Capture the Crown audiobook

Capture the Crown by Jennifer EstepGargoyle Queen, book 1. Crown of Shards world. 15 years after the first trilogy which does not need to be read before this. There are many events and people referred to so I believe the experience would be better if they have been read. At least the first, Kill the Queen. Fantasy. Gemma Ridley. One of the few survivors of the massacre when she was a child. Now a spy even though still a princess. Leonidas of Motra. The enemy. Maybe? But why is he helping Gemma? Doesn’t he recognize her from when they met years ago?Danger follows Gemma as she works as a miner uncovering secrets and death. Death counts are high. Tragedy and torture in memories and real time. Triumph for some. Questions for the future are heavy and plentiful. Fantasy elements and magic master the game of power and survival. At this point looking forward to the next in the trilogy but not as strong as the first set. 🎧 I mostly listened to the audio version narrated by Lauren Fortgang. I also have a paperback and alternated at times. I found the audiobook a bit more engaging which was opposite my experience for the first trilogy. Same narrator. She has a pleasant voice to listen to with great depth for the various characters such as a gargoyle and magic bird. Emotion are well portrayed.

Actual rating : 4.5🌟I literally couldn't put it down!!!So. Freaking. Good.It felt like I was losing a race I didn't know I signed up for!This was awesome I can't wait for the next book!⇢ Edit :This book's about a girl who has a reputation for being a pampered princess. However, her carefully crafted persona is just an act to hide the fact that she is a powerful mind magier and a spy.On one of her missions she encounters her mortal enemy — Prince Leonidas. And even though she tries to stay away from him, she soon finds out they have a mutual enemy.They decide to work togheter and here comes the enemy-to-lovers trope you all know I stand for 😏It's a YA Fantasy, but based on the language & events happening in the book I'll put it in the NA category.We have gargoyles, different other creatures, a beautiful fantasy world and well written characters.Badass princess (hell yeah) and the ✨ prince ✨Can't help but appreciate the villain in this book. It's such a well made character, loved it!I totally recommend it to the fantasy lovers out there!

I loved Capture the Crown, the first book in Jennifer Estep’s new A Gargoyle Queen series! The story follows Gemma, a princess/spy, who while on an investigative mission uncovers things that result in more danger and political intrigue than she ever imagined.Princess Gemma Ripley has a reputation for being spoiled and pampered, more interested in gowns and jewelry than politics. She encourages this gossip and cultivates the persona of a glitzy, silly woman – anything to distract from the truth. Gemma is really a spy. While investigating who is stealing tearstone from one of her kingdom’s mines, she becomes an unlikely ally of Leonidas Morricone of Morta – her mortal enemy and the man she wants dead. I love Gemma! She is strong and fierce, independent and intelligent. She loves her family and her country, and she fights hard for what she believes in. Gemma also struggles with traumas from her past, which exacerbates her anxiety. She is well-layered and interesting, and I enjoyed the complexities of her character.Leonidas is another great character and the perfect anti-hero. Not always honorable, trustworthy, or honest, his character is veiled in mystery, and I so loved trying to figure out his true intentions. He is so different from Gemma, who is fairly obvious in her feelings and motivations. Of course, Gemma’s life and family are very different from Leo’s. Unused to the support and love of family, Leo faces familial manipulation, threats, and even attempts on his life. However, Leo is different from most of his family members. He doesn’t possess the cruelty that many of the others do, and he tries valiantly to protect those he loves and cares about. I like that Leo is so well-layered, and I feel like there is so much more to learn about his character.Determined to show Gemma that not all of his people are evil, Leo shows a deep love for his country. However, political intrigue abounds in his world, and it seems as if everyone has a scheme in the works. So many people are vying for the throne, and no one is safe. Gemma knows she can’t trust anyone, though Leo tries to convince her otherwise. There are so many twists in the story, and I was shocked at some of the turns of events. With murder coups, brewing wars, and a woman behind enemy lines, there is tons of tension and action. Plus, there’s the beginning of a swoon-tastic romance!I am a fan of a good love story, and this slow-building, enemies-to-lovers romance is fantastic. Gemma and Leo have such a complicated and impossible romance, which reminds me a bit of Romeo and Juliet. Their families are enemies, and Gemma has despised Leo since he betrayed her when they were children. Gemma is slow to trust the mysterious and secretive Leo, even though she feels drawn to him for some inexplicable reason.Because of his brutal upbringing, Leo struggles with intimacy. Like Gemma, Leo is slow to trust, but his feelings for her are strong. He resists them for many reasons, but this proves impossible. Things are not always as they seem, and the more this pair (especially Gemma) learns about each other, the past, and the present danger, the more they realize that their perceptions might be wrong. I love the tension between this couple. There are so many obstacles in their way, and it seems improbable that they could end up together, but I’m still rooting for them.In addition to the layered characters and swoon-worthy romance, the world-building is immersive and interesting. I love the different animals, magic, and other supernatural elements that wove through the story. Gemma’s loyal gargoyle is fantastic, as is Leo’s feathered friend. They both have big personalities, and though they should be enemies, they actually seem to have a begrudging respect for each other. I can’t wait to learn more about the world, the magic, and the other supernatural elements and creatures in the upcoming books.Though this is a spin-off of the Crown of Shards series, you don’t need to read that series to read this book. That being said, I loved this book so much that I’m going to read the Crown of Shards series next. I think this is a great book for readers who like fantasies with dynamic characters, immersive stories, tons of political intrigue, and a fantastic enemies-to-lovers romance. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series and am so thankful to NetGalley, Jennifer Estep, and Harper Voyager for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

First, I want to say thank you to NetGalley, Jennifer Estep, as well as Avon and Harper Voyager for giving me the opportunity to read this incredible book in advance!Oh my gosh! I need the next book NOW!!!Seriously, yall. March has been a great month for me with books, and this one is no exception. This being the first book by Jennifer Estep I have had the pleasure to read, and IT WILL NOT BE THE LAST, I have to say I am blown away with her writing. Her writing style is so enchanting it draws you in from the first sentence to the very last punctuation. The characters, as well as the world are wonderfully diverse and rich. Each character is truly their own person, making me appreciate even the most evil of her villains. The slow burn attraction that runs through the story is both sweet and vicious. By the end you will be cursing Jennifer’s name and begging for book two, because one is just not enough. One of my favorite parts of this books, other than the amazing story, are the characters. (Yes, I said that already, but it is sooooo true!) They are so complex that I want to dive into each one and know more about their stories. I can truly see several series braking off from this one. Especially one based on Delmira! I LOVE HER! Anyway, that is enough rambling from me. Read it. You will love it. The End.

4 starsYou can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.I loved this first book in a new YA Fantasy trilogy set in the same world as the author's Crown of Shards books. Here, we meet Princess Gemma Ripley, whose frivolous reputation hides her secret identity as a spy, and her skills as a powerful mind magier. Gemma goes undercover with her loyal gargoyle Grimley to see who is stealing tearstone from her family's mines. While sneaking around she crosses paths with Prince Leonidas Morricone (Leo) of Morta, one of her family's mortal enemies. When Gemma gets into trouble she finds herself pairing up with Leo to uncover the mystery of the missing tearstone. Gemma never dreamed she would be working with Leo, and is surprised and disturbed when she finds herself attracted to him. Both royals will need all the skill, and luck, they can muster to get out of the increasing trouble they find themselves in.This book caught my attention from the start. I really enjoyed the previous series, which is set in the same world about 15 or so years before the events in this trilogy. Gemma is a strong character, but as is typical in these books, there is something holding her back from achieving her full potential. She is challenged multiple times throughout the book until she's able to push through and take control of her powers. I think perseverance and belief in oneself are an important messages that can never be stressed enough. Even in a YA Fantasy. :-) Leo is the typical YA brooding love interest with his own secrets and issues. We don't learn much about him as this book is focused on setting up Gemma and the long-term difficulties she will face throughout the trilogy, but I expect we will learn more about him in the next books. Some of the book is formulaic and there is a bit of repetition regarding the Seven Spires massacre (from the previous series) and the couple's childhood interactions that could have been omitted, but this book is such a fun read that those issues are minor irritants.This is a good first book in a new fun and exciting trilogy and I am really looking forward to the next book in the series. You may miss some nuances in the story if you haven't read the Crown of Shards series, but there is enough background in this book that you could read it without having read the previous series and still be able to enjoy it. However, I highly recommend you read the Crown of Shards series because it is SO GOOD!I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Harper Voyager. All opinions are my own.

This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/I really enjoyed reading this book! I loved the Crown of Shards trilogy so I was thrilled to get the chance to read more books set in that world. I have to admit that I have a hard time remembering much about secondary characters once I have finished a book so I really knew nothing about Gemma, Leo, or any of the characters but some of the events mentioned in the story were very familiar to me. This would be a perfect place to start if you were thinking about reading any of the books set in this world.Gemma is known as a pampered princess but the reality is that she works to protect her kingdom by working as a spy. She has been working in a mine when she stumbles upon more than she bargained for when she crosses paths with Prince Leo of Morta. She doesn’t hesitate to take full advantage of the opportunity to go undercover in Morta even though it is a risky move. Before it is all over, she will find herself in more danger than she could have ever imagined.This was an exciting story! I was really worried about Gemma, Leo, and the rest of the characters for much of the book. There were a few scenes that were really intense. I was never quite sure who Gemma should trust. I liked Leo and they had a lot of chemistry together but he is loyal to his mother, Queen Maeven. I enjoyed the magic in this story. I love Gemma’s abilities and I have a feeling that she will master even more skills as the series progresses. I really loved the gargoyle, Grimley, and the strix, Lyra, and look forward to seeing more of them in future books.I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was an excellent start to a promising series set in a world that I already love. The characters were very well done and there was plenty of intense action to keep the pages turning. I cannot wait to read more of this series!I received a digital review copy of this book from Harper Voyager via NetGalley.

A powerful princess who moonlights as a spy? Hell yes!!Gemma Ripley, princess of Andvari is a powerful mind magier who has the carefully cultivated persona of a glitzy, pampered princess but is really a spy for her kingdom. When a mission goes horribly wrong and she finds herself in the enemy kingdom of Morta, she reluctantly joins forces with her childhood nemesis Leonidas to uncover a dangerous plot against her kingdom.Capture The Crown is a fascinating, fast moving story with vivid world building, complicated relationships and almost Game of Thrones level plotting and scheming by a host of multilayered,enigmatic characters. Gemma is a fierce and independent character whose love for her family and kingdom causes her to bravely risk her life multiple times. Her guilt and shame over her inaction during a traumatic event in the past adds to her determination. Leo is a tough nut to crack for most of the book.It is not very clear where his loyalties lie. This story also has great secondary characters who bring more intrigue and drama to the plot.I did feel that the author could have gone a bit lighter on Gemma’s numerous inner monologues as they became quite repetitive after a point. Although I know that past events have had a hand in shaping the characters’ persona, I would have preferred lesser references to said events too.Nonetheless, I would recommend Capture The Crown for readers who like fantasy books filled with intrigue, drama, politics, magic, a badass heroine, a morally grey hero and a touch of romance.Now, I have one question for Jennifer. When is the next book coming out, because I’m already a mess trying to figure out what happens next? Find me on : INSTAGRAM

Mit "Die Saphirkrone" erschien vor zwei Wochen der Auftakt der neuen "Gargoyle Queen"-Reihe, welche in direkter Verbindung mit Jennifer Esteps "Splitterkrone"-Reihe rund um "Kill the Queen", "Protect the Prince" und "Crush the King" steht, welche ich 2020 mit großer Freude gelesen habe und nun die Geschichte der dort vorkommenden Kronprinzessin Gemma erzählt. Die beiden Reihen können zwar theoretisch unabhängig voneinander gelesen werden, ich kann potenziellen LeserInnen von "Die Saphirkrone" aber definitiv ans Herz legen, die Hauptreihe zuerst zu lesen. Erstens weil sie an sich sehr lesenswert ist, zweitens weil man mehr Spaß hat, wenn man alle Anspielungen und Eastereggs versteht. Da wir die Splitterkrone-Trilogie ebenfalls zusammen gelesen haben, habe ich auch "Die Saphirkrone" wieder als Buddyread zusammen mit Sofia von "Sofias kleine Bücherwelt" (wie immer an dieser Stelle ein kurzes Shoutout!!) gelesen. "Die Saphirkrone" kann für mich unterm Strich bisher noch nicht ganz mit der Hauptreihe mithalten, ist als abenteuerliches Spionage-Sequel aber definitiv lesenswert!Das Cover und der Titel der deutschen Ausgabe erinnern anders als die Originaledition nur wenig an die Gestaltung der Hauptreihe. Während sich im Englischen der Titel "Capture the Crown" perfekt in die Reihe der Titel von Band eins bis drei einreiht, stechen der deutsche Titel und das Cover etwas heraus. Zu sehen ist der Titel in weißen geschwungenen Großbuchstaben vor einem dunklen Hintergrund, der von blauen Lichtpunkten durchzogen ist und im unteren Teil des Bildes eine silberne, mit blauen Edelsteinen besetzte Krone zeigt. Die Gestaltung des Covers ist unterm Strich also stimmig und hübsch anzusehen, dabei aber leider recht nichtssagend und für meinen Geschmack zu weit von der Gestaltung der anderen Bände entfernt. Ebenfalls schade fand ich, dass wir hier anders als in der Hauptreihe keine beigefügte Karte von Jennifer Esteps Fantasy-Welt erhalten. Gerade da wir mit unseren Figuren verreisen und ein neues Königreich kennenlernen, wäre eine Karte hier sehr hilfreich gewesen! Erster Satz: "Ich liebe mein Leben als Prinzessin".Ganz entgegen meiner Erwartung und im Gegensatz zu diesem Einstiegssatz entführt uns Jennifer Estep nicht in das glamouröse Leben einer Prinzessin, sondern schickt uns LeserInnen gemeinsam mit der Kronprinzessin von Andvari Gemma Ripley auf eine gefährliche Undercover-Spionage-Mission an der mortanischen Grenze. Wer bereits die "Splitterkrone"-Reihe gelesen hat, der weiß, dass dem Königreich Morta mit der aktuell herrschenden Königin Maeve Morricone nicht zu trauen ist und so ist es nicht weiter verwunderlich, dass Gemma auf der Suche nach verschwundenem Zährenstein aus ihrer Miene auf eine verdächtige Spur stößt, die sie geradewegs ins Herz von Morta führt: den königlichen Palast Myrkvior in Majesta, wo es nicht nur von Feinden wimmelt, sondern wo auch ihr Erzfeind aus Kindestagen auf sie wartet..."Wo... bringst du mich ...hin?", krächzte ich. Ein Dutzend schrecklicher Szenarien glitt durch meine Gedanken. Und bevor ich in der Bewusstlosigkeit versank, hörte ich, wie er meine schlimmste Angst bestätigte."Nach Hause", antwortete er sanft, "Nach Morta."Genau wie in ihrer Hauptreihe präsentiert uns Jennifer Estep mit "Die Saphirkrone" also wieder ein politisches, abenteuerliches High Fantasy-Highlight voller Intrigen, Spionage, Verrat und ein bisschen Romantik. Letztere bleibt trotz des Enemies-to-Lovers-Potentials zwar stark im Hintergrund, dafür sind aber einige spannende Crime-Elemente enthalten und wir erhalten hier erstmals einen Blick auf das Königreich Morta. Nachdem wir schon Unger, Bellona und Andvari aus erster Hand kennengelernt haben, dürfen wir nun hinter die Kulissen des zuvor so feindlich und grausam aufgetretenen Königreichs Morta werfen, die Strukturen am Hof besser kennenlernen und die seit Generationen vor sich hin schwärenden Konflikten innerhalb der Königsfamilie begutachten, welche erklären und verständlich machen, weshalb sich die Morricones in den letzten Jahren so kriegerisch verhalten haben, wie wir es aus der Hauptreihe kennen. Besonders im Zentrum der Aufmerksamkeit stehen hier die mortanische Königin Maeven, ihr Sohn Milo und dessen Verlobte aus einer weiteren einflussreichen mortanischen Familie, deren Plänen Gemma als Spionin auf die Schliche kommen muss, um eine weitere Gefährdung ihres Königreichs zu verhindern. "Ich war der Sturm. Unvorhersehbar. Unkontrollierbar. Nicht aufzuhalten."Nach einem flotten Einstieg inklusive Beinahetod, Kampfszenen und Lebensgefahr nimmt sich "Die Saphirkrone" im Mittelteil recht viel Zeit, die Gegebenheiten am neuen Hof in Morta auszuloten und Gemmas Beziehung zu Leo zu vertiefen. Das ist auch keineswegs ein Problem, an manchen Stellen reichen gezielte Intrigen zwischen Kaffeekränzchen und ein Kampf nach einer königlichen Audienz jedoch einfach nicht aus, um darüber hinwegzutäuschen, dass Jennifer Estep von Zeit zu Zeit etwas zu sehr ins Schwafeln gerät. In der Splitterkrone-Reihe waren Informationen über Setting und Figuren eher beiläufig platziert und ließen mehr Raum für die aufs Ganze gehende Handlung. Hier werden Kleidung, Zimmer, Magie und Gärten manchmal seitenlang beschrieben. Die ausführlichen, teilweise abschweifenden Beschreibungen regen zwar die Fantasie stark an, bremsen die Handlung jedoch ein wenig aus und lassen den Eindruck entstehen, dass die Geschichte im Verhältnis zur Handlung etwas zu viele Seiten hat. Zwar erhalten wir neben der Haupthandlung ab und an spannende Rückblicke in die Kindheit der Protagonistin, die auch ihre erste Begegnung mit Leonidas beschreiben und uns Hintergründe der Handlung besser verstehen lassen, hier wäre zur weiteren Auffrischung aber eventuell ein paralleler Handlungsstrang oder eine weitere Erzählperspektive hilfreich gewesen..."Ich mochte es als akzeptables Risiko betrachtet haben, hierzubleiben und in den gefährlichen Gewässern von Myrkvior zu schwimmen. Doch jetzt hatte die Flut eingesetzt, und es wurde Zeit, sich wieder ans Ufer zu begeben, bevor ich in meinem eigenen Blut ertrank"Langweilig wird es aber trotzdem nie. Dafür sorgen zum einen der für High Fantasy recht temporeiche und dynamische Erzählstil, der die Handlung zu jeder Zeit vorwärts treibt und Längen verhindert. Mit spannenden Kämpfen, Intrigen, Geheimnissen, Reisen durch mehrere Königreiche, der Vorstellung von Fabelwesen wie Gargoyles oder Strixen und dem Kennenlernen von verschiedenen Arten von Magiern - Murkse, die eine verbesserte Körpereigenschaft besitzen, Morphe, die sich in Monstergestalten verwandeln, Magier, die Elemente kontrollieren und Meister, die aus Materialien die beeindruckendsten Dinge herstellen können - bekommen wir zu zum anderen genügend Spannendes präsentiert, dass man darüber wegsehen kann, dass auch hier einige Fantasy-Klischees verbaut wurden und die Handlung zwar sehr stimmig aufgelöst und überraschend unvorhersehbar, an einigen Stellen aber auch ein bisschen fragwürdig ist (Spoiler: Dass Gemma als Prinzessin einfach ihre Haare etwas schneiden und dunkler färben und sich dann als Spionin unerkannt in einen feindlichen Palast einschleusen kann, erschien mir die ganze Zeit über ein wenig unglaubwürdig. Klar hat sie die meisten Höflinge noch nie persönlich getroffen, aber man will doch meinen, dass sie trotzdem einer erkennt - sei es wegen der schlechten Verkleidung, ihrem teilweise auffälligen Verhalten oder weil er oder sie sie bereits auf einem Fest gesehen hat). "Ich wusste immer, dass du glorreich bist." Trotz der Entfernung hörte ich die tiefe Überzeugung in seinen Worten und konnte nichts gegen die Freude tun, die mein Herz dabei erfüllt. "Jetzt weiß dein Volk das auch."Auch die weibliche Hauptfigur Gemma blieb für mich ein wenig hinter der Protagonistin der Hauptreihe zurück. Nach wenigen Kapiteln aus ihrer Perspektive ist mir bereits aufgefallen, dass sie Evie in vielen Charaktereigenschaften stark ähnelt, auch wenn sie deutlich jugendlicher und weniger abgeklärt wirkt als unsere Heldin aus Band 1-3. Mit ihren 29 Jahren ist sie überraschend alt (wenn man bedenkt, dass wir Gemma als 12jähriges Mädchen in der Hauptreihe kennenlernen), könnte nach ihrem teilweise etwas naiven Verhalten und den vielen ungeklärten emotionalen Problemen (zum Beispiel mit ihrer Macht) aber deutlich jünger sein. Da sie wie Evie sehr mutig, loyal ihrem Land gegenüber, dabei aber auch voll Mitgefühl, Wärme und dem genau richtigen Maß an zerbrechlichem Selbstbewusstsein ist, habe ich sie aber sehr schnell ins Herz geschlossen und für ihre Stärke bewundert. Genau wie in der Hauptreihe blieb sie nicht die einzige starke Frau, die sich nichts sagen lässt und die wir hier bewundern dürfen. Neben Gemma, der geheimnisvollen Spionin Reiko und der Prinzessin Delmira ist vor allem die Antagonistin, die skrupellose mortanische Königin Maeven, eine vielschichtige ambivalente Figur, die mich sehr fasziniert hat. Ich bin ein großer Fan von feministischer Fantasy, in der es Königinnen und Kämpferinnen gibt, die sich nicht von irgendwelchen Rittern retten lassen oder von gutaussehenden Prinzen abgelenkt werden, sondern selbst das Heft in die Hand nehmen, wodurch Jennifer Estep noch weitere Pluspunkte sammeln konnte."Keine Sorge", murmelte Leonidas. "Bei mir wirst du immer in Sicherheit sein." Er sprach leise, doch in seinen Worten schwang ein wildes Versprechen mit, bei dem mein verräterisches Herz schneller schlug."Mit dem Mentalmagier und Gemmas Nemesis aus Kindertagen Leonidas haben wir einen nach Geißblatt-duftenden, Bibliothek-besitzenden, gutaussehenden und beschützerischen Love Interest (-->❤️), der mir sehr schnell ans Herz gewachsen ist. Auch wenn er als mortanischer Prinz alles verkörpert, was Gemma hasst und die beiden eine komplizierte, belastete Vergangenheit verbindet, sehen wir sofort, dass er anders ist als seine Familie und es trotz einiger bedauernswerter Ausrutscher tief im Herzen gut meint. In Kombination entwickeln die beiden eine sehr interessante Dynamik und eine überraschende Chemie, sodass ich mich auf der einen Seite etwas geärgert habe, dass sie nicht mehr Szenen zusammen habe, mich auf der anderen Seite deshalb aber nur noch mehr auf Band 2 freue. Ich hoffe, dann bekommen wir auch ein paar weitere Szenen mit Gemmas Gargoyle Grimley und Leonidas Strix Lyra (die Autorin hat echt ein Faible für Alliterationen, wenn ihr es noch nicht bemerkt habt)!!!Ebenfalls ein wenig mehr erhofft hatte ich mir bezüglich Auftritte von Figuren aus der Hauptreihe. Ich kann verstehen, weshalb die Autorin es hier größtenteils bei kurzen Nennungen von Evie, Lucas, Alvis, Xenia und Co gelassen hat, hätte mich aber sehr gefreut, noch ein bisschen mehr von unseren Helden zu lesen. Aber das kann in den Folgebänden ja noch kommen... Der nächste Teil der Gargoyle-Queen-Reihe wird uns zusätzlich durch eine kurze Leseprobe am Ende des Buches schmackhaft gemacht. "Der Dornenthron" erscheint allerdings erst am 30. März 2023, wir müssen uns also noch ein wenig gedulden. Angesichts der langen Wartezeit ist es praktisch, dass uns der spannende Showdown ohne krassen Cliffhanger, dafür aber durchaus mit vielen offenen Fragen und Anknüpfungspunkten gespannt auf Band 2 zurücklässt. Fazit:"Die Saphirkrone" ist ein politisches, abenteuerliches High Fantasy-Highlight voller Intrigen, Spionage, Verrat und einem Schuss Romantik. Zwar bleibt das Sequel was Figuren und Handlung angeht leicht hinter der Haupt-Trilogie zurück, ich kann Euch diesen hochspannenden Ausflug ins mörderische Morta aber trotzdem ausdrücklich empfehlen!

Oh my gosh! I need the next book NOW!!!Seriously, yall. March has been a great month for me with books, and this one is no exception. This being the first book by Jennifer Estep I have had the pleasure to read, and IT WILL NOT BE THE LAST, I have to say I am blown away with her writing. Her writing style is so enchanting it draws you in from the first sentence to the very last punctuation. The characters, as well as the world are wonderfully diverse and rich. Each character is truly their own person, making me appreciate even the most evil of her villains. The slow burn attraction that runs through the story is both sweet and vicious. By the end you be cursing Jennifer’s name and begging for book two, because one is just not enough. One of my favorite parts of this books, aside the amazing story, are the characters. (Yes, I said that already, but it is sooooo true!) They are so complex that I want to dive into each one and know more about their stories. I can truly see several series braking off from this one. Especially one based on Delmira! I LOVE HER! Anyway, that is enough rambling from me. Read it. You will love it. The End.

Formulaic? Yes. Does it matter? Not one bit! Reading a book by Jennifer Estep always feels familiar because it is. Big hearted heroine ✅ lots of magic action ✅ attention to detail when describing food and outfits(there was a lot of purple in this book)✅ lots of muscly chest in the love interest✅It was all good and an entertaining escape from the real world.

Gemma heads out on a secret spy mission against her father and grandfather's wishes. She is investigating the strange disappearance of large amounts of tearstone.While she investigates the mind where an informant disappeared, Gemma runs into her longtime nemesis, Prince Leonidas Morricone. She finds herself in a precarious position, to save Prince Leo from an attempt on his life. Deciding to do the right thing, she saves Leo opening good and bad feelings Gemma had tried to forget. The attraction burns hot but Morta and all the royals are her enemies. How far will Gemma go to uncover the Morta plots and ultimately the very crown is at risk.A spin-off one of my favorite epic fantasy series, THE CROWN OF SHARDS, I found Capture the Crown simply Mind-blowing! I FLAT OUT LOVED THIS BOOK! Estep is a masterful storyteller! She weaves a web of mystery, magic, and mayhem that enraptured me. Although in my humble opinion May 2022 is just too far away, I will be anxiously waiting for Tear Down THE THRONE…it can’t come fast enough. I received this ARC copy of Capture the Crown from Avon - Harper Voyager - HarperCollins. This is my honest and voluntary review.Capture the Crown: A Novel Jennifer EstepFRONTLIST | On Sale Date: July 6, 2021Ship Date: June 9, 20219780063023031, 0063023032Paperback$16.99 USD, $21.00 CAD, £10.99 GBPFiction / Fantasy / Epic432 pages | Announced 1st Print: 50KSeries: A Gargoyle Queen Novel8 in H | 5.3 in W | 0.7 lb Wt

Originally published on The Nerd Daily | Review by Graceley KnoxCapture the Crown over-delivers in each and every aspect of what you’d expect from a novel written by Estep. Romance and intrigue, layered and detailed worldbuilding, both relatable and swoonworthy characters, a whole lot of edge-of-your-seat action, and perfectly timed quick-witted banter sprinkled in there to ease the readers tense shoulders at just the right time. And for those of you who are new to Estep’s writing, any fan of fantasy novels in general will adore this book. But, be warned, this book is by no means just another fantasy novel that’s interchangeable with a shelf full of others and you can trust me on this one because my home library is full of fantasy novels of every kind. But I can wax poetic about my books later… moving on to the good stuff…Read the FULL REVIEW on The Nerd Daily

Book – Capture the CrownAuthor – Jennifer EstepSeries – Gargoyle Queen #1Cliffhanger? - YesPublication Date – July 6, 2021Genre – FantasyRating – 4 1/2 out of 5 StarsComplimentary copy generously provided by Harper Voyager through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.My Thoughts - StoryI really love starting a new Fantasy Series and going through all of the world building and character development...meeting new people, creatures, magic, towns and becoming part of the relationships that build. Espionage, Romance, Vengeance, Torture, PTSD...are just some of the experiences from this story...but there is so much more contained between these pages. Ms. Estep outdid herself in her development of Gemma (our heroine) ---- a scared twenty-something who battles the demons from when she was 12 years old and witnessed her family mutilated. From this she suffers with anxiety on how to control her magic. She starts out weak and hides behind a necklace that keeps her magic controllable, but as she forms relationships, she starts to understand that she must take a stand for her friends and her country.Ohhhh...and if you read the series, Crown of Shards...there are some mentions of Bellona!The romance? Well, that's another tricky thing. Gemma sees Leo as her enemy and all she wants is vengeance for that fateful day when she was 12 years old. But as more mysteries unravel, Gemma may just be wrong about her feelings toward Leo.Now I'm eagerly awaiting the next book in the series since Gemma has finally threw away her crutch and has let her magic free.Reason for Reading – NetGalley ReviewStory – 5 out of 5 StarsSteam – 4 out of 5 StarsAngst – 5 out of 5 StarsWriting – 4.5 out of 5 StarsContent Flow – 4.5 out of 5 StarsWould Read More from Author? YesRecommend To – Lovers of a slow burn...then heart pounding fantasy