Wild Heart of the Crown

Wild Heart #2

by Erica Sebree

With Orianna defeated, Esme has taken her rightful place on the throne. But unraveling dark secrets and ancient deceptions may be the only way to save her kingdom.

As Esme navigates the expectations of her new role amid scheming court members, the land beyond the city walls is dying. Barrenness spreads; rivers run dry. With no high-priestesses left to summon raw magic, Esme must uncover the true origins of the Order and all its secrets.

Ancient texts and an infamous seer reveal long-concealed truths about the nature of magic—truths that will crumble the faith of an entire kingdom. So when a secret sect of women claim to possess the gods-blessed gifts of priestesses, Esme must decide if they can be trusted. Do they know the dark history of the Order? Will their fledgling magic be enough to restore the land?

Desperate for answers, Esme discovers that certain knowledge comes at great cost, and that inconvenient desires of the heart can only be denied for so long. Will she make the necessary sacrifices to save her kingdom…and to save herself from heartache?

____

Wild Heart of the Crown is the second book in the Wild Heart fantasy series. With court intrigue, Celtic lore, mystery, adventure, and romance, Wild Heart of the Crown is perfect for fans of Samantha Shannon, Naomi Novik, Shannon A. Chakraborty, Victoria Aveyard, and Sarah J. Maas.

Genres: Fantasy, Magic, Romance, Ebooks, Adventure

476 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 2, 2023

About the author

Erica lives in Austin, Texas, where she works in public service as a graphic designer. She reads too much romance and drinks too much tea—usually at the same time. She makes frequent attempts at gardening, and will happily talk to any animal who crosses her path. She believes lists should be written in colorful ink, and dreams of one day having a farm sanctuary with dozens of adorable cows. When she escapes into fantasy worlds, it’s to places where magic is vital, animals are guardians, and a stubborn bodyguard’s only weakness is the fierce, reluctant heroine he’s sworn to protect.

Reviews

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Esme saying,"Lest you forget... Who wears the crown" gave me life. Things are looking DARK but I l hope Esme's loyal friends will have her back. One loyal friend in particular... 👀 cough*TEARLACH*cough.

Now I'm off to find some apple pastries!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting Page-Turner!

Wild Heart of the Crown is a fantastic sequel to Wild Heart of the Storn. Much like the first book, the vivid imagery and realistic and relatable characters immerse you in the story with Esme. In this installment, we get to see her grow more into her role as Queen, including balancing the kingdom's needs, her councilors, and her personal life. The pacing was good, and seeing how Esme's relationships with certain characters shift and deepen was so satisfying! Wild Heart of the Crown ends as a couple things are set in motion, and I can't wait to see how it all resolves in the next book!

Beautiful world and story, 10/10!

[Neevie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still obsessed!

Ahhhhhh.
Cliff hanger!
I love this series, oh so much.
I'm intrigued, beguiled, enchanted, annoyed, infuriated, amused and delighted throughout.

Spoilers ahead

I still ship Tearlach and Esme and am so gratified seeing it come closer to being real. I love a good slow burn. 🔥
Killian is an absolute sweetheart and bestest bro.
Hazel and Armel still burning slow too.
I want to actually burn Torin but yes, good mini villains make me want violence lol

I am so glad I found this series. Recommend to alllllll

[Autumn James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Noooooo!

Erica Sebree can tell a tale! Everything is described and worded so perfectly. I need more! I didn’t want it to end and now I need more! What an ending… a cliffhanger. I could scream right now! Haha. I can’t wait to see where this goes.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Wild Heart of the Crown by Erica Sebree is book two in the Wild Hearts series. Just like I did with the first one; I absolutely loved it. I loved how the characters exceeded all my expectations. The story itself was flat out amazing!!! Incredible.

The story picks up right after book one. (If you haven’t read that book, what are you doing here!?!) Now Esme has to battle the expectations both she and her court hold over her. Outside the walls of kingdom everything is dying. She needs solutions and fast but what if she chooses the wrong decision. What is she willing to sacrifice?

Like I said amazing! Get the book!

Final review
5 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
For plot line
5 out of 5 castles 🏰🏰🏰🏰🏰

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun read, and I really didn't see where things were headed right up until hitting the epilogue. Definitely some smokey fae romance pulling me forward through the chapters. Also, I learned so many Latin based English words I'd never encountered before.

[Michelle Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this book broke my heart a little.
I really hope that book 3 brings a few hearts together, I can't take the pain my heart feels for them!
Esme is coming into her own and finding her strengths quite nicely. She is stronger than she realizes.
I cannot wait for book 3!

[Gail Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh lord, where do I start?! This book is captivating, it’s amazingly written. It has everything, mystery, danger, laughter and sweet romance. I didn’t see words while reading this story, I only saw an animated movie in my head. Brilliant, can’t wait for the next instalment.

[Jenni Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to get an ARC of this book!

I loved seeing Esme's growth into her new role and the places it takes her!

Can't wait to see what's next for Esme, Tearlach, and the rest of Tremaene!

[J. Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wild Heart of the Crown is the second installment in the Wild Heart Fantasy series and, unlike so many second books out there, it is even better than the first.

While Esme settles into her role as Queen, the land beyond the city is suffering. With no high-priestesses to summon magic, she begins searching for a way to save her land and her people. On her journey, she discovers something that completely changes her understanding of her world and its past.

Much like the first book in the Wild Heart fantasy series, this second installment is well-paced and filled with captivating characters. The world-building continues to be top-notch as the main character grows into her role as Queen. There’s political intrigue, magic, and danger. There are messy, complicated relationships (my favorite kind) and a twisty, nuanced plot that kept me glued to the very end.

And through it all, the slow-burn relationship between Esme and Tearlach continues to anchor everything in the best way possible. There’s a push-and-pull between them that is really entertaining, and I’m looking forward to seeing how their bond progresses in the next book.

[Kate Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never felt more connected to a book character. I’m so invested in Esme’s story, and after reading this I need more! I loved the storyline of this book even more than the first book which really surprised me because of how much I liked the first one. There has been so much growth in Esme’s character, and it’s really cool to see how she has matured. Her magic is my favorite, and seeing her power grow makes me so happy. The wording of this book is so good because when I’m reading I can fully visualize this world and see it as a picture rather than words on a page. I had so much fun with this read, and I’m not sure how I’m going to move on.

[Kara Kunselman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you kidding me, Erica? It just keeps getting better as the story goes along. I loved this book! Coming into her new role as Queen is hard enough, but everything else that gets piled onto Esme's plate just makes it that much harder. I can't wait for book three to see what's going to happen next! The gasp I gasped at that ending... give me more now!

[Anns Bibliotherapy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starting this book, I had such high expectations, I read this back to back with the first book and was prepared to be disappointed, thankfully I wasn't.

I just have to take a moment to say, you don't often find series where the second book draws you in as much as the first but this one did.

Now that Esme has taken her rightful place as Queen she is quickly becoming the woman and Queen I always knew she would be and "seeing" it happen is fantastic and well honestly an emotional roller coaster.

Not everyone has what or who it takes to be a good and just ruler, to have compassion for those outside of her world as well as those within the palace walls but Esme does, and the secrets that are revealed had me just staring at my tablet thinking wait, what, how did that happen, how did I not see that coming, and that epilogue, it's all just soo good.

Through intrigue, romance, magic, and moments of despair and wonder we follow our characters as they try to save the world and themselves, and what happens along the way.... you'll just have to read that for yourselves.

With amazing characters and relationships, fantastic storytelling, and worldbuilding that is at points mesmerizing, this series has drawn me in and left me wanting more.

One last thing, the cover art on both of the books in this series is breathtaking, the map is lovely, and again, thank you for the pronunciation guides, I wish more fantasy books included them.
Thank you to the author Erica Sebree for sharing a copy of this book with me, I've loved being in Esme's world the last few days.

[Sarah Rizk · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Esme struggles to adjust to life as Queen, a title she didn't actually desire, with the help of old friends and new ones. The land still struggles with the absence of the priestesses and the council seeks to take control of their "young" Queen, but Esma can always count on one thing, Tearlach being by her side. That is until he starts to give her space. Esme must navigate the political world and learn to accept that she may not be able to have everything she wants.

Holy freakin slow burn! Esme and Tearlach are really getting me but in such a good way. I think this has to be one of the best slow-burn situations I have ever read. I love that we get to see that just because she saved the kingdom doesn't mean everything is just sunshine and rainbows, and some enemies are closer than you think. I can’t wait to see what happens between Esme and Tearlach if anything, and to get more answers on the man who had manipulated Orianna into his control.

[JenTheNoobishGeek · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was an absolute delight to follow Esme on her journey of navigating court politics, figuring out deep seeded secrets, and learning how to follow her heart. The stakes are growing bigger, the world lore is revealing great evil, and her heart is growing fonder. Can't wait to join her on her next journey in book three!

[Gale Schwark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erica has once again shown brilliance in creating the whole new world we find ourselves in. She has me craving more and I cannot wait to read upcoming books in this series! Well done!

[Amanda Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic second book in the series. I absolutely love the characters especially our leading lady. She’s such a strong female character that makes you want to know what is going to happen next. I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

[Kellie Patnella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic!

Holy heck I was not expecting the reveals in this book and can’t wait to see how Esme handles what’s to come. This series just keeps getting better with each book!

[Beth Adman · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book. Perfect follow on from the first book and so nice to see Esme gaining more confidence in her role! Ended on such a cliffhanger and I cannot wait for book 3 in this series

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

The pacing of this one was a little slow for me. It struggled to keep my interest for the first 75% because it felt like not much was happening. The story finally started moving in the last 25%, but right as my interest was hooked, the book ended having not accomplished much.

Tearlach and Esme are the slooooooooooooowest of slow burns. If you came here looking for romance or something other than tension, long stares, and quick retreats, you will be disappointed.

I do love the quality of the author's writing, and there was just enough here to keep me on the hook for book three. The scene beneath the tree was by far the best and where the most plot progression occurred.

Overall, I give Wild Heart of the Crown 3.5 stars, and hope for even more in the next book.

I'm giving an extra .5 star because there is a character with my name, spelled like mine is, that makes a brief appearance. That never happens, and I got so excited that a half-star blinked into existence. 😆

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a bit confused so you should read book one before you start this one I really like the characters the setting to the story is magical

[Elizabeth Traut · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

What a great read! Can’t wait to see where the next book leads Esme and her friends. Book is a very easy read and super enjoyable.

[James W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in the series was an incredible read! The politics were immersive, and pulled me into boiling struggles woven through the history of the court. The buried secrets, hints at ancient treachery, and strange wonders built on to the mythos and landscape of Tremaene and gave a lofty perspective to the depth of the world. The romance was a wild and dizzying ride of emotions and precarious situations that kept me on the edge. I had a lot of fun reading this and probably will read it again. The world and story are dynamic and beautiful and have tons of small moments that were touchingly relateable and wild twists that left me stunned.

[books_with_sass · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wild Heart of the Crown by Erica Sebree is the second book in the Wild Heart young adult fantasy series set in the world of Tremaene and the surrounding areas.

Esme, Cadwyn, Tearlach, and the guard are all back after defeating Orianna, but the problems are just starting. Many on the council think Esme is too young and inexperienced to lead, and most of them are untrustworthy. Lord Torin is going up against her at every turn. And now they want her to get married to a nobleman because a woman can't lead on her own. But Esme has no intention of giving in to that decree. With her heart torn between Killian and Tearlach, she can't imagine marrying someone she doesn't know or love. She'll have to find a way out of this one quick!

Not only does she have the council to deal with, but she receives word from a secret sect of unordained priestesses and looks into them and the history of the Order. Her visions take her to unexpected places, and what she finds could upend all of Tremaene.

All in all, a great follow-up to the first book. The world-building is expanding, the characters are becoming more familiar, there's more magic and fighting, and the love triangle is growing. Unlike other fantasy novels with a love triangle, this one is subtle, the men aren't openly fighting over Esme, which is a nice change of pace.

[Virginia Frick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by Erica Sebree, it is the second book in the Wild Heart Fantasy Series, if you read the first book you should be caught up and ready to dive into book 2.

So, let’s get started, shall we? It was a great read, somewhat east to follow, if you have a hard time reading in 3rd person, you may have a little bit of issue, but hang in there it gets better. I love that she gave us a language lesson as well. I may have spent longer than most in the beginning of the book reading all the pronunciations that she included.

She created a world where we find ourselves looking for more, it was as though I was in the book with them. The characters were amazingly written, and I absolutely love that Esme was able to step up and run the kingdom. She knew what needed to be done, however, she wasn’t really feeling that she wanted to be out with her friends, dueling, and kissing and playing in the mud. It’s a girl best day; or my girls anyway.

I do wholeheartedly recommend this series, if you are looking for something new to read.

You can find more on our blog at: https://cuzweread.wordpress.com/2023/...

[D.W. Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magic. Intrigue. A mystery to unravel.

I enjoyed this follow up to Wild Heart of the Storm. It takes the reader seamlessly through the next stage of Esme’s journey.

Esme is a young queen. She must learn to navigate the political and personal aspects of her new role. All the while not knowing where the next threat may arise or whom she can trust.

Esme’s biggest hurdle is the battle to save her kingdom from ruin. Her search for the magic that sustains the lands leads her into a tangled web of secrets and a long-hidden history. She is determined to find answers. But is the risk of finding the truth worth the cost?

It’s well-written and kept me turning the pages until the very end.

The world of Tremaene is well-crafted. The characters, locations, and magic spells are believable and easily fit the fantasy genre. I felt immersed in every detail.

A must read for anyone who enjoys fantasy.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not know how any book would follow book one.. book two DID THAT. Also.. it ends on a cliffhanger so mean and ready for book three.
Esme’s storyline had me hooked from the beginning and the fact that she wants to learn about all of the past secrets, no matter what harm could come from it, says a lot about her. All of the details of Tremaene just gave everything that more realistic and holistic feeling. I feel like the author truly wanted the reader to feel like they were IN on this journey and experiencing what they did.

Now I am really wondering how this can be followed up but I am sure Erica will!!

AMAZING series and cannot wait for the next, will definitely be recommending it!

[Shannon Heck · Rating 5 out of 5]

In book 2 Esme must learn how to be queen, determine who her allies are, how to fix her dying kingdom, navigate politics, and sort out her love life. I enjoyed book 2 even more than book 1. It's even better, or I might just be more invested now. So all of the positive things I said for book 1, and now I am getting Kristin Cashore, Bitterblue vibes. The Wild Heart series occurs under different circumstances, but there are definitely parallels between the characters of Esme and Bitterblue. I am very much looking forward to book 3 and can't wait to start it. I'm all in at this point, and Wild Heart of the Crown is a very enthusiastic 5 star read for me!

[Victoria Wyatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The world of Esme where she questions loyalties, whimsical magic, good and evil and I love every bit of it.

I received this copy and my spoiler free review is voluntary

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the masterpiece that was book one, I couldn’t wait to dig into the next installment, Wild Heart of the Crown! I’ll just start this off by saying: I would give it more than five stars if I could.

Now that she’s back in Tremaene, Esme is faced with numerous obstacles, including a combative royal council and the barrenness that continues to spread throughout the kingdom. Determined to save her people, she is contacted by a group of women who claim they have the gods-blessed power to bring life back to land and wildlife. While investigating the plausibility of their claim, Esme uncovers long-hidden secrets about the origin of magic and what really caused their lands to perish. It’s up to her to determine the next course of action - but who can she trust?

Esme’s character arc is fantastic, the slow burn is hot as hell, the storytelling is incredible and that epilogue left my jaw on the floor! I just couldn’t get enough and I’m so sad I have to wait for the next book to come out! Highly recommend checking out this series by @ericasebreewrites.