👑 Oh my goodness, Crown of Earth and Sky was an absolutely enchanting whirlwind from the very first page! Emberly Ash has crafted a stunning tale that combines the rich allure of mythology with powerful themes of revenge, love, and secrets that kept me glued to the pages! 💖✨

Our fierce heroine, Veyka Pendragon, is such a captivating character! Crowned queen in what feels like a circus of politics and betrayal, she’s on a quest for revenge against the humans who wronged her, all while harboring a dangerous secret. Talk about a girl with grit! Her inner struggle and determination leap off the pages, and I felt every ounce of her desire to reclaim her dignity and protect her kingdom. 🌟🔥 I really admired her complexity; the layers of strength and vulnerability made her feel so relatable and real.

The arrival of the Brutal Prince adds a deliciously tense layer to this fantastical fabric, as he’s not just a charming suitor but a force of chaos that threatens to upend Veyka's carefully laid plans. His reputation precedes him, and let me tell you, their interactions crackle with electricity! The banter between them is both fierce and flirty, making their dynamic incredibly captivating. 🔥😉

Then we have Arran Earthborn, the strongest terrestrial fae in millennia! His presence is like a breath of fresh air amidst the dark and twisted elements of the story. The tension between duty and desire creates such an engaging conflict for Veyka, especially since she has to decide whether to ally with him to maintain peace—a task that feels like a balancing act on a tightrope! 🌿💫

The mythology woven into the narrative, especially the Arthurian legends, adds a rich, historical flavor that delights the imagination! Ash’s world-building is absolutely phenomenal, filled with vivid landscapes and magical details that make you feel like you’ve been transported right into this realm of elemental fae. The blend of high-steam romance and dark elements keeps the stakes high and the pages turning! 🌈🔮

One of the things I adored most about Crown of Earth and Sky is the emotional depth. Veyka's internal conflicts, her desperation for revenge, and her fear of what that path could lead to really resonate. You can’t help but empathize with her struggle to choose between the crown that symbolizes her freedom but has caused her pain, and the desire to settle the haunting scores of her past. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions that tugged at my heartstrings! 💔✨

Overall, if you enjoy a twisting tale filled with powerful women, enchanted realms, and a dash of romance blended with dark intrigue, then you absolutely must dive into Crown of Earth and Sky! It's the perfect escape for anyone who loves a good fantasy adventure sprinkled with steamy moments and a touch of danger! 📚💖🌌

Absolutely amazing. This is my first Emberly Ash read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I cannot wait to go and read more of the author's works.

I really enjoyed this book! It's a fae retelling of King Arthur and had lots of little references to the classic tale which I loved!

The plot is mostly focused around the FMC Veyka and trying to solve the murder of someone close to her. There is a lot of politics but it never takes over the main objective of the story.

I love how Veyka is described physically. We need more FMCs that are not fragile and dainty and unrealistic.

I can't wait to continue this series!

Retellings aren't typically my go to. However I enjoyed Veyka and Arran. They have great chemistry and I love the banter between them! The arranged marriage trope is one of my favorites too. If you love fae, fantasy and romance you will enjoy this one. It does end on a cliffhanger, so you have been warned lol.

I'm all for plus sized representation, but over authors trying to make this their entire personality. It almost takes away from the plot of the book.

Actual Rating 4.5 ⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

This one was for the girls who use self destructive behavior to dissociate from their trauma. It's for the thick girls who are almost never represented as strong nor beautiful in fantasy novels. This is for those girls who know what a good support system and a found family can do for their healing journey.

‼️My dudes‼️, add this to your TBR, for real. It's so good. I was ENRAPTURED by this book. The world building is well done, the histories and court dynamics are well thought out and intriguing. This is a loose king Arthur retelling, but set in a fae world. Veyka never wanted to be queen, she just wanted her freedom after a life in captivity and oppression. Her brother was her savior, but when he died he left a gaping hole that could not be filled, leaving his sister to take the throne despite her obvious depression over his death.

This book really touches on the self destructive habits of grief and trauma responses in a way that is not often done for a main character, which makes Veyka feel real. However, for someone who doesn't respond this way to trauma, it may be hard to understand and she may come off as insensitive and self centered. Dealing with and healing from grief and trauma is different for everyone. For many, myself included, it comes with self destructive habits that make you hard to be around. This book really let us see that dissociation, substance abuse, sex, and selfishness are all very real, very valid parts of grief as well as responses to trauma.

Veyka is a CURVY FMC with a thirst for vengeance. She is depicted as strong, capable, and confident. She knows her weight is unusual for her people but she refuses to cower, she wears it proudly and unapologetically in a way that was SO VERY HEALING for me. It was so refreshing to have curvy FMC who wasn't smothered in loose layers, but instead draped in clothing that exuded body positivity and daring others to say otherwise. Also, Arran, the MMC known as the brutal prince (say less🥵), is obsessed with her curves. Literally worships them.

Veyka and Arran HATE eachother. He thinks she's selfish and spoiled and she thinks he's an arrogant hypocrite who's getting in the way of her revenge. The lines between love and lust are thin and the slow burn sizzles with passion. But when it explodes👁️👄👁️, oh my lanta it is hawwtttt. They are two people broken by childhood trauma and forced into a life neither was prepared for. As they begin to understand each other, the characters developmwnt is so well depicted and organic. This was how my own trauma healed, finding that one person who gets it and surrounding myself with people who love me despite my self destruction. It was so validating. And the ending? This Author took one from SJMs books and made those last 70 pages intense! I know I'm just scratching the surface of this series and I am so excited to read the next. So yes. Add this to your TBR like yesterday. 👏👏👏

Crown of Earth and Sky by Emberly Ash is a gripping, dark fantasy that blends political intrigue with raw emotion. Veyka Pendragon, the newly crowned queen of the Elemental Fae, is a complex and fiercely determined protagonist, caught between revenge and duty. Her betrothal to Arran Earthborn, the brutal and enigmatic prince, adds a layer of tension and danger, as their relationship teeters between necessity and conflict. The world-building is richly detailed, with a perfect mix of magic, betrayal, and high stakes. Ash skillfully builds a tale of power, secrets, and the cost of revenge, making it a must-read for fans of intense, character-driven fantasy.

Emberly Ash’s Crown of Earth and Sky is an ambitious blend of Arthurian legend, fae fantasy, and dark romance that delivers an expansive world and intriguing characters, but its uneven pacing and polarizing protagonist may divide readers.

The story begins with the brutal murder of King Arthur Pendragon, leaving his twin sister, Veyka, to ascend as queen of the Elemental Fae. Veyka, far from prepared for the throne, is forced into an arranged marriage with Arran Earthborn, the Brutal Prince of the Terrestrial Fae, to maintain peace between their factions. However, her primary focus is not on her crown or her kingdom but on avenging her brother’s death—a quest that threatens to consume her entirely.

Ash’s world-building is one of the novel’s strongest elements. The realms of the fae are richly imagined, with a complex political system and subtle nods to Arthurian mythology woven seamlessly into the narrative. Readers familiar with the legend will appreciate these touches, which add depth to the setting without overshadowing the unique storyline. The murder mystery at the heart of the plot also provides a compelling hook, pulling readers into the political intrigue and high stakes of Veyka’s reign.

However, the book’s pacing is uneven, with a sluggish start that focuses heavily on Veyka’s inner turmoil and revenge-driven mindset. Her character, while intended to be flawed and relatable, may alienate some readers. She is unapologetically selfish and dismissive of her responsibilities as queen, prioritizing personal vengeance over her kingdom's welfare. While this makes for an interesting anti-heroine, her lack of growth throughout much of the story can be frustrating. Arran, her brooding counterpart, fares little better. While his dynamic with Veyka provides moments of fiery tension, his character is underdeveloped, often reduced to lustful musings or bland proclamations of duty.

The romance is another divisive aspect. It leans heavily into the "enemies to lovers" trope but often feels more like "enemies to begrudging lust." The chemistry between Veyka and Arran is palpable, but their relationship is dominated by toxic dynamics and repetitive exchanges of disdain and desire. While some readers may appreciate the raw intensity of their connection, others may find it more exhausting than engaging.

Additionally, Ash’s representation of Veyka’s body—a plus-sized, curvy queen—is a refreshing departure from the norm. However, the constant focus on her physicality can feel overdone, detracting from her other qualities and inadvertently reducing her character to her appearance. While this may have been intended to celebrate body diversity, its execution risks alienating readers who want to see more nuanced depictions of body positivity.

The book shines in its latter half, where the pacing picks up, and the murder mystery takes center stage. The political intrigue, magic system, and world-building are given the attention they deserve, offering glimpses of the novel’s potential. However, by this point, readers may have already struggled to connect with the characters or become invested in their journey.

Crown of Earth and Sky is not without its merits. Its imaginative world-building, steamy romance, and dark undertones will undoubtedly appeal to fans of romantasy. However, its flawed execution, especially in terms of character development and pacing, leaves much to be desired. For those willing to push through its rocky beginning, there are rewarding moments to be found, but it may not resonate with everyone.

If you enjoy tales of courtly intrigue, dark romance, and complex heroines, you may find something to love in Crown of Earth and Sky. For others, it might prove a challenging read that falls short of its ambitious premise.

3.5

A big thank you to netgalley and the author for providing a copy in exchange for a review.

Some disjointed thoughts:

This book starting off really strong. I was immediately hooked by the intrigue and the secrets Veyka was engaged with and couldn't stop wanting to know more. However, around 2/3 into the book, I felt like the pacing plateaued and I began to feel more frustrated that so many elements were being drawn out this long. It felt like for a good 10% of the book that Arran and Veyka were stuck in a cycle of "will we, won't we" or "I admire you, I hate you", which is nice for creating tension at some points, but the cycle eventually felt repetitive and became a roadblock in my reading enjoyment.

While there were some moments that Veyka's trauma was tangible, I felt the confessional moment between her and Arran was lacking "something", and I felt that it was largely glossed over for the remaining of the book besides a few quick sentences in Arran's POV.

That said, some of the twists and betrayals at the end genuinely shocked me.

Although Roksana's death by her daughter did feel unsatisfying, since that was the event to which the entire book was building up to.

As hinted at the end, Veyka being powerless didn't seem like a sustainable storyline for the rest of the series, so I will be interested to see how this develops. I do plan to continue on.

Overall, I think I would have rated this higher if not for the section in the middle that caused me to put down the book for a few weeks. The book is listed on GoodReads as being 525 pages, which I think could have been cut down a bit in places to avoid that dragging middle.

This series was kindly sent to me from netgalley.
I really liked this one. The world was great, and the characters were amazing!
I will definitely be reading these again.

This was an incredible story that is enough like other romantasy books to reel people in and different enough to elevate it a little above the others. The FMC is perfectly imperfect making he feel far more realistic, I loved to hate her in parts. The MMC is just perfect grumpy and deadly but gentle when needed - perfect book boyfriend vibes.

It very much feels like FM romance with fated mates and a looming arranged/forced marriage; however, it is so sex positive with other dalliances. I think it was a wonderful representation and refreshing when compared to the sea of virgin FMCs in other romantasy.

Just because it has romance, doesn't mean it lacks on actual plot and political intrigue. However, it is 100% the characters driving the story.

Overall, I loved it. Can't wait to get into book 2 and 3.

An enjoyable read!

Veyka's coronation was not what it should have been. And now, the court plots against her and she must take revenge on the humans who betrayed her. Without revealing her secret. But when she is betrothed to the Brutal Prince, Arran, the strongest terrestrial fae in millennia, Veyka knows she has to go through with it to keep the peace in the land. No matter how ruthless, dangerous, and detestable he is.

This book was quite a fun read. I really enjoyed the political intrigue in itself, it's filled with betrayals, schemes and surprises that kept me hooked. The characters are intriguing, although a bit unidimensional at times for some, and they maintained a gripping pace on the story. The writing was addictive, fun and immersive, which made for an amazing read. As for the romance, it was hot, with lots of sexual tension like I love in enemies to lovers fantasy romance. The chemistry between Arran and Veyka is undeniable and enjoyable. However, I did find that the lust between them was a bit too present at times, overshadowing the rest, as well as slightly misogynistic in a heteronormative way on Arran's side. It's a very personal preference and I still had a good time reading this book. I look forward to discovering the sequel!

"And no one can save me - not even you. Because I do not wish to be saved."

I was able to read this because NetGalley provided with an arc. I loved this romantasy. Great Read. I would read more by this author.

What do I want?
A quick death.
Barring that, I only dream of one thing—revenge.

This was a decent romantasy. I feel like I'm a little over the whole fae thing at this point, but that's not the author's fault.

That ending!😮 This is the kind of book that’s easy to get lost in, and I loved that it was King Arthur inspired!

The main thing driving the plot in this one is the mystery of who is responsible for Arthur’s death and Veyka finding her revenge. Aaron’s main concern is the kingdom and their people which I’ll admit made him more likeable to me than Veyka at first. Her laser focus on revenge when she was ruling over an entire kingdom did make her seem immature and selfish. As we get to know her and see her relationships we see glimpses of sides of her she tries not to acknowledge. The sides of her that mean showing vulnerability. We see her care about more than just her brother’s loss.

The romance between Veyka and Aaron was good, but didn’t completely drag me in. The spicy scenes are plentiful but do not over take the story. I hope to connect more with the romance in book 2, but ultimately I’m reading this one for the politics and the interesting world Ash has created!

**Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me a copy to read and review. All opinions are my own.**

The world that Ash has painted is quite interesting and while I was not absolutely devoted to the book, the cliffhanger grabber me strong enough to want to dive into book two

This book wasn’t what I expected and I personally got irritated with the main character so therefore didn’t not finish this book.

Crown of Earth and Sky

Title: Crown of Earth and Sky by Emberly Ash
Series: Secrets of the Faerie Crown - Book 1
Author: Emberly Ash @emberlyashauthor
Genre: Adult fantasy romance with dark elements and spice

Book in emojis: 🧝‍♀️🗡️👑🐺🌳🏰🔮❤️‍🔥🌶️


Crown of Earth and Sky is the first book in the Secrets of the Faerie Crowns series and is a twisted mythology retelling of the Arthur legend with an interesting magic system, court politics and delicious slow burn. Veyka Pendragon is crowned the Queen of the Elemental Fae after her brother Arthur is killed and must now choose between keeping her kingdom safe or revenging her brother.
Arran Earthborn the strongest terrestrial faerie in millennia and would rather be on the battlefield than marrying Veyka Pendragon, even if he is destined to become high king.

At first I thought this would be a fun read as I enjoy mythical retellings and the Arthurian myths are very interesting. However, I did not expect it to be so refreshingly different and more than just a retelling, even if there are subtle hints to the original myth throughout.
I went in pretty blind, only knowing that it was a fantasy romance with dark elements and spice.
I enjoyed this book and I HAVE to read the next because that cliffhanger was brutal! It was an easy read, not as world building heavy as some, but enough to get an idea of how the world is, and would probably work for you if you enjoyed Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer L. Armentrout or Scarlett St.Claire’ books and want something with a slightly lighter world building.
The tension and banter between Veyka and Arran was so good, and it only gets better. And the side characters are also an interesting addition to the story as there is so much going on with them and hopefully we’ll get more of their relationships with Veyka and Arran in future books.

Tropes:
He falls first
Plus size FMC
High Steam
 Fae Fantasy Romance

Morally gray hero

Enemies-to-Lovers

Found Family

Fated Mates
Arranged Marriage
Dual POV

Who did this to you?

Shifters

Fairytale retelling

Arthur legend reimagined

ARC copy provided in exchange for an honest review. This in no way changes my rating or review.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the eARC!

i got this on Netgalley for an honest review.

👎🏼 thumbs down for me. i got through about 76% of it before deciding to DNF. truth be told, veyka and arran were unlikable. i just simply was not rooting for them as a couple or individually. i understand that veyka was seeking revenge for her brother, but … it really did not capture me the way i wanted it to.

while i typically skip open door spice, this was littered with it in almost every chapter that made it difficult to read. i read the CW and understood what i was getting into, ready to skip, but when its brought up almost all the time … it didn’t seem to me to add anything to the story plot.

overall, it just wasn’t for me. two stars ⭐️⭐️ … 😔

Thank you NetGalley, author and publisher for my ARC of this book.

Not as good as I thought it would be and I really struggled to finish it. The main character was annoying and boring

3/5