Ich weiß ehrlich gesagt nicht, wie ich dieses Buch bewerten soll, da ich es aufgrund relativ kurzer Ausleihdauer (ohne Verlängerung) nicht lesen konnte.

It took a long time for me to get into the story and even when I was into it, I never really picked it up. I tried to read the story in tandem with the audiobook and that did help me a bit to get through the story.

The main reason I requested this book was the cover. I still think that it looks stunning and really fits the vibe of the story.

The story was interesting and I was invested in what would happen next. I think it was the writing style that made the reading not as easy as I liked it to be. The writing style is not bad, it's just not for me.

I liked Klara as the main character and I liked the way how she tried to solve the problems around her. It was interesting to read about her powers.

I still really want to read the next part of the series to see how the story will continue.

Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this EARC!

This book has everything- Angels, Demons, Fae, cheeky leprechauns and the list goes on, what a superb cast of characters and such an engaging plot. Yes, there's a little violence and gore but it doesn't detract from the story at all, it just enhances it and allows us to see Klara's motivations. Loved the twist at the end, and certainly made me as an invested reader happy. I can't wait to read more from this fabulous author.

This is one of those books that is best described as ‘messy’. The fantasy worldbuilding aspects are all over the place, the main character (Klara) is fairly boring, and there’s a twist at the end that had me rolling my eyes incredibly hard. But not rolling my eyes as much as characters decided to suddenly start winking at everything.

The premise is intriguing and the listed tropes – found family, chosen one – had me interested in the book. But with both this just falls flat. The book itself feels like a load of cliches mashed together. Klara is the daughter of Lucifer and heir to Hell. She lives in Malum, where she is being raised by three queens – Abadon, Lilith, and Eve. She doesn’t know who her mother is (so we can assume early on we’ll find out who it is by the end of the book, and like many other aspects it’s squeezed in without foreshadowing), but she knows she does not want to be the Heiress. The book starts with her trekking to start a new job so she can earn money and escape. It goes wrong, and we then get exposition up until the halfway point.

Things did pick up from here, but it felt like too little, too late, the way the first half dragged made the book feel longer than it was. The worldbuilding is all mashed up, which can work in some cases, but falls flat here with the combination of fairy tales, fantasy archetypes, religious aspects (Lucifer, Eve, Hell, etc), and Greek mythology. It doesn’t quite gel together. The various relationships between Klara and other characters feel weak, whether it’s a rivalry with her half-sister or the romance between her and her childhood bestie, or between her and a werewolf she meets when escaping. There’s no on page chemistry, just characters kissing randomly in a way that makes the romantic aspects feel forced. There’s a child character who is just not written well, coming across at parts as either a young child (4, 5) or a slightly older (7, 8?) child, but never with any consistency.

The magic felt like it wasn’t fully thought out, either. Klara’s powers come down to ‘whatever the plot needs at the time’. The whole ending felt a little rushed, and like I mentioned above, the ‘twist’ is poorly executed. I didn’t understand why characters suddenly started winking at everything either, but they’d also spent most the book smirking at random moments where a smirk felt…inappropriate, or not a thought-out reaction to whatever was happening. The smirking and winking got really distracting.

I think Callaghan had some interesting ideas here, but so much of this feels poorly thought out and a little flimsy, and the book as a whole maybe needed better/tighter editing than it had.

DNF at chapter 12

I thought the premise of this books sounded really interesting, but I don’t think this book was for me.

I think it reads a little young, even for YA.

As we get to know Klara, the daughter of Lucifer there’s mentions of high queens, some realms, laws and they’re not explained well enough to full understand.

I enjoyed the first couple of chapters as there’s action right from the start but I felt as if it went down hill from there. It possibly gets better from there however, I was getting bored from about chapter 6/7.

I found the romantic sub-plot randomly put in with little context, and was put in to make it more exciting but left me a little confused.

Unfortunately, this book wasn’t for me. However I think a younger audience would possibly enjoy this more.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

Crowned A Traitor is the first book in the Hellish Fairytale Universe series by Kate Callaghan. Heir to Hell and the Dark Forest of Malum, Klara has been called upon to take her place as High Queen of Malum. Though Klara has no intention of ruling, her guardians want her head on a spike. Klara's only option - escape to Kalos, Fae ruled lands free from Dark Magic. To survive the perilous journey, she needs help. A Leprechaun with a talent for smuggling. A mischievous Demon with swaying loyalties. The soul of a greying Warlock. Lycaon siblings with a talent for deception. Destiny has an awful habit of catching up with those who run.

Crowned A Traitor is an interesting start to a fantasy series. I thought the world building was well thought out and provided some twists and turns. It was in engaging story, with plenty of action and putting the world and some of its inhabitants on the page to help paint a picture of where the main characters and series might go from here. I must admit that there story did not quite grab me they way I had hoped. I see potential in the series, but some of the twists and turns just did not really work for me and I failed to connect to the characters. I do think that this book, and following series, will be a hit for some readers.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Kate Callaghan's "Crowned A Traitor" is a dark fantasy that takes readers on a tumultuous journey through the realms of Hell to the mystical lands of Kalos. Published in July 2020 and obtained as an ARC from NetGalley, this novel serves up a complex concoction of power, betrayal, and a quest for freedom that is both enchanting and bewildering.

The Central Saga: Klara & The Throne of Hell

At the heart of this narrative is Klara, heir to the ominous throne of Hell and the Dark Forest of Malum. Her destiny, seemingly etched in the shadows of her lineage, is to ascend as the High Queen of Malum. However, Klara rebels against this. She’s scared that once she does ascend, it will only be a matter of time before someone kills her. It’s also that she doesn’t want to be queen. As a typical young adult, Klara would like to figure out her place in life instead of abiding by other people’s expectations of her. So, her tale is not just about a throne but about the essence of freedom and the weight of expectations.

Klara's relationship with Frendall is one of the book's focal points, showcasing a complicated friendship teetering on the brink of romantic entanglement. Their bond, while deep, lacks the electrifying charge of destined lovers, feeling more like a profound connection marred by circumstances and unspoken truths. The narrative toys with the idea of love's ultimate sacrifice, drawing parallels with Lilith's past decisions, yet it falls short of convincing us of the gravity between Klara and Frendall. Nevertheless, there’s a twist at the end: you must read the book to enjoy this one.

A Web of Intrigue and Deception

Lilith's ominous warning about Frendall and Mila's ambitions throws a shadow of doubt over Frendall's intentions. It's a classic narrative twist, leaving readers to ponder if Klara's allies are as trustworthy as they appear. This uncertainty is a double-edged sword, adding tension while also muddling the clarity of character motivations.

Character Flaws and Moral Quandaries

Klara's journey is fraught with personal and ethical dilemmas. Her struggle with her identity, symbolized by her white wings and her father's rejection, reveals the complexities of family and acceptance. Yet, Klara's character sometimes veers into selfish territory, her longing for freedom overshadowing the consequences of her actions. This trait makes her human and relatable but also frustrating, especially as the narrative progresses toward its climax.

Reflections on Borders and Freedom

The narrative revisits the theme of borders, both literal and metaphorical. The proposition to use borders to determine worthiness and safety echoes contemporary debates, albeit with a fantastical twist. It's a contentious point that seems to resonate less with the themes of personal liberty and more with a contrived solution to deeper societal divides.

Final Verdict

"Crowned A Traitor" is a dark fantasy that explores the burdens of legacy, the quest for self-determination, and the murky waters of trust and betrayal. While the emotional depth between Klara and Frendall might not reach the heights of epic romance, the story compels with its rich world-building and moral complexities. It's a tale for those who relish in the shadows of power, the light of rebellion, and the gray areas of the heart.

Blurb: Heir to Hell and the Dark Forest of Malum, Klara has been called upon to take her place as High Queen of Malum. Though Klara has no intention of ruling, her guardians want her head on a spike. Klara's only option - escape to Kalos, Fae ruled lands free from Dark Magic. To survive the perilous journey, she needs help...
A Leprechaun with a talent for smuggling.
A mischievous Demon with swaying loyalties
The soul of a greying Warlock.
Lycaon siblings with a talent for deception.
Destiny has an awful habit of catching up with those who run.

Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the arc for this beautiful special edition cover of Crowned A Traitor! This is book one of the A Hellish Fire trilogy so you can work your way straight through the series.

This book has a really interesting premise and Kate’s world-building throughout was well written. There’s a lot of characters to keep a track of in this story but what I did like was the diversity of characters and creatures that the author included. The found family trope works so well in this story and it’s one of my favourite elements in the book. Klara is a complex character who struggles with so much at an early age and has to try to figure out who she can really trust in a world where everyone wants to take her crown. The one character who I would loved to seen developed more is Lucifer himself. We need to see more of his darker side (we need a dark lord to be truly terrified of!).

At times elements of the plot were a bit rushed and I think it’s just a pacing issue but overall it was an enjoyable read with lots of twists and turns and heartbreak, perfect for a YA dark fantasy story.

The special edition of Crowned A Traitor is out now and go check out the rest of A Hellish Fairytale series too.

First, I would like to thank NetGalley for my e-copy of this book with the stunning special edition cover! I loved this book from the first page. Filled with fantasy creatures, ghosts, witches, and no other than Lucifer himself, what’s not to love? The main character in this book is one bad ass bitch and I loved following her on her journey to freedom. The romance was subtle but not overtaking of the plot which I also loved. I can’t wait to read the next installment in this series!

i really didnt get to finish the book granted because of busy uni life but the moment i set my eyes on the cover boom! i just wanted to give it a read. I really liked the plot of the stories with bibical concept and characters and how fantasy was so beautifully molded with fiction. Personally my thoughts resonated with the protagonist and loved to read whatever part i could finish <3

I truly liked the characters and their dynamics. The dialogues were fun and added dimension to the characters. Had a fun time whenever characters were speaking to others. Also thought the world imagined was lovely - it was dark and the depictions worked well for me.
On the other hand, like some of the reviewers, I did think it went on for longer than it needed to be, but that could be a direct result of the explanations and world building being info-dumpy which weighed down the flow of the story.

Recently I read my first book written by Kate Callaghan, so when I saw the opportunity to read another of her books, I took that chance. Crowned a traitor was original, exciting and left me curious about what was about to happen a lot of times. Somewhere in the middle of the story it kind of had a setback and it took me more effort to get through the story. Later on I got catched up again and finished it.

The Goodreads story told me it was a series for you if you liked books like Six of Crows. I really liked SoC, but can't really see this book as equal in the kind of story it is. It has its own original storyline.

The story is about the heir to Hell and the Dark Forest of Malum: Klara. Klara has been called upon to take her place as rightful High Queen of Malum, but.. she doesn't want it. She has no intention of ruling and is trying to get out of this horrid place. Unfortunately, the people around her have other plans. Klara's only option, which is to escape to Kalos - a land ruled by fae free from the Dark Magic of Malum and Hell. Along her escape she encounters a lot of creatures, some helpful, others not so much. She needs to put her trust in people she learned not to trust. Destiny has an awful habit of catching up with those who run.

Tropes in this book are plenty. There's the found family, daughter of Lucifer, run for your life, the chosen one and last but definitely not least: anti-damsel in distress.

[Actual rating - 3.5/5]

(Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review)

One of my favourite parts of this book was the writing. It was really easy to read but still showed character which I liked. The plot itself though was a little rushed with things happening very quickly and moving on from one event to the next almost instantly (I started to feel bad for the main character as she hardly had any time to just sit still between plot points). That being said though, I did still understand everything that was going on and the plot was still easy to follow. There were also lots of good plot twists which I am always a fan of.

This Young Adult, fantasy novel follows 17 year old Klara, the daughter of Lucifer himself - made from him, not by him. Klara is being raised by the three Queens of Hell - Abadan, Lilith, and Eve. Under the guise of teaching and training, Klara been has abused most of her life but it has made her strong and formidable. Her father, the King of Hell wants her to rule Hell after him and that is what she is being prepared for. There is just one problem. That is not what Klara wants.

Klara is desperate to escape her home, her captors/trainers, and gain her freedom and independence by escaping to the fae ruled lands where dark beings are not welcome. On her journey, she meets a Lycaon and his little sister who has yet to turn, discovers an old friend along road and finds out that absolutely nothing is as it seems.

By the time you reach the end, you’ll be invested in these characters, in this storyline, in Klara gaining her freedom.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Enchanted Ink Publishing for the eARC of this book. This review, words, and all opinions are my own.

Crowned a traitor by Kate Callaghan
3.5 stars

I read a romance ARC by Kate Callaghan earlier this year and LOVED it. So when I saw this fantasy ARC of hers on Netgalley I knew I just had to read It. It contains found family, badass main characters AND it’s about the daughter of lucifer? Amazing.

The characters were super diverse. You have demons, fae, werewolf like creatures and our main character Klara. She’s the daughter of lucifer, but really doesn’t care for inheriting hell and instead would like to escape her cruel guardians. This leads to some problems. So we get to see her badass side when she’s fighting evil queens and ogres. But she still stays a real teenager with lots of fear, insecurity and some cranky moods. This made her feel like a really well rounded character.

The world was hella unique with a lot of different lands and creatures. Slightly diving into the politics of those was really fun! The storyline developed nicely and slowly expanded the world while we follow Klara on her adventures.

I’m also a big fan of Kate’s writing style. It reads really nice and easy, which I love. This is a book that you can pick up after a long day of work without breaking your brain on difficult writing!

My biggest negative for this book that it didn’t really capture my attention enough to make me come back for more. I could easily not read this book for a couple of days and be fine with that. This is probably a me problem, but I just found it hard to connect to the main characters and the story.

But overall, this book is some good entertainment and I’d recommend it if you’re looking for an easy to read fantasy!

*4.75 stars*

This is Book one of this series and told in third person POV. While I throughly enjoy books in this view, as I did this one, I tend to not connect with the characters on a level that totally captures me.

I will admit. I started this book a couple times and had to set it back down. The beginning didn’t capture my interest past the first couple pages those times. BUT, I still couldn’t get the blurb out of my head. So I gave it a go, the third times the charm as they say right?

In this instance, it was true. After I got further into the book, I found myself needing to know what happened next and mesmerized by the details of everything.

When I got this book, I didn’t realize that it was “special edition cover” of this story. I was looking at Kate Callaghan’s Amazon page and realized this was written before. The first edition said it had more pages, while that could possibly mean just information about the author and her other stories, I do wonder if it has more backstory on characters or events.

I liked the story and the character development for Klara was really great. I do wish I would’ve seen more of a ruthless side to Lucifer though. I felt like he wasn’t represented as he deserved. I understand that this story is targeted for YA 13-18, but considering some of the other things that were mentioned and described in the story, Lucifer could’ve been more.

I also would’ve liked some things to have more backstory descriptions and make me feel like I was right in the thick of things with Klara instead of just being told of what happened.

Regardless, I enjoyed the story. The book ended with a Happy For Now and I am excited to read the second book and see what adventures await Klara next.

I received an advanced readers copy via Netgalley. These thoughts and opinions are my own.

This story surpassed my expectations, resembling a Tim Burton film in written form. Klara, heir to Lucifer, battles torment and captivity in Malum, a realm between Hell and the Fae. Facing deadly threats, she embarks on a perilous journey, encountering a unique mix of creatures. The story captivated me throughout. Eagerly anticipating more from this series.

Thank you to netgalley and BooksGoSocial for allowing me to read this book. This was such a fun read. I really enjoyed the plot..

This book has a fun premise and a unique FMC. Klara doesn’t want the future laid out for her and decides to run. As she runs towards safety, she is joined by several companions who represent all kinds of magical creatures. This book could have used more editing to clear up typos and other mistakes but overall, it was a trip!

Thank you Net Galley for the e-arc!!