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A Trial of Sorcerers #3
A Tournament of Crowns
The third book in A Trial of Sorcerers is full of heart-pounding action, fantastical magic, and romantic tension that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Last night, Eira killed a man. However justified her actions were, many now regard her as a cold-blooded murderer and a heretic who extinguished their hope. But there's no time to explain herself. She barely has a chance to wash the blood off her hands before the Tournament of Five Kingdoms begins. Sequestered with the other champions for the duration of the tournament, Eira must now navigate the games, her competition, the enemies who hunt her head, and - somehow worse than all the rest - being stuck in close quarters with the man who broke her heart. All is fair in love and magical tournaments, and Eira is ready for the fight of her life. Get ready for twists you never saw coming in A Tournament of Crowns. This series is perfect for readers who enjoy young adult, epic fantasy full of elemental magic, slow-burn romance, found family, and battles for the futures of kingdoms set in a world you'll never want to leave. Don't miss a single book in the A Trial of Sorcerers series. Readers should start with A Trial of Sorcerers, and then A Hunt of Shadows, before reading A Tournament of Crowns.
394 pages, Hardcover
First published February 27, 2023
526 people are currently reading
12978 people want to read
About the author
Elise Kova
59 books17.2k followersJoin Elise's mailing list to never miss a giveaway, release, sale, and more: https://elisekova.com/subscribe/
ELISE KOVA is a USA Today bestselling author. She enjoys telling stories of fantasy worlds filled with magic and deep emotions. She lives in Florida and, when not writing, can be found playing video games, drawing, chatting with readers on social media, or daydreaming about her next story.
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ELISE KOVA is a USA Today bestselling author. She enjoys telling stories of fantasy worlds filled with magic and deep emotions. She lives in Florida and, when not writing, can be found playing video games, drawing, chatting with readers on social media, or daydreaming about her next story.
Say Hello!
INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | FACEBOOK | TWITTER
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 234 reviews
February 28, 2023
not a bad installment to a series! it gets the job done as this book expands the world, develops the characters, and uses a competition to create a plot that progresses the overall story. i always know what i am going to get when i start an EK book - shes just that dependable/reliable as an author - and this book is no exception.
that being said, i dont feel like there is anything new to this particular volume. the competition was already done in book #1 and the world-building and character development was covered in book #2. yes, each element moves the story forward, but theyre just reiterations of what the reader has already experienced in the previous books.
however, im still invested in the story and i was excited to be back in the world while reading it. so this has me looking forward to the next book!
↠ 3.5 stars
that being said, i dont feel like there is anything new to this particular volume. the competition was already done in book #1 and the world-building and character development was covered in book #2. yes, each element moves the story forward, but theyre just reiterations of what the reader has already experienced in the previous books.
however, im still invested in the story and i was excited to be back in the world while reading it. so this has me looking forward to the next book!
↠ 3.5 stars
May 13, 2023
Another good book in this series! Overall, Elise tends to be so consistent in her writing, especially in her non-standalone books.
✅ IF YOU LIKE TOURNAMENT plotlines then this is definitely a series for you 😆 We had a tournament in book 1 and now another tournament in book 2 - doesn't get much better than that!
🆗 THERE WASN'T MUCH ROMANCE in this book, but I think that's okay because Eira had a lot of emotional development and decided to focus on herself first instead of jumping back into a toxic relationship or starting a new relationship - which I can definitely respect. I really hope that by the end of this, she does not decide to go back to Cullen 😐
✅ THE BOOK IS FAST-PACED and we make a lot of progress in both the plot and in the growth of the characters. I really liked Olivin and everyone else we meet from the other nations, so I hope we see a lot more of them.
Overall, I would recommend this series if you're looking for an easy read that feels more like YA but still has some darker themes, such as having to deal with death, betrayal, etc. I am definitely excited to continue reading once the next book comes out!
✅ IF YOU LIKE TOURNAMENT plotlines then this is definitely a series for you 😆 We had a tournament in book 1 and now another tournament in book 2 - doesn't get much better than that!
🆗 THERE WASN'T MUCH ROMANCE in this book, but I think that's okay because Eira had a lot of emotional development and decided to focus on herself first instead of jumping back into a toxic relationship or starting a new relationship - which I can definitely respect. I really hope that by the end of this, she does not decide to go back to Cullen 😐
✅ THE BOOK IS FAST-PACED and we make a lot of progress in both the plot and in the growth of the characters. I really liked Olivin and everyone else we meet from the other nations, so I hope we see a lot more of them.
Overall, I would recommend this series if you're looking for an easy read that feels more like YA but still has some darker themes, such as having to deal with death, betrayal, etc. I am definitely excited to continue reading once the next book comes out!
February 29, 2024
I can’t believe I completely forgot to review this book last year when I originally read it! I thoroughly enjoy this series and do remember this book did not disappoint. I just wish I retained the particulars, sadly all I have is the overall remembrance of a book well read.
January 7, 2023
My most anticipated read of 2023 and MAN, long story short poor Eira needs a self-care day.
Picking up right after the previous book, we dive straight into the Tournament of Five Kingdoms. Just as with the trials in the first book, the tournament challenges are well-crafted and fun to follow. Interwoven between the challenges themselves are so many good moments between the characters that really go a long way to show how far Eira has come as a person. Her personal growth through all of her trials and tribulations is just lovely.
This third book does a lot to help explain some of the character motivations that were previously kind of nebulous, and part of that is proof of just how much Eira’s worldview has changed. Some unexpected relationships pop up, others deepen, and some are a work in progress.
I also have to give a small shout-out to some of the returning cast from the previous few series, particularly Vi. Vi, my dear, also needs a long, LONG nap.
The main plot of Eira trying to uncover the villain’s plot was pretty straightforward. This is mostly a character book with a good dose of tournament spectacle, and it’s delightful to get a look at Qwint’s magic system. I always love Elise’s magic systems, especially in this series, and I look forward to seeing what Carsovia looks like one of these days!
But also, some of those twists got me good. I admittedly didn’t catch one of the twists after getting thrown off by a red herring, and with that cliffhanger ending 2024 feels very, very far away.
Final note: Olivin. That’s it, that’s the note.
Picking up right after the previous book, we dive straight into the Tournament of Five Kingdoms. Just as with the trials in the first book, the tournament challenges are well-crafted and fun to follow. Interwoven between the challenges themselves are so many good moments between the characters that really go a long way to show how far Eira has come as a person. Her personal growth through all of her trials and tribulations is just lovely.
This third book does a lot to help explain some of the character motivations that were previously kind of nebulous, and part of that is proof of just how much Eira’s worldview has changed. Some unexpected relationships pop up, others deepen, and some are a work in progress.
I also have to give a small shout-out to some of the returning cast from the previous few series, particularly Vi. Vi, my dear, also needs a long, LONG nap.
The main plot of Eira trying to uncover the villain’s plot was pretty straightforward. This is mostly a character book with a good dose of tournament spectacle, and it’s delightful to get a look at Qwint’s magic system. I always love Elise’s magic systems, especially in this series, and I look forward to seeing what Carsovia looks like one of these days!
But also, some of those twists got me good. I admittedly didn’t catch one of the twists after getting thrown off by a red herring, and with that cliffhanger ending 2024 feels very, very far away.
Final note: Olivin. That’s it, that’s the note.
January 3, 2023
I have never been more thankful and also dreadful over the fact that I received an arc copy of this.
Because what the absolute hell just happened in the end🤯
Best book of the series so far hands down.
The characters arcs, the new characters, the politics, all came together so well. I genuinely thought this was going to be the last book but Impossible with all the twist and turns. Still dizzy from so many thing’s that happened.
Once again Elise Kova never fails.
Because what the absolute hell just happened in the end🤯
Best book of the series so far hands down.
The characters arcs, the new characters, the politics, all came together so well. I genuinely thought this was going to be the last book but Impossible with all the twist and turns. Still dizzy from so many thing’s that happened.
Once again Elise Kova never fails.
June 27, 2023
The story had many exciting elements about it, the tournament itself, the Pillars, Eira's interactions with the other contestants, and character growth. All in all, it was an entertaining read and I'd recommend the series to others.
Character Growth
I appreciated the depth to Eira's character and her ability to grow in each book. Also, her reconnecting with family.
The Savior
Two things I didn't like about it, the first was the way Eira solved everything herself, and that her beauty and skills were hyped up too much. There were more than enough one liners "Eira figured it out," "Eira is the one who save you" etc. that had made it feel cheesy. She was clearly the "one and only one" able to figure out any information and save the day . . . in every situation, and, of course, the most beautiful and desirous and powerful and. . . . Their team having won so many events (because of her) also was a bit too much.
Romance
On the romantic side, I enjoyed the addition of the foreign competitor, but cannot say I remember him from book two. Their relationship development was built up well. As long as he doesn't turn into the new Cullen (instalove like in book two) and stays strong, I'll continue to like him.
Cullen's character, on the other hand, went down the drain. This was the second part that I didn't like about the story. He was attractive in the first book, confident, commanding, powerful. In the second book, he became a weak character who pined after Eira without reason. There were no obvious reasons why or how he fell in love with Eira. They went from acquaintances to "I can't live without you Eira" without development.
My least favorite scenes in this book were when Cullen kept professing his love for Eira. He continued to run after her, even after she turned him down multiple times. At this point, he's a throw away character, which is a shame because there was so much lost potential for him in the series.
All in all, I cannot wait to finish this series.
Character Growth
I appreciated the depth to Eira's character and her ability to grow in each book. Also, her reconnecting with family.
The Savior
Two things I didn't like about it, the first was the way Eira solved everything herself, and that her beauty and skills were hyped up too much. There were more than enough one liners "Eira figured it out," "Eira is the one who save you" etc. that had made it feel cheesy. She was clearly the "one and only one" able to figure out any information and save the day . . . in every situation, and, of course, the most beautiful and desirous and powerful and. . . . Their team having won so many events (because of her) also was a bit too much.
Romance
On the romantic side, I enjoyed the addition of the foreign competitor, but cannot say I remember him from book two. Their relationship development was built up well. As long as he doesn't turn into the new Cullen (instalove like in book two) and stays strong, I'll continue to like him.
Cullen's character, on the other hand, went down the drain. This was the second part that I didn't like about the story. He was attractive in the first book, confident, commanding, powerful. In the second book, he became a weak character who pined after Eira without reason. There were no obvious reasons why or how he fell in love with Eira. They went from acquaintances to "I can't live without you Eira" without development.
My least favorite scenes in this book were when Cullen kept professing his love for Eira. He continued to run after her, even after she turned him down multiple times. At this point, he's a throw away character, which is a shame because there was so much lost potential for him in the series.
All in all, I cannot wait to finish this series.
November 16, 2023
*SCREAMING*
"Be an ARC reader," they said. "It will be fun," they said.
Well I was an ARC reader and now I've finished this book and I can't talk to anyone about all my spoilery emotions . So fun 🙃
For now, enjoy my screaming and inner turmoil
Elise Kova has done it again. The world building. The plot thickening. The romantic tension. It's all there and it's all even better than ever.
I'm not one for love triangles, but if they're done right I can get behind them. And the triangle introduced in this book is done right. I honestly cannot guess who Eira is going to end up with, and thought that stresses me out (Team Cullen over here!), I'm enjoying the tension and seeing a different side to Eira.
Onto the tournament. This surprisingly was not my favorite part of the book. If I'm being honest, I was slightly undwhelmed with the challenges and the results. Though this was the book in the series about the tournament, the tournament was not the main point of the plot. At least, to me it did not come across that way.
The brewing war and political tension/mysterious aspect was at the forefront, and while I was on the edge of my seat, I was hoping for more from the tournament.
The plot twist. THE PLOT TWIST. I had a thought early on that something similar would happen, but thought "No, she wouldn't be that mean." But Kova was that mean, and it was BRILLIANT. I need book four. Like, now please.
Elise Kova is an auto-buy author for me and that just gets affirmed with every book of hers that I read!
"Be an ARC reader," they said. "It will be fun," they said.
Well I was an ARC reader and now I've finished this book and I can't talk to anyone about all my spoilery emotions . So fun 🙃
For now, enjoy my screaming and inner turmoil
Elise Kova has done it again. The world building. The plot thickening. The romantic tension. It's all there and it's all even better than ever.
I'm not one for love triangles, but if they're done right I can get behind them. And the triangle introduced in this book is done right. I honestly cannot guess who Eira is going to end up with, and thought that stresses me out (Team Cullen over here!), I'm enjoying the tension and seeing a different side to Eira.
Onto the tournament. This surprisingly was not my favorite part of the book. If I'm being honest, I was slightly undwhelmed with the challenges and the results. Though this was the book in the series about the tournament, the tournament was not the main point of the plot. At least, to me it did not come across that way.
The brewing war and political tension/mysterious aspect was at the forefront, and while I was on the edge of my seat, I was hoping for more from the tournament.
The plot twist. THE PLOT TWIST. I had a thought early on that something similar would happen, but thought "No, she wouldn't be that mean." But Kova was that mean, and it was BRILLIANT. I need book four. Like, now please.
Elise Kova is an auto-buy author for me and that just gets affirmed with every book of hers that I read!
January 29, 2023
Oh, I love this series. There is so much action, so many characters to love and root for, and plenty of plot twists to keep things interesting. This is never more evident than in book 3, A Tournament of Crowns.
The story picks up right where we left Eira after book 2: she's killed a man, unwittingly started a religious upheaval in the land of Meru, and she's about to finally begin the Tournament of Five Kingdoms. Per the guidelines of the Tournament, the champions are sequestered in their own village, with each kingdom in their own house. This does a few interesting things for the story. For one, it alienates Eira from any adult figures she may have once relied on (though many of those relationships have been eroded already), causing Eira to turn fully toward her friends and new alliances. And for another, it ratchets up the tension between Eira and Cullen, the idiot boy who strung Eira along despite an impending arranged marriage. (Not that I'm bitter.) The character growth for Eira in these two areas was extremely gratifying. She learns to use a bit more caution and be a bit less reactive, allowing her friends in on her plots instead of dashing off without them. She also begins to heal from Cullen's betrayal and become just a bit more sure of herself, what she's worth, what she wants, even if it hurts. (Cullen, by contrast, is a sad sack.)
When it comes to the actual storyline, there is a lot going on beyond this character development. There is the long-awaited Tournament itself, whose contests don't strike the proud and collaborative tone that was initially promised and intended. There are Eira's efforts beyond the Tournament to uncover and thwart Ulvarth's plans, which creates opportunities for some of Eira's allies to shine. There are also various mysteries along the way that don't initially appear to add up to anything, some of which left me questioning right up until the book's explosive climax. But Elise Kova so deftly catches all of those loose threads, pulling them so slowly and carefully taut that you never even notice until the final knot is tied.
And that, possibly, is the best way I can describe the cliffhanger at the end. It's the kind of twist that leaves you energized and desperate for the next book, because you can just feel Eira's world slipping sideways into exciting, uncharted territory. I have no sense for what's coming at her next, but as the scope of Eira's adventure increases yet again, I know I'll be here rooting for her.
Thank you, Elise Kova and Silver Wing Press, for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this title!
The story picks up right where we left Eira after book 2: she's killed a man, unwittingly started a religious upheaval in the land of Meru, and she's about to finally begin the Tournament of Five Kingdoms. Per the guidelines of the Tournament, the champions are sequestered in their own village, with each kingdom in their own house. This does a few interesting things for the story. For one, it alienates Eira from any adult figures she may have once relied on (though many of those relationships have been eroded already), causing Eira to turn fully toward her friends and new alliances. And for another, it ratchets up the tension between Eira and Cullen, the idiot boy who strung Eira along despite an impending arranged marriage. (Not that I'm bitter.) The character growth for Eira in these two areas was extremely gratifying. She learns to use a bit more caution and be a bit less reactive, allowing her friends in on her plots instead of dashing off without them. She also begins to heal from Cullen's betrayal and become just a bit more sure of herself, what she's worth, what she wants, even if it hurts. (Cullen, by contrast, is a sad sack.)
When it comes to the actual storyline, there is a lot going on beyond this character development. There is the long-awaited Tournament itself, whose contests don't strike the proud and collaborative tone that was initially promised and intended. There are Eira's efforts beyond the Tournament to uncover and thwart Ulvarth's plans, which creates opportunities for some of Eira's allies to shine. There are also various mysteries along the way that don't initially appear to add up to anything, some of which left me questioning right up until the book's explosive climax. But Elise Kova so deftly catches all of those loose threads, pulling them so slowly and carefully taut that you never even notice until the final knot is tied.
And that, possibly, is the best way I can describe the cliffhanger at the end. It's the kind of twist that leaves you energized and desperate for the next book, because you can just feel Eira's world slipping sideways into exciting, uncharted territory. I have no sense for what's coming at her next, but as the scope of Eira's adventure increases yet again, I know I'll be here rooting for her.
Thank you, Elise Kova and Silver Wing Press, for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this title!
March 3, 2023
excited that I can finally rate an elise kova book above three stars!! this was the best of the series so far I think, I found eira easier to like in this one (there was much less constant self-pity) and the plot was v engaging. now I really don't want to wait until next year for the next one lol
May 3, 2023
I honestly haven’t met an Elise Kova book that I didn’t absolutely love. She’s phenomenal. And this book brought me right back into the story. All the feels. Well done. Can’t wait for the next one.
May 12, 2025
I FREAKING CAN'T STAND CULLEN.
He really got on my nerves in this book, and I fell head over heels for Olivin. I'm pretty sure he isn't going to be endgame, especially with the ending, but I'm hoping Elise Kova will surprise me. But I would also really like it if she just chose for herself, because Eira is such a good character. I really, really like her, and with each book, she learns from her mistakes and really becomes a better person/friend/shadow for it.
ANYWAY, the games were a bit disappointing to me. I wanted a bit more excitement about it, but Eira had lots of other stuff to deal with, so it kind of got put in the background. I did really enjoy the rest of the plot. The scheming, the secrets, and the relationship development. LOVED THE FRIENDSHIPS. The ending made me so excited for the next book, and I can't freaking wait how Eira will deal with all of this.
Rating: 4.0
He really got on my nerves in this book, and I fell head over heels for Olivin. I'm pretty sure he isn't going to be endgame, especially with the ending, but I'm hoping Elise Kova will surprise me. But I would also really like it if she just chose for herself, because Eira is such a good character. I really, really like her, and with each book, she learns from her mistakes and really becomes a better person/friend/shadow for it.
ANYWAY, the games were a bit disappointing to me. I wanted a bit more excitement about it, but Eira had lots of other stuff to deal with, so it kind of got put in the background. I did really enjoy the rest of the plot. The scheming, the secrets, and the relationship development. LOVED THE FRIENDSHIPS. The ending made me so excited for the next book, and I can't freaking wait how Eira will deal with all of this.
Rating: 4.0
August 26, 2025
I swear Elise always picks the third book to go hardest on the cliffhanger!
I am TRYING not to judge Eira too hard, because I also made terrible decisions about men at 18…but GIRL! Maybe take some time to yourself and concentrate on saving the world. I’m so beyond over Cullen.
Anyway, I am enjoying this series and can’t wait to see what happens next!
I am TRYING not to judge Eira too hard, because I also made terrible decisions about men at 18…but GIRL! Maybe take some time to yourself and concentrate on saving the world. I’m so beyond over Cullen.
Anyway, I am enjoying this series and can’t wait to see what happens next!
March 8, 2023
A Royal Tournament. Thrilling Magic. Deadly Mysteries. Slow-Burn Romance.
It was a bittersweet moment when I finished my arc of this book as it meant the end of a stunning series by Elise Kova (until book 4 in 2024 that is) but what a epic end it was indeed! I’m left desperate for the next instalment.
I enjoyed every moment of this richly imagined fantasy trilogy: from the premise to the characters - every page is captivating and truly addictive. The writing is bewitching and story as a whole magical!
Eira is a phenomenal protagonist (one of my favourite Kova characters) and I absolutely adored seeing her character develop and grow from book 1 to 3.
The tournament of Five Kingdoms is finally here! And Eira has a score to settle. I really enjoyed returning back to this world, as the narrative takes off from where we leave it in book 1. The story is captivating, as is all the action, other kingdoms and villains. This book is much more character driven but mesmerisingly perfect!
This is one of those stories that will remain with you long after you finish it!
> YA Fantasy
> Slow Burn Romance
> A Well written love triangle
> A fabulous magic system
> Amazing setting and world building
> Thrilling Twists and turns
> A Royal Tournament
> Different Kingdoms
> A unique Magic system
> Mystery and Angst
> Brilliant characters
4.65 stars ⭐️
Happy reading!
It was a bittersweet moment when I finished my arc of this book as it meant the end of a stunning series by Elise Kova (until book 4 in 2024 that is) but what a epic end it was indeed! I’m left desperate for the next instalment.
I enjoyed every moment of this richly imagined fantasy trilogy: from the premise to the characters - every page is captivating and truly addictive. The writing is bewitching and story as a whole magical!
Eira is a phenomenal protagonist (one of my favourite Kova characters) and I absolutely adored seeing her character develop and grow from book 1 to 3.
The tournament of Five Kingdoms is finally here! And Eira has a score to settle. I really enjoyed returning back to this world, as the narrative takes off from where we leave it in book 1. The story is captivating, as is all the action, other kingdoms and villains. This book is much more character driven but mesmerisingly perfect!
This is one of those stories that will remain with you long after you finish it!
> YA Fantasy
> Slow Burn Romance
> A Well written love triangle
> A fabulous magic system
> Amazing setting and world building
> Thrilling Twists and turns
> A Royal Tournament
> Different Kingdoms
> A unique Magic system
> Mystery and Angst
> Brilliant characters
4.65 stars ⭐️
Happy reading!
February 10, 2024
reshmita the caterpillar! i really need to catch up on reviews. anyways the next book comes out like this week so hehehe.
November 16, 2023
There’s nothing I love more than an expanded series and this book built so much upon everything that I thought was so interesting about the Air Awakens world! This is 16th book in this world that I’ve read and I feel like it’s probably so difficult to keep going in one world but Elise Kova makes it look easy.
I also had the luxury of binge reading the first 2 series so the ending of this book was painful for me 😂 knowing I have to wait so long for book 4 is going to be rough.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I also had the luxury of binge reading the first 2 series so the ending of this book was painful for me 😂 knowing I have to wait so long for book 4 is going to be rough.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
December 13, 2024
YEAAA BOI
March 6, 2023
This was a solid continuation of this series. We get so much more of these characters and their relationships.
In this one, we got back to the competition which is something I missed in the second one. Some of them were short because Eira wasn't in them, but they were overall really fun to read. We got a peek at the different magics from the different places. At first, one of my downfalls of this book was how the plot skipped around. Come to find out, my digital copy was missing chapters. So I went back and reread the chapters I missed once I downloaded it onto my kindle with all the chapters. It was a little confusing going back and reading a few previous chapters here and there, but that was no fault of the actual book, just my weird first copy I downloaded.
I liked getting to know Eira more and watch her grow as a character. I'm not a huge fan of love triangles, but I think this one was handled pretty well and I didn't absolutely hate it. I liked getting to know Olivin and some of the other competitors and really loved getting more of Alyss, Noelle and Cullen.
A lot happened in this book besides the competition. Ulvarth shows his face, Olivin's brother goes missing, Fritz shows up to help with healing in the competition and stuff I don't want to spoil. We have intense questions that we don't know the answers to and are left hanging for the next book. I already can't wait to read it and find out what happens!
Thank you to Elise Kova and Book of Matches Media for a copy of this book!
In this one, we got back to the competition which is something I missed in the second one. Some of them were short because Eira wasn't in them, but they were overall really fun to read. We got a peek at the different magics from the different places. At first, one of my downfalls of this book was how the plot skipped around. Come to find out, my digital copy was missing chapters. So I went back and reread the chapters I missed once I downloaded it onto my kindle with all the chapters. It was a little confusing going back and reading a few previous chapters here and there, but that was no fault of the actual book, just my weird first copy I downloaded.
I liked getting to know Eira more and watch her grow as a character. I'm not a huge fan of love triangles, but I think this one was handled pretty well and I didn't absolutely hate it. I liked getting to know Olivin and some of the other competitors and really loved getting more of Alyss, Noelle and Cullen.
A lot happened in this book besides the competition. Ulvarth shows his face, Olivin's brother goes missing, Fritz shows up to help with healing in the competition and stuff I don't want to spoil. We have intense questions that we don't know the answers to and are left hanging for the next book. I already can't wait to read it and find out what happens!
Thank you to Elise Kova and Book of Matches Media for a copy of this book!
February 13, 2023
4.5/5
Wow this was an amazing book! A Tournament of Crowns picked up right where A Hunt of Shadows left off and I swear there was never a dull moment. I absolutely loved how this book focused more on the magic and tournament while also having the main conflict with Ulvarth and the pillars. I loved the trials and challenges. Seeing Eira, Alyss, Noelle, and Cullen have to fight and interact with the different competitors was exciting. I also really enjoyed learning more about the other competitors and types of magic from the other regions of Meru.
Eira’s character is complex and I appreciated her growth in this book. She relied a lot more on her friends and went running into things head first less. I always appreciate how Elise writes her characters who aren’t perfect. Eira seems to have really come into her own. While I’m not the hugest fan of tumultuous relationships and love triangles I didn’t mind how the romance in this book was handled. The story thankfully isn’t solely focused on Eira and Cullen and I think it represented young love, heartbreak and uncertainty accurately. I really enjoyed Olivin’s character and personally think I’m now an Olivin fan!
The pacing of this book I thought was done really well. I did think the story jumped around a bit but with the style of the tournament it allowed for multiple things to be happening at once while still making sense. The last 15% of the book flew by and I had to reread the ending again to make sure I understood what actually happened. It was chaotic but in an exciting way. I really didn’t see the final twist coming from one of my favorite side characters.
Overall this was an excellent book and I highly recommend this series. Since these books happen in sequence you have to have read the first 2 to understand what is happening in this one. I think this is my favorite out of the 3 and I’m eagerly waiting for the 4th!
Thank you Elise and Silver Wing Press for gifting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Wow this was an amazing book! A Tournament of Crowns picked up right where A Hunt of Shadows left off and I swear there was never a dull moment. I absolutely loved how this book focused more on the magic and tournament while also having the main conflict with Ulvarth and the pillars. I loved the trials and challenges. Seeing Eira, Alyss, Noelle, and Cullen have to fight and interact with the different competitors was exciting. I also really enjoyed learning more about the other competitors and types of magic from the other regions of Meru.
Eira’s character is complex and I appreciated her growth in this book. She relied a lot more on her friends and went running into things head first less. I always appreciate how Elise writes her characters who aren’t perfect. Eira seems to have really come into her own. While I’m not the hugest fan of tumultuous relationships and love triangles I didn’t mind how the romance in this book was handled. The story thankfully isn’t solely focused on Eira and Cullen and I think it represented young love, heartbreak and uncertainty accurately. I really enjoyed Olivin’s character and personally think I’m now an Olivin fan!
The pacing of this book I thought was done really well. I did think the story jumped around a bit but with the style of the tournament it allowed for multiple things to be happening at once while still making sense. The last 15% of the book flew by and I had to reread the ending again to make sure I understood what actually happened. It was chaotic but in an exciting way. I really didn’t see the final twist coming from one of my favorite side characters.
Overall this was an excellent book and I highly recommend this series. Since these books happen in sequence you have to have read the first 2 to understand what is happening in this one. I think this is my favorite out of the 3 and I’m eagerly waiting for the 4th!
Thank you Elise and Silver Wing Press for gifting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 1, 2023
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Content Warning: abuse of a family member and blood from some scenes during the competition, grieving, mentions of death
This was a little disappointing - mostly because it feels like it's dragging instead of getting to the interesting parts. I think there are too many things happening that don't have enough satisfying threads throughout the novels to keep me interested.
I was really happy with the fact that this series is following someone who isn't a royal and tangentially related to the previous events of the Air Awakens world, but I am disappointed with how things are intertwined and integrated. The most interesting part of Eira is how she shows her strength and her mysterious parental lineage and that is barely touched upon in this book.
Also the romance is just not there for me at all. There was too much build up in the previous books only for this one to be a let down. I think that's the struggle with knowing this series is 5 books - there is too much book timespan for it to feel super satisfying because there's too much time for things to go well or poorly.
I will finish the series but I hope I'm not let down the way I was with the Vortex Chronicles at the end!
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Content Warning: abuse of a family member and blood from some scenes during the competition, grieving, mentions of death
This was a little disappointing - mostly because it feels like it's dragging instead of getting to the interesting parts. I think there are too many things happening that don't have enough satisfying threads throughout the novels to keep me interested.
I was really happy with the fact that this series is following someone who isn't a royal and tangentially related to the previous events of the Air Awakens world, but I am disappointed with how things are intertwined and integrated. The most interesting part of Eira is how she shows her strength and her mysterious parental lineage and that is barely touched upon in this book.
Also the romance is just not there for me at all. There was too much build up in the previous books only for this one to be a let down. I think that's the struggle with knowing this series is 5 books - there is too much book timespan for it to feel super satisfying because there's too much time for things to go well or poorly.
I will finish the series but I hope I'm not let down the way I was with the Vortex Chronicles at the end!
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March 21, 2023
Of course it ends on a cliffhanger like that!!
I’m loving this continuation of the world created with Trial of Sorcerers and I’m loving Eira more than I did Vhalla. Eira just keeps having reason to not be able to trust in anyone. Every time she seems to connect with someone they do something to hurt her or betray her is some way. Cannot wait for the next book, too bad it’s not set to come out until February 2024…I hate waiting.
I’m loving this continuation of the world created with Trial of Sorcerers and I’m loving Eira more than I did Vhalla. Eira just keeps having reason to not be able to trust in anyone. Every time she seems to connect with someone they do something to hurt her or betray her is some way. Cannot wait for the next book, too bad it’s not set to come out until February 2024…I hate waiting.
August 26, 2023
just a damsel waiting to be rescued
The romance is gross. I get the author and premise of the novel is to be a romance book that has a taste of fantasy but it’s not realistic and annoying. This woman has lost family and slain enemies, and yet a pretty face and a boring conversation and personality is all it takes for her to get flustered. Extremely disappointed and I’m done with the series.
The romance is gross. I get the author and premise of the novel is to be a romance book that has a taste of fantasy but it’s not realistic and annoying. This woman has lost family and slain enemies, and yet a pretty face and a boring conversation and personality is all it takes for her to get flustered. Extremely disappointed and I’m done with the series.
February 25, 2024
OHHH SHIT I COMPLETELY FORGOT IT ENDED THIS WAY AND THE CLIFFHANGER HITS SO HARD
Want to read
September 20, 2024The Golden Guard Trilogy ⭐⭐⭐.16
1. The Crown's Dog ⭐⭐
2. The Prince's Rogue ⭐⭐⭐.5
3. The Farmer's War ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Air Awakens:
1. Air Awakens ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. Fire Falling ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2.5. Tales from the Front ⭐⭐⭐
3. Earth's End ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
4. Water's Wrath ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5. Crystal Crowned ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Vortex Chronicles
1. Vortex Visions
2. Chosen Champion
3. Failed Future
4. Sovereign Sacrifice
5. Crystal Caged
A Trial of Sorcerers
1. A Trial of Sorcerers
2. A Hunt of Shadows
1. The Crown's Dog ⭐⭐
2. The Prince's Rogue ⭐⭐⭐.5
3. The Farmer's War ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Air Awakens:
1. Air Awakens ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. Fire Falling ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2.5. Tales from the Front ⭐⭐⭐
3. Earth's End ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
4. Water's Wrath ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5. Crystal Crowned ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Vortex Chronicles
1. Vortex Visions
2. Chosen Champion
3. Failed Future
4. Sovereign Sacrifice
5. Crystal Caged
A Trial of Sorcerers
1. A Trial of Sorcerers
2. A Hunt of Shadows
February 21, 2023
◦ I've received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ◦
⮞ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 ⮜
I loved all the characters in the book minus the bad guys. The new relationships that formed during this book were so sweet and I loved it! The found friendship trope was definitely beautifully made and I loved the way things turned.
⮞ 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝-𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 ⮜
The world-building wasn't a big factor this time. You get information about the places you are but is not a big factor, the main factor was the place where the competitions were taking place and a bit of bits and pieces from the town, but the information provided was very descriptive and the whole thing just played in front of my eyes.
⮞ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝/𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝 ⮜
I loved the character growth. Eira has grown so much in this book. If she annoyed me in the first two books in this book she made me love her. The romance, the new friendships that formed, and the whole competition was so nicely played. It hooked me from the very first page until the end.
⮞ 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞/TW ⮜
There is no spice in this book, there is a bit of a moment between Eira and someone else but is not overly detailed, is a more fade to black scene. Some triggers can be abuse of a family member and blood from some scenes during the competition.
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⮞ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 ⮜
I loved all the characters in the book minus the bad guys. The new relationships that formed during this book were so sweet and I loved it! The found friendship trope was definitely beautifully made and I loved the way things turned.
⮞ 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝-𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 ⮜
The world-building wasn't a big factor this time. You get information about the places you are but is not a big factor, the main factor was the place where the competitions were taking place and a bit of bits and pieces from the town, but the information provided was very descriptive and the whole thing just played in front of my eyes.
⮞ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝/𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝 ⮜
I loved the character growth. Eira has grown so much in this book. If she annoyed me in the first two books in this book she made me love her. The romance, the new friendships that formed, and the whole competition was so nicely played. It hooked me from the very first page until the end.
⮞ 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞/TW ⮜
There is no spice in this book, there is a bit of a moment between Eira and someone else but is not overly detailed, is a more fade to black scene. Some triggers can be abuse of a family member and blood from some scenes during the competition.
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Always open to read and review more books🠇
Review Policy
December 11, 2024
And to think it couldn’t possibly get worse than this? It did. Honestly, I’m impressed with myself for still finding the will to keep reading. At this point, it’s starting to feel like a test of endurance.
I get that it’s YA, and I’m not expecting Game of Thrones levels of complexity, but come on—Harry Potter managed to be both wholesome and amazing (though let’s be real, Ginny and Harry’s chemistry felt about as natural as wet cardboard—don’t fight me on this). But here? I should’ve been rooting for someone by now, yet I feel absolutely nothing for these characters.
Eira? She’s practically a walking disaster. It’s like her stupidity spree is the main storyline, and everything else is just a side story. Elise gave her all these supposedly incredible powers, and she still manages to endanger everyone around her and make every wrong decision imaginable. At least she’s consistent—I’ll give her that much. But honestly, after three books, my expectations are officially at rock bottom.
And then there’s her love interest. Spineless Cullen—because, really, his name might as well be that. If you’re going to declare your undying love, maybe take a moment to lose the metaphorical training wheels first. This guy cries, whines, and begs like it’s an Olympic sport. At some point, you just want to hand him a self-help book and hope for the best.
The only characters keeping this ship afloat are Olivine, Noelle, and Alyss. Everyone else is so aggravating that I’m half-tempted to cheer if the lot of them just dropped dead. At least it’d be a plot twist worth talking about.
February 28, 2023
Thank you bookofmatchesmedia and elisekova for including me on this ARC tour and the gifted copy.
This is book three in A Trial of Sorcerers series. I keep reading that others liked this one the best in the series so far and I have to agree! We are deep in the Tournament and to not give anything away there is some tension due to what happened at the end of Book two that was pretty scandalous.We are meeting new characters and forming alliances while a bigger plot is unfolding.
Eira has grown so much during the last two books and this book is so fast paced and action packed set in the Capital of Meru.
Read if you like:
✨Elemental magic
✨Royal tournament
✨Political intrigue
✨Slow burn and maybe a love 📐
✨YA Fantasy
✨Sword & Sorcery
"All is fair in love and magical tournaments, and Eira is ready for the fight of her life."
This is book three in A Trial of Sorcerers series. I keep reading that others liked this one the best in the series so far and I have to agree! We are deep in the Tournament and to not give anything away there is some tension due to what happened at the end of Book two that was pretty scandalous.We are meeting new characters and forming alliances while a bigger plot is unfolding.
Eira has grown so much during the last two books and this book is so fast paced and action packed set in the Capital of Meru.
Read if you like:
✨Elemental magic
✨Royal tournament
✨Political intrigue
✨Slow burn and maybe a love 📐
✨YA Fantasy
✨Sword & Sorcery
"All is fair in love and magical tournaments, and Eira is ready for the fight of her life."
February 13, 2025
So much fun! The last pages absolutely rollercoaster of feelings again!
The ending? FINALLY it happend. She met her!
MVP for me throughout the series? Noelle, she’s so fierce and I just have a weak spot for the supposedly mean girl. She’s way too funny and I just love her & also her side romance, at some point I was way more invested in than the main couple. Give me more of them!
Which brings me to this question; why not 5 stars then?
I HATE LOVE TRIANGLES 💀
Fr nothing is more annoying for me, even though I understand.. it’s still annoying and also if she doesn’t choose Cullen (I know he was spineless here but come on, they are meant to be), so if she doesn’t end up with him, I’m done 😂
The ending? FINALLY it happend. She met her!
MVP for me throughout the series? Noelle, she’s so fierce and I just have a weak spot for the supposedly mean girl. She’s way too funny and I just love her & also her side romance, at some point I was way more invested in than the main couple. Give me more of them!
Which brings me to this question; why not 5 stars then?
I HATE LOVE TRIANGLES 💀
Fr nothing is more annoying for me, even though I understand.. it’s still annoying and also if she doesn’t choose Cullen (I know he was spineless here but come on, they are meant to be), so if she doesn’t end up with him, I’m done 😂
March 3, 2023
Holy freaking crap… Elise Kova has done it again!!! “A Tournament of Crowns” kicks off exactly where the previous book left off, and oh my gosh, I have so many emotions about what happened next. Eira, our fierce heroine, goes through so much in this book, and I’m amazed by how strong she is. There are interactions with both new friends and old, although my favorites were Cullen, Olivin, and Ducot. This book was also super angsty, and there were times I wanted to throw my kindle at the wall. And that ending… my heart was racing by the time I finished! I can’t wait to find out what happens next!!!
February 5, 2024
Ehm... I'm sorry, this is going to sound harsh, but this could have been an e-mail.
In actuality I think the second and third book in this series could have been combined to one - it would have forced the author to cut some of the meandering plot points from the second book and all the pointless fluff from this.
Once again, I enjoyed Alyss and Noelle - Noelle may acutally be my favourite character. Cullen was annoying and Eira was just treading water (no pun intended).
I did find the ending exciting and is very interested in seeing this series to the end, even though this installment disappointed me.
In actuality I think the second and third book in this series could have been combined to one - it would have forced the author to cut some of the meandering plot points from the second book and all the pointless fluff from this.
Once again, I enjoyed Alyss and Noelle - Noelle may acutally be my favourite character. Cullen was annoying and Eira was just treading water (no pun intended).
I did find the ending exciting and is very interested in seeing this series to the end, even though this installment disappointed me.
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