in the end. We can all find faith, or…perhaps faith finds us.”

Erin Philips is an excellent writer and I can’t wait to read what she writes next!

If you like fresh twists on a familiar story, a book that will make you feel all the feels, and fantasy elements…then you should totally try this book!

P.S. bring tissues, you will need them!

Genesis 50:20 💖

[R.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

ENDORSEMENT:

“Emotional and shocking, A Crown of Chains is the type of book that inspires its readers to be fearless. Erin Phillips took an already inspiring story, Esther in the Bible, and honored it with her creation of Roxana. This book is beautiful, raw, and just incredibly well done.”
— R.J. Setser, author of The Tunockian Chronicles

2/10/22
*finally breathes*
*sets book down*
*sobs*
*hugs book*

I'll write a full review closer to release, but for now, I love A Crown of Chains and you do not want to miss this book. I'll just be eating ice cream to mend my wounds.

[Jaycee Ann ✞]

DNF at page 169/36%
═══════ ∘◦ ✧ ◦∘ ═══════
This review contains a few random statistics, my personal thoughts, and a content review! ♡
═══════ ∘◦ ✧ ◦∘ ═══════
• Book - A Crown of Chains
• Author - Erin Phillips 
• Pages - Paperback 450
• Genre(s) - YA fantasy, biblical retelling 
• Published - 2022
• Trope(s) - Forbidden romance
• Recommended time to read - Autumn
═════════════════
╰┈➤ Thoughts

Man I really wanted to like this. I love the story of Esther and to take that and put it in a fantasy world? I was hooked! But the content in this book was giving me major ick. If you know the story of Esther you’re probably familiar with the sexual notes to the story. Well this rendition took those and amplified them, so they were very prominent.

I also saw a spoiler on accident about the death of a certain character and that zapped away my motivation to continue this.

I didn’t like how the uncle character was portrayed as that is not how Mordecai in the book of Esther truly is.

I will include the content notes about the part that I read, so others going into this will know the details. I hate writing all the wretched stuff out but I want people to be prepared.
═════════════════
╰┈➤ Content Review

→ Age Rating - 16+

→ Language - Damning said in the context of something condemning

→ Sexual/Romance - The main character recalls a kiss she had with a friend named Owen, there is romantic tension between them.

The plot revolves around the main character as well as dozens of other girls being rounded up and taken to the palace as kingsmaids. Among this title they are also referred to as concubines, s*x slaves, the king’s property, and other derogatory and suggestive things. Each girl goes and spends a night with the king, most coming back haunted and a shell of a person, some come back bragging about their good time and how they pleased the king.

The girls go through many beauty treatments. Once an elderly man inspects under the main character’s night gown to confirm she is a virgin, and “clean” from any diseases. When the main character asks why they couldn’t have just asked her the man says it’s cause she could have lied, and a woman adds that the king will want to know who is experienced. Several times the main character is naked while getting dressed or bathing, once being in front of the king when she changes into a maid’s outfit while he watches. This clearly makes the main character uncomfortable.

When it’s the main character’s time to go to the king she is rightly afraid. When the king realizes she can read thoughts he enlists her help in several political matters but then once those are finished he forces himself on her in a kiss and the chapter ends. The next chapter starts with the main character still wearing her clothes and she thinks about how the king never took them fully off.

The girls wear lots of revealing clothing especially when going to see the king.

Other minor and less suggestive things such as these are a part of the plot although if you’re comfortable reading everything stated above they won’t be much of a bother to you.

→ Violence - The main character is roughly taken from her home and her arm is bruised, a girl stands strong on her conviction that she will not sleep with the king unless they are married and when she goes to see him, she never comes back. It is assumed that she was killed, and some of the servants say they saw a pair of bloody wings (the girl was a fairy) but nothing else. Once Owen almost gets into a fight with a satyr guard because the satyrs do not like fairies.

→ Spiritual/Religious - The fairies have a religion that involves lighting candles, singing hymns, and saying prayers. Once or twice the main character prays and lights the candle though she hasn’t done so in many years. Their god is named sometimes and the main character thinks things like “*god’s name* please help us” or “protect us” and such.

[S B · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just no

I probably should have read the blurb first, to help manage my expectations. I just saw it was a retelling of Esther, but with fairies, and had to give it a shot. And I’m not sure that was a good idea.

I love the story of Esther and how she gains the favor of the king to save her people. “Hadassah: One Night with the King” by Tommy Tenney and Mark Andrew Olsen is an amazing story of Esther’s journey, grounded in the Bible. I suppose I started reading this book with the Bible and “Hadassah” in mind. And that’s where my disappointment starts.

Roxana is no Hadassah. Or Esther. She was raised to be a meek and obedient girl. She was expected to marry only the best. This all changes of course when the king needs to find a new bride. In hopes of sparing herself from an intimate moment with the king, she gives him a gift. She lets him know she has the ability to read minds. He tests her, and finds her abilities intriguing. There is even a moment or two where they seemed like a good team. Then the mind reading ends and he takes her body anyways. So she exposes her secret for nothing in the end. She is still the king’s concubine and now he knows one of her greatest secrets.

How on Earth she didn’t think the king would choose her to be queen is beyond me. She knew of his mood swings, his paranoia, the sabotage happening in the kingdom. Of course he’s going to tie himself to her in some way so he can have access to her abilities. Like, dictator 101 here. Gather important resources. And while it is despicable that he immediately beds a concubine, on his wedding night, she doesn’t want to be with him. And is furious. Which I fully understand. And still… this part was the most difficult to get past.

Esther had honor. She had good character. And she stayed in her king’s good favor, despite the circumstances and how unlikely their union was. Her king was war bent as well. But his actions did not lower HER honor. Maybe there was no love lost in her marriage, and it was just a marriage of convenience. But she was STILL married.

Roxana was a disgrace by sneaking around with her former love. She let her regrets and emotions cloud any character she might have had. But it’s ok, right? I’m supposed to feel sorry for her and Owen because she did not choose that life. She wanted Owen, not the king. And damned be to anyone else. But her selfishness caused great suffering. She didn’t care that she put everyone else’s life on the line, the king certainly isn’t going to kill her. She just wanted what she wanted, no matter the cost. And the cost was great. It was not sweet. Or romantic. It was pure foolishness.

She KNEW what would happen. Everyone KNEW! The king was many things. And she had plenty of opportunities to gain his favor. Plenty of ways to connect with him so she wasn’t living in fear of his moods. Instead she was hostile and bitter. Not saying she didn’t have a right to feel that way. But what’s the saying about catching more flies with honey? Her greatest opportunity was the power she held as queen-even if she was in a loveless marriage. And she was too busy sneaking away and endangering everyone to realize it.

I don’t even understand how or why the king doesn’t kill her on the spot when she comes to him unannounced. Other than not wanting to waste her talent. He had ignored her for weeks. Yet he decides to spare her? Sure, I guess. But then when he finally grants her request, why? I don’t understand. Is he just embarrassed that his closest adviser took such advantage of him? Seems more probable than anything else.

And then the ending. They’re still married. An heir is still expected. The king seems genuinely different after the events with his adviser. He seems to recognize the way he had been behaving for years was not good, for him or the kingdom. He learned this at great cost to himself. And this leads me to question…

The king and Roxana have moments of connection. They’re fleeting, but there nonetheless. Had she just taken her opportunity as queen seriously, cut ties with her former love, and tried to steward those few connections, would she have lost so much in the end? Would others have? Had she been a woman of honor and character, would she have ended up in place of favor to the king sooner? Was that the point of this story? The lord will use you regardless of your sins? Because, yes of course. But it’s also okay to die to yourself (in fact, you’re supposed to) and hold yourself to higher standards, even when others around you do not.

As far as the political intrigue, it’s pretty obvious who’s trying to hold the king’s ear and use him to do their bidding. It’s honestly amazing how no one puts it together sooner. Especially the king.

Overall, I was greatly disappointed. Roxana is just as selfish as the king. She’d disagree, but their behavior was the same. She chose her flesh over an opportunity to make a difference in her kingdom. She’s no Esther.

[R.F. Gammon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spoilers ahead but I’ll try to keep them non specific. Also: severe trigger warnings for SA in this book, though none of it is on page.

Personally: when there’s a man who is a serial r*pist in a book, I want him to suffer. I want him to die, preferably, but rotting away for life with no hope of ever recovering is also fine. I have not hated a male character as much as I hated Frederick in a long time, and I felt he got off SO EASY compared to everything he did. Like…he’s lonely? Oh no! Why does he still have all his limbs??????

This was a pretty faithful retelling of Esther. I liked a lot about it. But I felt like the heavier themes could’ve been handled a bit more delicately. For instance: killing Frederick brutally. Anyway. The end

[Faith Mathewson · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I would betray the king before I would betray my God, no matter the cost.” ‘My faith is stronger than my fears.”

This book was beautiful! A story of faith, courage, and endurance.

Fantasy has always been a favorite genre of mine but I was beginning to think reading that genre was over as so much of it begins to border witchcraft or is full of sex and other things that do not glorify Christ.

But Erin manages to tell a story that has all the beautiful elements of fantasy while keeping in faith and other biblical truths that glorify Christ.

So if you love fantasy worlds that don’t sacrifice faith and Christian values, I encourage you to read A Crown of Chains!

A few other little notes, I love how tastefully the scenes of the Kingsmaids and Roxana’s night with the King were handled. Though clean, she didn’t shy away from the reality of what these woman were forced to experience.
I also loved the character of Roxana who was a fresh take of the “Strong female character.” I am not usually a fan of those characters, but Roxana’s strength was not forceful nor did it come from a need to prove she was stronger than the men. It came from a quiet sort of dignity.

“Horns or no horns, wings or no wings, I guess those things don’t matter in the end. We can all find faith, or…perhaps faith finds us.”

Thank you to the author for an ARC of A Crown of Chains. I was under no obligation to leave anything but an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Abigail McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have nothing left to give except my life. It's all I have left. I hope it's enough. If I die, I die.

Powerful, moving, heavy, and hopeful, A Crown of Chains is everything I hoped it would be. I am always fascinated by Biblical retellings in unique settings, so a fantasy version of Queen Esther's story is kind of everything I've ever wanted. The faithfulness of God is so present in the whole story, and shown in such a powerful way. I was instantly captivated with the writing style and the worldbuilding, the characters endeared themselves to me so fast (well... the good ones anyway, haha!), and I couldn't put the book down!

This book is very heavy, covering topics like sexual assault and racism, things we don't see discussed enough when talking about Esther, honestly. There is so much grace and poise in how the author wove the themes in, not shying away from the darkness, but handling it with care.

The fantasy world is one I'd love to explore more, populated with fairies, satyrs, griffins, and wyverns, and I feel like we've just scratched the surface. The plot was perfectly paced to keep me engaged the whole way through, full of twists while still following the story we know so well. It's going to be a book that lingers with me for a long time, and I can't wait to see what Phillips has in store next!

4.5 stars from me!

**I received a copy of this book from the author. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.**

[ChrissiesPurpleLibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️I was pleasantly surprised. A very unique retelling. This fantastical biblical retelling of Esther was refreshing. Non magical but set in a fantastical world with magical characters as the aforementioned biblical characters. This is not the fairy tale love story I have seen in past expressions of the story of Esther. And although I do not like reading fairies this book is the exception to my rule 🤣🤣💜Great time! I plan on reading other books my this author too!

CW/TW: harem settings, abuse, death, grief, some violence.

[Josiah DeGraaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This feels like the gold standard for what biblical retellings should look like.

I've often been disappointed with how often the reality of the situation in Esther is brushed over and ignored. The one time I heard a sermon series on the book, the pastor took the position that Esther must have been trying to pursue political power from the get-go and trying to join the harem. Which is just...not at all what the biblical text ever says.

So a book that promised to be a more faithful retelling to the realities of the situation grabbed my attention. And boy did it deliver--not only in honestly depicting what's described in the biblical text, but also in grappling with the critiques certain commenters have made of Esther (should she have tried harder to resist a la Daniel? Is that even a fair question to ask in this situation?). You can tell that the author not only deeply studied the text, but also was familiar with commentaries on the book and some of the different positions taken by various theologians.

What made this a winning retelling for me, though, is not just in its honest depiction but also in some of the creative choices that not only deepened this particular retelling of the story, but also sent me going back to the Scriptures to see whether this interpretation really could be plausible. (The depiction of Mordecai, while understandably controversial for some readers, was one of those moments for me.) The novel presented new possible interpretive angles on the original story that I hadn't considered before. And that in turn sent me back to investigating the Scriptures to see what the best interpretation truly is. (And what more could you want from a retelling?)

(As a side note, I will mention that Phillips has an excellent compilation of her interpretive research and why she made certain decisions. For readers unsure of some of Phillips' narrative choices, I'd highly recommend it.)

The story is more than just some excellent themes and interpretive questions to mull on, of course. It had me riveted ever since I started reading it, and Phillips did an excellent job of keeping me guessing for what would happen next--not an easy task when retelling such a familiar story. There's a reason I finished this book in less than 24 hours.

Highly recommended, with the caveat that this story does deal directly (though tastefully) with the sexual coercion inherent to the story of Esther, so reader discretion is advised. Hard to see how this doesn't make my top ten list at the year's end.

[Renae | Redhair_and_Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gahhh oh my freakin’ goodness this book was so stinkin’ great!!! Where to even begin! I can honestly say I never imagined the story of Esther being told in such a way. Phillips wrote this book with unflinching courage and grace, diving into the dark side of history and bringing it out into the redeeming Light of God’s love and forgiveness. It was so emotionally difficult to read at times, because of how deeply painful the story gets, but there was healing in walking through Roxana’s trials with her as she found the strength to survive some of the darkest things people can go through. I cannot say enough good things about this book.

“… Bravery in the face of fear is to be admired as much as anything.”

Phillips did a great job of sticking to the facts the Bible gives us while also making this a unique and creative retelling, full of vibrant and loveable (or, in some cases, despicable) characters. I’ve heard the story of Esther well over a hundred times and can tell it in my sleep, but even I still spent most of the book wondering how it would pan out and what would happen to the characters. THAT takes talent! And there are some really cool ways Erin threw in subtle biblical bits, like weaving in a nod to Daniel and the Lions Den. This revelation just hit me a minute ago, but a fun fact about the book of Esther in the Bible is that it doesn’t mention God (weird, I know!), and Roxana herself also never hears from Ehyen (God) in the story. So, God is doesn’t make an appearance in the biblical book and He doesn’t make a direct appearance in Phillips’ book- what a cool parallel!

“Horns or no horns, wings or no wings, I guess those things don’t matter in the end. We can all find faith, or… perhaps faith finds us.”

Just in case it wasn’t obvious from my earlier allusions, this story does get very dark. It confronts rape, sexual assault, and general non-consensual behavior, as well as racism, sadism, and sexism. As a survivor of a lot of those things, I can genuinely say that Phillips handled these painful topics with grace and tastefulness, while not backing down from the raw reality of them. She struck the delicate balance between telling the unadulterated truth and further exploiting or glamorizing each of those acts of sin, and that’s a really tough thing to do. She absolutely deserves strong kudos for such an accomplishment.

“Faith is having courage, even when everything seems impossible, isn’t it?”

All in all, I can without hesitation say that this book is one of my favorites of the year. It managed to get me out of my reviewing slump, too, if that tells you anything about how much of an impact it has had on me! So, if you like dark tales, fairytales, biblical retellings, books that confront real life issues, or even simply good writing, I would definitely consider A Crown of Chains! It will probably make you cry, but it will also make you better.

[Jordan Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel by Erin Phillips was a highly-imaginative biblical retelling of Esther that kept me on my toes. What amazing creativity Phillips possesses to transform the politics and people groups in the Bible into plights of magical creatures! A Crown of Chains is one of the most well-done biblical retellings I've come across!

ACoC is an allegory that doesn't beat you over the head with Christian lessons. Both Christians and non-Christians alike will certainly enjoy this novel, but Christians will be able to pick up on the subtle nods to the Esther story without feeling like they're being preached to. Despite the magical elements throughout the book, the narrative does follow closely with the historical accuracy of Esther. The characters come alive on the pages, and I LOVE the discussion questions section at the end! Can every book please end with discussion questions??

I would give a content warning to younger or more sensitive readers, as some of the things the king' s maidens endured in the selection process went slightly beyond just alluding to what was happening. However, I'm thankful that Phillips chose to not explicitly describe what was happening. Older or more mature readers will certainly pick up on the clues she drops along the way. At times I found myself confusing some of the characters and the politics because there were a lot of them.

Overall, I loved this novel and would highly recommend it to lovers of fantasy, adventure novels, Christian books, or soft thrillers!

[Latisha Sexton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Crown of Chains is a poignant fairytale retelling of the story of Esther. It's set in a world of fairies, griffins, satyrs, humans, and giants.

Though the story of Esther was familiar to me, the author's beautiful prose brought the story to life in a new and bittersweet way. This book will break your heart while also strengthening your faith. It reminds us that our obedience to Christ isn't always easy or free of suffering.

The only thing I'm still not sure about (it's taking me a long time to process this book guys!) is the ending. I would really have liked a little more closure at the end (unless there's a sequel coming 😉) I would love to see even a scene or two more to wrap it all up in a tidy bow. But I also understand why she wrote it the way she did.

If you love fairytales, and stories of courage and faith, then you have to read this book! It is definitely one that will stay with you for a long time.

[Michaela Bush · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't normally read Biblical fiction (I have a few on my TBR, but not a lot) but A Crown of Chains caught my eye because of the hype I was noticing online, and boy, did it live up to that hype. My word. A Crown of Chains faces the issues of trafficking, slavery, and prejudice head on fearlessly, with excellent phrasing and in a way that will impact readers not by using explicit language, but by the lasting impact those events cause. The hurt those events cause. And eventually, what becomes of characters who choose to heal or choose to embitter themselves. SO well done. This book is absolutely beautiful, very well-written and masterfully plotted, with excellent worldbuilding, a hard-hitting story that echoes that of Esther, and themes that will leave you thinking. Oh man. I absolutely loved it, and I'm still chewing on it. I wasn't able to put it down.
10 out of 5 stars.

[Lovely Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️

Christian Adult fantasy ; First Person ; Present Tense

Esther retelling

Full video of my thoughts here: https://youtube.com/watch?v=gS8GMmvQK...