Book Review: "The Rivaled Crown" by Holly Renee

“The Rivaled Crown” is the final installment in The Veiled Kingdom series by Holly Renee - and quite honestly was THE BEST book in the series. I have loved this series since the first book, but this final book just solidified that Dacre and Verena are one of my favorite bookish couples.

Despite some of the issues I had with the second book, “The Hunted Heir”, this book took the various conflicts and wrapped everything up in a bow. The level of detail to really suss out some of the storyline and back history was just perfection (I was literally crying when she started talking about her mother’s motives). This book was an emotional rollercoaster - but of the best variety (I literally cried like four times throughout the book). 

Even with the pull on emotions, this book had everything you’d expect from a romantasy novel - court politics and political intrigue, found family, scheming fathers, familia trauma, and a love story that persists through it all. Daddy Dacre is one of my favorite book boyfriends - hands down! His devotion to seeing Verena succeed and take her rightful place in her kingdom is just everything you want in a dark, rebellion leader. He’s literally her number one advocate - vowing to make the world burn for her!

I have always loved the relationship Verena has with Wren and the family she finds among the rebellion. I loved seeing Wren and Kai’s relationship finally come to a tipping point in this book (is there a spin-off for them in the future!?) Their support for Verena and Dacre was everything. 

But Verena really takes the cake! She has been through the ringer with her abusive father, betrayals from those closest to her, and the death of not only her mother but her own kingdom’s subjects at the hands of her power-hungry father…but her resilience and inner fight never break. She is strong, opinionated, and isn’t deterred by men who think they know best. I absolutely love her!

This book was just amazing and such a great way to end the series! I hope that Ms. Renee continues to write books where bad ass females continue to lead and bring kingdoms (and the Daddy Dacres of the world) to their knees. 

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Book Review: "House of Raven" by Ingrid Seymour

Ingrid Seymour’s “House of the Raven" is a captivating blend of fantasy, intrigue, and romance. Seymour’s latest introduces a richly imagined world filled with complex characters and a plot that keeps readers engaged from start to finish.

Valeria, the king’s daughter, is a total dreamer with a big heart. After her mother was killed by a Fae sorcerer, Valeria’s own life force was drained by Fae magic, which has pretty much disappeared from the human world since the fall of the Veil. But here’s the kicker: Valeria and her older sister, Amira, are secretly half-Fae, thanks to their mother’s side of the family - a fact that’s been kept hidden for a long time.

Then there's Rífíor, aka River, the leader of a Fae rebel group. He’s definitely a complex, morally gray character, and I think the author did a great job with him. He’s got his own agenda, full of goals and motivations that he doesn’t readily share - even with his closest allies. Determined to enact his long-standing plan for revenge, Rífíor is dependent on Valeria for his plan to work. Their fates are intertwined from the start and when their paths cross, it sets off a series of events that had me gripping my seat. 

 “House of the Raven" is labeled as a romance, so I thought that would be the main focus, but I was pleasantly surprised. There’s also the whole enemies-to-lovers thing going on, but it’s done really well—nothing superficial or rushed here. The way the romance develops is full of subtlety and slow-burn tension, which worked out beautifully in the end. Yes, there’s romance, including one steamy scene, but the story remains the primary focus (which I appreciated!)

Seymour does an exquisite job with this novel’s world-building. I loved how the setting drew inspiration from Spanish culture and how Seymour’s storytelling is such an immersive experience. The concept of “espiritu” (literally, the Spanish word for spirit or life-force) and the magic system built around it was particularly intriguing. The author reveals the story’s secrets little by little, so you get to piece things together and discover the truth alongside Valeria. Valeria’s character arc and growth throughout the story was on point; despite being relatively naive in the beginning, she remains feisty, stubborn, and surprisingly empathetic as certain truths are revealed throughout the novel. 

Overall, “House of the Raven” is a well-crafted fantasy novel that offers readers compelling characters, intriguing world-building, and the beginnings of a satisfying romance. This book surprised me in the best way, and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!

Rating: 4/5 Stars