4.5/5! I LOVED this!!! Oh my GOSH. The ending?!! WHAT! This was one of those books where the spice was spicing but it wasn’t overly done. There was plenty of other characters and pieces of the plot to explore. I feel like Emberly Ash did such a great job of fully fleshing out the main characters, but also the side characters as well, which is something that I have been missing in my recent reads.

I did feel like there was a bit of information overload at times and I did feel like nothing happened for awhile, which is why it wasn’t a perfect 5 stars for me. The ending really made me want to forgive the lulling that happened throughout a big portion of the book, because for some reason, I should’ve been expecting that ending… But it took me by such surprise. Love, love, love. I also love the fact that I’m reading this ARC shortly after the second book was released. BRB, downloading it now. Thank you so much for the ARC!!

4 solid stars!!

This book has everything: two incredibly cool sets of magic (elemental- think wind, fire, ice and terrestrial- think flora and fauna), a twist of enemies-to-lovers with some hateful lust, riddles, a mix of brand new interesting characters with new versions of old camelot classics, mind-to-mind communication (maybe??), a fae named Carly, and a missing Excalibur!

Crown of Earth and Sky follows Veyka Pendragon (twin sister to Arthur), a badass fae princess with exception skills with weapons but not so much with the magic that the fae of her kind possesses, as she avenges and grieves the death of her brother while having to a) become queen and b) join with the most powerful fae warrior as her new betrothed and c) uncover a lot of hidden truths and lies in her kingdom.

I genuinely enjoyed this story because I fell in love with the characters. Veyka, despite everything in her past and a huge secret she's keeping for the safety of herself and the kingdom, is brave and powerful, if not a little reckless. It is (slightly) overmentioned about how much bigger she is than other girls, and while I love that we have a plus-size strong heroine, it got a little repetitive in the comparisons to all the smaller women or the big strong men around her. Our love interest, her betrothed and reluctant terrestrial heir Arran, is the most powerful fae in thousands of years (we love) and is able to use both flora AND fauna magic which is so incredibly cool to see. He's there for Veyka even when he doesn't want to be, and his connection to his number two Guinevere is nice to see. The rest of their crew- clever gossip Parys, dedicated handmaden Cyara (and her sisters Charis and Carly), joyful knight Lyrena, and wise should-have-been-queen Guinevere- round out the main cast and form a strong found family...maybe sitting at a round table or maybe not...

Thank you so much to Emberly Ash and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review. Next I'll be checking out the sequel, Throne of Air and Darkness.

This spicy, fantasy Arthurian retelling is beautifully written. Emberly Ash did a fantastic job with her descriptive worldbuilding, twisted intriguing plot, and amazing character development/growth! I was so taken with this page turner! Veyka is beyond fierce, stubborn and resilient. She has had every choice taken from her since birth and then becomes so depressed after Arthur’s death but in the end she still comes out on top **Get.It.Queen**. The morally gray Brutual Prince is swoony and is absolutely taking charge of this situation even if he must protect Vekya from herself. The banter and chemistry developing between Veyka and Arran is smoldering!!! Like YASS Please!!! The shady plot twists was a fast running roller coaster ride that I was totally here for. EMBERLY, HOW COULD YOU END IT LIKE THAT!!!!!! Thank the Stars I got approved for book 2 because I need to know what happens RN!!!

I am a HUGE fan of anything to do with fae and royal courts and upon learning that this was a retelling of King Arthur with faeries, I had to read it! I really enjoyed the worldbuilding and getting to know all about the two different powers. The plot was nicely paced, the characters well fleshed out, and for the most part I really liked the writing! If you love: Enemies to lovers, fae, royalty/royal intrigue, Arthurian legends/retellings, magic/powers, then this book will be right up your alley!

This was so good!! It is absolutely a retelling of King Arthur’s court. I love the fae spin on it. There’s enough of the myth in the story for you to understand what is going on, but it’s mostly original story. I hate the mom, but we are meant to, so fine. But Arran??? He’s my new book husband. 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ so good! I feel like it was all well timed and not over the top, but full details. No fade to black. Absolutely loved this book and cannot wait to dive into the next in the series.

I read this thanks to NetGalley as an advanced reader copy.

This is the third Arthurian-inspired fae romantasy book I've read this year - and by far the best of the three. Crown of Earth and Sky follows the romance between two types of fae - some that have elemental magic (think air, water, fire, etc.) and others that seem to possess terrestrial magic (either green thumbs or shapeshifting abilities). In many ways this provides exactly what the cover and blurb suggest - a fun time and a bit of spice with a pretty predictable plot and (what every romantasy book seems to have nowadays) a whole cast of sassy side characters. I enjoyed my time reading this, but I won't continue with the series. When I read romantasy I mostly care about the two main leads getting together - afterwards, well, I'm just a lot less interested...

Thx to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC!

Would give 3.75 stars if it was an option, but regardless such a fun read! For my taste, some of the descriptions came up too much (for example, her “soft stomach” or him always wearing terrestrial attire) when they weren’t needed, but the pace was good and the reimagining of the Knights was a lot of fun. Definitely wanting to read book 2!

A Fae romance fantasy retelling of King Arthur that was so much fun to read!

We follow a dual perspective story following Veyka Pendragon, a princess who shouldn’t exist, and Arran Earthborn, the Brutal Prince whose past has earned him such a name. Both from different territories, and betrothed to one another to bring peace across the lands.

Enemies to lovers, messy politics, betrayals, magic and steamy scenes.

Thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

*Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Veyka Pendragon never expected to become queen, now she has a land to rule and a betrothed that she never wanted. She also wants revenge more than anything, can she trust others with what she wants so desperately?

I loved this book! Veyka annoyed me a bit at the beginning of the story, but that almost made me like her so much more later in the book. I seemed to like her more and more when Arran did, which made it so much better. I enjoyed the world building and the characters themselves. I seriously cannot wait for the rest of this series to come out!

4.5/5 ⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

I adore dual POV and I think this book utilizes it so well to help you understand the tension between the main characters as a result of their perceptions and what goes unsaid between them. This is the first King Arthur retelling I’ve ever read, and I loved the subtle integration in unexpected ways. The romance between the MCs is spicy and definitely a rollercoaster, but I think you’re sure to be rooting for them throughout. I started out unsure, but by the end I couldn’t wait to read the next book! The central mystery of this book is very captivating, although maybe a bit rushed in the end. Something felt a bit off with the pacing towards the end of the book, and that’s the reason for 4.5 instead of 5.

I was provided an eARC from netgalley to give my honest review of this book, and I highly recommend it! Thank you to Emberly Ash for giving me the chance to read it!

My review was posted on goodreads December 27th 2023.

Romantasy is my new favorite genre and "Crown of Earth and Sky", the first in Emberly Ash's new series, Secrets of the Faerie Crown, is an excellent example of why. This book is the story of Veyka Pendragon's unwanted rise to power and her even more unwanted politically driven match with shifter Arran Earthborn. Arran ends up being the making of Veyka, as the duo's mutual loathing and lust grows into something more amongst a myriad of political machinations and threats. Ash does a good job with their world building, and the story has a number of elements I enjoy - dual POV, found family, steaminess galore, and a murder mystery amongst others. The book does end on a cliffhanger, which I know can be an issue for some readers.

4 solid stars. I am excited to read more as the series develops. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary ARC of this book. The opinions herein are my own.

Exciting story with a lot of intrigue. This was a fascinating story with strong world building and interesting characters. The author kept me invested the entire book and I could not put it down. I jumped straight into the second book and now I just have to wait for the third one to come out.

I am now obsessed with this series. Arthurian legend is one of my favorites, and weaving it into a world with fae and magic was so cool. There is everything you would expect from a King Arthur story - Arthur himself, Excaliber, Merlin, Guinevere, etc., but every one of those is presented in a unique and interesting way. The romance is steamy and I can tell it’s only going to get steamier. The side characters are just as interesting as the MCs. There are multiple potential villains. And the plot and world building is very well done. I have already started Book 2, and I don’t know how I’ll be able to wait for Book 3. If you’re looking for your next Fantasy Romance read, definitely check this series out!

Story: 3.5
The lustiness took away from the plot a bit, and then it felt like the last 50 or so pages (and traitor reveal) were jam packed.
Readability : 4
Enjoyment: 3.75
Overall good story, easy read, had a lot of redeeming qualities, will read next installment.

I loved this book! It was the perfect balance of plot and steaminess. The magic system was unique, I liked that everything was supposed to have a cost. The characters were so easy to love. Good vibes all around - I picked up book 2 immediately.

I genuinely enjoyed reading Crown of Earth and Sky. From the very start you are thrown into the plot- fast paced writing that doesn’t sacrifice world building, magic system development or storyline and still feels very immersive. Loose Arthurian retelling. I wasn’t exactly sure how it would work at first, but I really enjoyed how some of the more classic King Arthur aspects made their way into this story. I thought it was a unique concept and story in what seems to be sea of copy/paste “romantasies” at the moment. Dual POV with a strong, average sized, female main character who doesn’t feel the need to explain herself and 7ft tall main male character who doesn’t take any shit. Really enjoyed the main characters’ evolution, both individually and together, but the side characters were also top notch. Just the right amount of dark twists and spice to keep me hooked from start to finish! I am excited to pick up the next book in the series. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read!

If you’re searching for some tropes, this one has a lot of good ones
Badass FMC
Found Family
Touch Her and Die
Faeries
Shifters
Elemental magic
Spice
Enemies/hate to Love
Arranged Marriage
Fated Mates
Political Intrigue

Veyka Pendragon is suddenly crowned Queen of the Elemental Fae but has only ever wished for freedom. Following a great betrayal, she is fueled only by her need for vengeance. But the peace of Annwyn hinges on her betrothal to the notorious and cruel Brutal Prince, the Terrestrial Fae heir.

In a realm where magic has a price and power reigns, Veyka must navigate the dangers of her court to uncover the truth behind the great betrayal while keeping her own dangerous secrets hidden.

Tropes/themes:
👑 Dual POV
👑 Vengeful, stabby FMC
👑 Brooding MMC
👑 Arranged marriage
👑 Magic & prophecies
👑 Betrayal
👑 Grief & trauma
👑 “Who did this to you?”
🌶️: moderate to high


"I see you— all of you. And I am not afraid”
“I promise you. They will pay”
“Our bodies may burn for one another, but our souls sparked with loathing”

When we first meet Veyka Pendragon, she is grieving from loss and shrouds herself with apathy so that her despair does not completely consume her. Arran Earthborn, her betrothed, is a booming force- immensely powerful but has only been taught to fight and kill. While he is completely taken by Veyka, he loathes her indifference and lack of interest in her kingdom’s welfare.

Neither has asked for the crown yet they must fulfill their duties for the sake of their realms. We slowly learn of their vulnerabilities and motivations. As the book progresses, the dynamic of their relationship shifts from lust and loathing to something more.

Emberly does a phenomenal job portraying Veyka’s simmering rage and trauma and strikes a delicate balance of her and Arran’s loathing and desire for each other. The plot and their relationship is completely engrossing and the cliffhanger ending had me screaming!

Crown of Earth and Sky is a dark Arthurian retelling that’s brutal, seductive, and fun as hell. I cannot wait to read Throne of Air and Darkness!

**I received a free e-ARC and am voluntarily leaving my honest review. Thank you Emberly Ash and NetGalley for the opportunity!**

I’m loving the increase in Arthurian retellings that we’re getting these days – they all produce a new twist and are so fascinating, and “Crown of Earth and Sky” was no exception! This was an interesting new dark fantasy romance retelling, with an arranged marriage and two strong and independent main characters. While I will admit that the retelling plot was on the lighter side, I enjoyed all Arthurian aspects, and the overarching plotline was strong enough to stand on its own nonetheless.

“I whispered against his skin.
‘I see you – all of you. And I am not afraid.'”

One of the central facets was certainly the romance – it was a little twisted and dark, but the two MCs were beautifully dedicated to one another. Our FMC had not led as easy life, and while I found myself highly frustrated by her at stages, I could understand her actions. I do have to say that I didn’t really connect with her though, or grow to love her as much as I wanted, but she certainly had a strong character that will leave a lasting impression. I also appreciated the rep with her being strong but not skinny.

“Don’t change a single thing about that gorgeous body. Ever.”

I don’t really have an opinion on the MMC – I think the reason for the 3 star rating is because I wasn’t particularly attached to either of the MCs, though I adored some of the side characters. It’s possible that this book was a little too dark for me – I really have to stop trying dark romances/fantasy books when it’s clear that they’re just not for me.

Nonetheless, this was an interesting and very captivating read, and I read it in a night! Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the review copy provided.

Veyka is a reluctant queen thrust into her position after the murder of her twin brother Arthur. She wasn't supposed to exist and kept mostly hidden by her mother during her childhood. She is traumatized and bitter and the only thing she wants is revenge.
Arran is the brutal prince chosen to wed Veyka suddenly after the kings death. While he lusts after Veyka at first sight he finds her be a spoiled selfish princess unsuited to her role.
I enjoyed the development of the characters and how they built their relationship from enemies to lovers. I felt their bond deepen when she shared her trauma with him and made him an ally to solving her brothers murder.
I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.

Crown of Earth and Sky is and adult fantasy romance. It has lots of palace intrigue adventure, emotional trauma and of course spicy romance. I think fans of Acotar and FBAA would love this series. Thank you to netgalley for this arc.

4,25/5 stars

First of all thanks to Net Galley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read an e-arc in exchange of an honest review.

I absolutely adore fantasy novels that put a fresh spin on the Arthurian myth, and this one didn’t dissapoint.The narrative weaves together faeries, mythology, and a generous dose of darkness and spice— a combo that I'm absolutely in love with.

While I hadn't delved into the author's previous works before, her writing style won me over, and I'm definitely on board for the rest of the series. The world-building was nothing short of spectacular; every place, creature, and story in the book had me completely captivated. Plus, the author kept the intrigue alive until the very last page, and that ending? Excuse me?

Veyka's character development was noticeable and well-executed. And can we talk about the sizzling chemistry between the female and male lead characters? Shout out to the dual POV—spice level: 10/10.

However, I couldn't help but wish for more substantial dialogues between the characters. It felt a bit rushed how, after a few hook-ups and hate-yous, the male lead was already in love.

To sum up, this book serves as a fantastic introduction to the series in every aspect. The ending has left me with so many questions that I'm definitely picking up the second book.