Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this book in exchange for an honest review. This has not impacted my review in any whatsoever.

I DNF'd this in large part because of the pacing and lack of worldbuilding. For a dystopian book with references to places like "Old Chicago", we didn't really get to know much of what really happened/other places. I did enjoy some of the relationships, and if you as a reader are intrigued by steampunk-esque vibes in your story, this is definitely the book for you. I may come back to this in the future to try to continue, but for right now, not my vibe and that's alright!

I am still new to NetGallery and didn't realize I could leave reviews here too! I left my review on Amazon, Goodreads and social media! Updating it now!

I really enjoyed this book. The premise was very different to any other dystopian book I have read already. I was a little lost on the definition of a Slag and what happened when you were "upgraded". I think the author needs to explain this better

The story follows Valencia as she struggles to accept her fate and the truth of her existence. Everything is about to change for her and she has a decision to make. Just as she turns sixteen, she is rescued from her mother's side by Ryker, her best friend's brother and thrust into the other side of the world, a world she is wholly unprepared for.

As Valencia tries to fit in, finds out the truth behind Emery's so called death and helps the plot to bring her mother down, the reader is introduced to a world of airships, advanced technology, human enhancements and so on. The story felt a little disconnected to me due to the limited world building. The character development could also have been better to help readers connect with the characters, their suffering and their hopes for a better future.

However, I did enjoy the attempt the author made to create this world, the characters, and story, and I hope to read more of the books in the series!

👑 When Duty and Destiny Collide: Unraveling 'Of Blood and Crowns' by Raven More 👑

Dive into the tumultuous world of 'Of Blood and Crowns' by Raven More, where duty and destiny entwine in a gripping dystopian narrative. While the journey unfolds in a swift 300 pages, it's a tale of contrasts—rushed yet promising, with echoes of familiar dystopian influences.

1. ⏱️ Fast-Paced Intrigue: A 300-Page Rush
'Blood and Crowns' wastes no time in plunging readers into a world of royal duty and impending murder, but the brevity of the journey leaves some craving more. The 300-page sprint feels like a rollercoaster, with too many story points vying for attention. The speed, though exhilarating, might leave you catching your breath as the plot hurtles forward.

2. 👥 Premise Rich, Execution Swift: The Double-Edged Sword
The premise is a gem, a dystopian tapestry woven with duty, deception, and the burdens of royalty. However, this rich premise could have blossomed into two volumes if More had allowed the narrative room to breathe. The story's potential, like a tightly coiled spring, yearns for a more gradual unfurling.

3. 🔄 Dialect Dances and Character Quirks: A Few Inconsistencies
In the linguistic ballet of 'Of Blood and Crowns,' a discerning eye might catch a stumble or two. A subtle inconsistency in dialects and character development, while not fatal, leaves room for improvement. Yet, in the grand tapestry of the narrative, these are minor quibbles against the larger backdrop of intrigue.

4. 📚 Dystopian Deja Vu: Nods to the Greats
More takes a bow to the dystopian greats with influences that echo the pulse of the 'Divergent' series and the regal intrigue of the 'Red Queen.' Fans of these classics will find familiar themes interwoven with More's unique narrative brushstrokes, creating a concoction that's both nostalgic and fresh.

Why RSVP to 'Of Blood and Crowns'?
👑 Regal Burdens: Join a princess on the precipice of regicide, where duty clashes with destiny in a royal ballet of power.
🏰 Dystopian Symphony: More orchestrates a dystopian melody, with nods to favorites that will resonate with fans of the genre.
🎭 Characters in the Spotlight: Despite a few quirks, the characters shine in their roles, each playing a vital part in this grand theatrical narrative.
🔮 Final Verdict: A Royal Invitation to Dystopian Realms
'Of Blood and Crowns' invites readers to a royal feast where duty, destiny, and dystopian echoes intertwine. While the journey might be a whirlwind, the promise of intrigue and regal machinations beckons. Are you ready to navigate the maze of a princess's fate?

📚 Pick up 'Of Blood and Crowns' and step into a dystopian realm where crowns are heavy, blood is spilled, and destinies are written in the echoes of the great dystopian sagas. 👑🌌 #BookReview #BloodAndCrowns #DystopianReads

I sadly couldn't get into it. Im not actually a fantasy type girl like i had originally thought. I am so so so sorry for not updating sooner.

I wanted to like this book. The concept seemed right up my alley. I was immediately confused, and felt like I was reading a later book in a series with references to past events right off the bat.

I know that I would have loved this book just a few years ago but it was just a bit too much trying to work out what was happening as the story just sort of started without any background.

As much as I did like this book I don't think it was 100% for me. 16 year old me definitely would have loved this book even more though so I definitely recommend to young adults.

I liked the plot of this and I am intrigued by the story, I'm unsure if I'll continue the series despite this, I do have unanswered questions that I would like to know so maybe one day I'll finish the series off, I thought that this one was a quick read so I don't imagine it would take me look to read the following two books

Ummm...What did I just read?


The blurb sounded good and the cover is lovely, but thats about it for the list of good things.


I just had to leave this book as DNF. I couldn't even get halfway through.


You kind of just jump right into the story. No real background, watching the characters develop, things jumping around. It started off as if you were reading it as the next book in the series and not the first.

The idea is there but it's too all over the place to make it work for me.


Based on how this went as the first book, I'm going to leave the rest of the series as DNF. I just can't justify a reason to give it a chance.

First, thank you Netgalley for the copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This book I have mixed feelings on but they lean towards positive. I liked the story and world that was created for this book. A bleak outlook of our future.

There were some things that I think should have been made a little more clear. There are three races that they speak of the most. The Humans, the Mualites (which are humans with gifts/powers, and the Tertians, which I THINK are just humans that have merged with tech? but its not explicitly clear on that one. I wish I had more background into the other races, the actual structure of the world and more descriptions of those around them. In addition to that, when did everything take place? They meet an older woman that makes references to our time period ex Republicans and Gun Toters, etc. I know that this is supposed to be the 2400 something but her character and what she says just seems so far fetched for this world. I get that there was recently a war that took place as the main characters mother was one of the ones that was in the war and won the thrown through it but even so, its hard to believe that it changed so drastically so quickly.

Another issue I have is with the main characters. The princess and Ryker do not speak to each other in a way that most people do. It seems like its missing huge chunks of both back story and dialogue and everything between then just seems so fast paced and sudden with no actual communications.

That being said, the story itself, the world created, the abilities and the structure of it all kept me interested and going. I liked seeing everything around them as they went on their journey and I liked seeing the old mixed with the new. I just wish that there was more dialogue between the main characters that gave them A. more character depth and development and B. a more soundly structured and more dynamic relationship.

⭐️⭐️
I really wanted to love this book. It had an interesting plot, some unique characters, I just wish there had been more detail.

The book starts out very quickly. I double checked on two separate occasions that I was in fact reading book 1. I started out confused, and I stayed confused for quite awhile. I needed more world building, and I really didn’t understand the magic or the different types of people. I needed more character development. I needed more development with the different relationships the characters had with each other. Things just were just happening too quickly.

With more development and a little bit more editing and polish, I think that this could be a really compelling story, but unfortunately it just wasn’t a great read for me.

Thank you NetGalley for the free ARC, all opinions are my own.

I really wanted to like this one. I've been looking to get back into more Dystopian/Fantasy. And this one sounded really intriguing. Definitely Throne of Glass vibes. Unfortunately, after multiple attempts to read it, I'm going to call it a DNF. Because I am a mood reader, I would like to eventually pick it back up and give it another try.

An enjoyable fantasy romance that I read really quickly. I was engaged all the way through and couldn't put ti down

This one was a hit or miss for me. The story was pretty decent, but the characters... lordy, I had a hard time connecting with them.

Was better then I thought it would be, be aware it is a continuation book. I was intrigued by the different beings involved with the story. Valencia is a princess whose queen mother hates her. Valencia goes through many trials to prove she’s not like her mother. Read the book, you won’t regret it. It is a futuristic type read.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

Of Blood and Crowns is a fantasy distopian young adult set in a world destroyed by war.
My favorite thing about the book is the protagonist Valencia who has made an impressive character evolution. She discovered her strength through friendship and love and became a badass.
But I found some parts of the book confusing and others boring, not to mention the cringe scenes (for example, in the middle of the battle Valencia and her love interest start kissing instead of thinking of a way to save the situation).

I loved this book. Like so much I can't even put into words how much I enjoyed it. I will definitely recommend and be buying a copy for myself and friends as well.

I want to say I loved this. The premise was so promising. I love enemies to lovers, fantasy dystopia, and high stakes, but unfortunately, this book failed to deliver.

The world the author has created is interesting, but it was lacking in detail. If we could have had more world building at the beginning, which carried throughout the book, then this might not have been an issue. Valencia is the daughter of a Queen, who rules viciously. She has powers that her mother would kill her for having, so she keeps them hidden. Valencia is saved from an arranged marriage by Ryker and his sister, Emery. Valencia and Emery have a past, and Valencia thought Emery was dead because she had left Emery for dead. The shock of seeing Emery again, causes Valencia to question everything about her life, and it continues to unravel over the course of the book.

I did connect to some extent with these characters, but I wish they were a little more developed. Valencia and Ryker strike up a romance, but it is insta love and almost goes from 0-100. This book was too fast paced for me, in regards to both the romance and the plot. But for those who like fast paced books, this could be for you!

I wish I loved this, and I kept reading in the hopes that I would but I just struggled to get through it so much.

I had high hopes for this but I struggled to get into it from the outset.

I felt like I was dropped into the middle of a story and really didn’t know what was going on. It was as if you were reading part two of a trilogy but I couldn’t work out who was who or how I came to be at this part of the story.

It was an unfortunate DNF for me.