I enjoyed this a lot, but I was hoping to see a slow progression into evil. I wanted to watch as Ayleth slowly became the character of the evil queen. But it felt like the change all happened right at the end. I’m hoping there’s more in the next book to show her fighting the evil inside her and explain why she turns against the Princess.

I also think the next book might be more satisfying in general. This one would have been really good as an original story, but it didn’t quite have the feel of a fairytale retelling. I did think this was because it needed a lot to get her from her origin to being the evil queen from the fairytale though, so I have high hopes for the next book!

As an original story though, I really really enjoyed it. I loved Ayleth’s character a lot. Seeing her try to get her sister back and the romance with Jacquetta was powerful. It was a really strong book.

Really looking forward to see what happens next!

I was so grateful to have received this wonderful book by Heather Walter to read early in exchange for an honest review.

2 days late but I also want to say Happiest of release days!!!

If you love retellings of Fairy Tales and Sapphic romances then this book will be right up your alley! As this is a withcy retelling of Snow White telling the perspective from the rise of the 'Evil' Queen!

I personally am rooting for our main character Ayleth as I really really liked her and feel she is a very misunderstood person and has had so much expectation placed upon her from her mother. OBEY Nettle the cat at all costs or she will come for your laundry.

I would highly recommend this book especially if you want a cozy book to read during the Autumn months.

3.5*

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

I'll start by saying that I really did enjoy the story and the ending has me gripped and excited for the second book in the series! We love a villain origin story!

The writing itself was just a little bit off for me. I didn't feel particularly attached to any of the characters (Nettle is not included in this, I loved Nettle). I think I just needed a little more to buy in to the reasoning for some character decisions and why the story was moving the way it did.

I am excited to see where Ayleth goes next and I hope we don't have to wait too long for the sequel.

I like to say that I have a broad taste in books. It's not entirely true. However, there are a few story types I like more than others. Fairytale retellings are for sure among those. I've never read the Malice duology by this author, although the first book is on my shelves, but I actually didn't doubt I'd love them. I therefore enthusiastically requested a review copy from this book from Netgalley and luckily Del Rey granted me a copy.

The start of the book was very promising. I was intrigued by the short introduction of the first part of the story, I liked getting to know the heroine of the story, I loved exploring the setting and all the witchy elements really caught my interest. However, during the story I noticed that I was losing my interest. Instead of looking forward to continuing reading I was dreaming about picking up other books. It was like I was waiting for something to happen that eventually never happened.

I've spent all day trying to pinpoint what happens. Normally I love a lot of prominent elements in this story. Politics, mystery, a touch of romance, betrayal and cunning plans. I think however that the book lacks a clear direction. Our heroine travels to the capital to find the bloodstones, but it feels like she spends very little time on actually looking for them. It feels like our heroine allows herself to be constantly distracted by other things and is never getting any closer to her goal.

And it's a pity. Because I like the plot and the setting. I just think that the book also contains a lot of scenes and elements eventually leading nowhere and not playing much of a role in the bigger whole. There are therefore too many pages between the moments our heroine is getting closer to the bloodstones or learning more about what's going on with the Malem surrounding her. Which is a pity. Because I really really really wanted to love this book to pieces.

i support lesbian rights and lesbian wrongs.

this is the first book in a duology retelling the story of the evil queen in snow white. this one focuses on her backstory and how she changed from Ayleth to the queen.

Ayleth is the daughter of a coven leader. she was her second born daughter, but with her older sister dead she is now the heir. however, she doesn’t have any magic. she is also disliked by other witches as they believe she may have helped cause her sisters death, which she also blamed herself for.

to try to prove herself, she goes on a trip to the white palace to bring back objects that will help the witches, but while their she meets her first love who she believes abandoned her.

this book was incredible. i loved Ayleth as a character, and the setting and magic was amazing. i highly recommend it and can’t wait for book 2!

I was not expecting to love this book as much.

Mirror, Mirror on the wall. Who’s the wickedest of them all? 🍎
I’m such a sucker for a new spin on a classic fairytale. And Heather Walter is one of the best in the game in my personal opinion

2.5 ⭐️

I went into this really looking forward to the premise, but sadly, it missed the mark for me.

Let's start with what I did enjoy. Ayleth, she makes a great main character. You feel her need for love and her choices in an attempt to bring back her sister feel justified.

I also really liked blodwyn, Roland and the queen. As side characters, they bring out different sides of ayleth that we need to flesh her out fully. The romance was fine. Honestly, I didn't love the other side of it, but the slow burn was done nicely.

I think it's somewhat of a disservice to mention it's the evil queens origin story in the synopsis when that's only made obvious at the end of the book. It would have made an excellent plot twist.

Instead, I found myself confused by what any of this had to do with her. Ayleth has completely different motivations. She doesn't care about being the fairest, etc. Even now, I can't see her trying to steal a young princesses heart. I guess, though, you can write that off as this is a different version of the evil queen.

Unfortunately, I found the book rather slow, and for a book about witches, hardly any magic actually happens (this is somewhat explained). I felt like we needed a more in-depth explanation of malum and how magic works in this world.

From what I can, it looks like there may be a sequel, and I guess there would be plot for 6 it's also not entirely needed. I can't see myself picking it up. I do own the authors malice duology, which I will try, but I'm now not sure it will be for me.

I received an advance review copy of this book, and this review represents my honest opinion. Thank you to netgalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

After being a huge fan of Malice and Misrule, I was eager to see what else Heather had to offer us!

The book follows Ayleth as she is set to join the ways of her hidden coven. However, when she sees a mirage of her dead sister during the ceremony, she decides to try and fix the veil herself. She manages to disguise the fact she is a witch to gain access to the White Castle, but things aren’t always as they seem and a dark path is set for Ayleth.

I loved Ayleth’s character. Her relationship with her mother was (unfortunately) very relatable and I loved to hate Jacquetta 😂

I would definitely say this is darker than your typical fairytale retelling and only has a loose basis, so don’t go into it thinking you’re getting the full evil queen. But there’s enough tie ins and almost Easter eggs there to make you feel like you’re in that setting.


Only question I have is… there’s going to be a second one right?! 😅

Ayleth is a girl who has had some tragedy in her life, loss of family and love, and thrust into a position she doesn't want (or feel she deserves)

Pressured by her mother, she should be stepping up as her mothers Heir, but Ayleth feels in her heart there is a more important task to be done. Against her mothers (and the Covens) expectations, she travels to the Kingdom but must hide her true nature to get close to finding the objects she needs

What she doesn't realise is these objects aren't the only thing she will find on her journey, old wounds will be reopened and her loyalties will be questioned when she crosses paths with an old acquaintance. But does time heal all wounds.....? and can Ayleth succeed in recovering all she has lost to help her find her place....? One thing is for sure, Ayleth will have to learn that life just really isn't Fair sometimes...

This was a steady paced but gripping tale which builds up to an epic ending. Much like the tension and stakes of Malice, we join another misunderstood girl on the path to her destiny and you are right there with her, feeling what she feels as she goes through it all.

Bravo to Heather for another great read... and I absolutely cannot wait until book two!

Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for the review copy.... all opinions my own... out a week tomorrow so still time to get those preorders in!!

I loved The Crimson Crown by Heather Walter! I don't often read fantasy, but this was a very believable, witchy tale, with fantastical elements. I loved the fact that it was a twisty retelling of the Snow White story, told from the wicked queen's perspective.
The story worked really well, and I especially loved the main character, Ayleth, and her enemy/lover Jacquetta. That relationship was very real, and Walter wrote of the heartache of first love, and unrequited love, and betrayal brilliantly. Great stuff!

Heather Walter + sapphic writing + an 'evil' character = must read and immediate request on Netgalley!
I'm not finished with the book yet but I am loving it. I was worried I would be quite reserved in my opinion because I love the 'Malice' duology soooo much, but I can't help but know that I already love this book! I know it will already be a 5 star read!

This story of the origins of the evil queen from Snow White's fairytale was nothing like I expected but at the same time it wad deeply enjoyable and fascinating.

Ayleth is a young witch who's supposed to be the second to the heir and one day lead her coven. But she feels lost in the role assigned to her and feels like she doesn't measure. So when her Ascension ritual goes awry, she leaves her coven hoping to fix everything by recovering Blood stones that hold ancient magic.

I thought it was amazig how deftly the author waved some of the classic aspects we know from the story of snow white into a story that felt completely novel and unique. The world building was really well presented and it didn't feel like it just borrowed everything from the original fairytale. Quite the opposite, it felt like its own world with the bits from the original fairytale serving more as fun Easter eggs. I thought Ayleth was a fascinating character and I loved reading about her growing into her own person. The story had a cast of such enjoyable and interesting characters I'm really looking forward to the second book in this duology to discover where this story goes and what happens to all these characters that made it so easy to care about them.

My one complaint is surprisingly the romance. I thought Jacquetta was probably the least fleshed out character and while I understand why that was the case I think giving us some flashbacks into her and Ayleth's relationship in the past would have helped in creating the chemistry between them that I felt was lacking. I ended up wanting Ayleth and the Queen to be together more because I felt like we could actually see that relationship grow.

All in all I had fun with this book and I'm very much looking forward to reading the sequel.

I was sent a copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.....for a full review please see my Amazon and Goodreads accounts

Mirror Mirror indeed!

A dark sapphic retelling of Snow White, with the amazing character of Ayleth (evil queen) stealing the show!
Witches, Dwarves, and many other well known and loved fairy-tale creatures gave this story a familiar yet completely new twist to a long loved story.

A story full of dark magic, curses, betrayal , death and relationships that run deeper the further the story goes. This is a book I have immediately added to my wishlist and TBR

Heather Walter is the queen of dark, sapphic fairytales!

Witches, magic, dwarves and other mythical creatures shrouded in mystery with truly atmospheric prose. I was fully immersed in the tale and had so much fun exploring this new but familiar realm. I think going into this story after forgetting the blurb ended up being a very happy accident and would recommend not reading too much about it beforehand as it definitely added to the suspense.

I adore a villain arc and seeing the villain origin story provides a completely fresh perspective on a beloved story. Ayleth is such a great main character and I loved seeing her relationship with Jacquetta. I will say that Princess Blodwyn was an absolute joy and I wish we could have had more time with her.

I would highly recommend this to lovers of fantasy, twisted fairytales and sapphic romances!

Heather Walter's The Crimson Crown reimagines the classic tale of Snow White, centering instead on the villainous queen and her transformation into a powerful witch. The story begins with Ayleth, a young witch hidden away in the forest with her coven, struggling with her still-dormant magical abilities. As the White King’s ruthless campaign against witchcraft rages on, Ayleth embarks on a dangerous quest to the White Palace, a place teeming with intrigue and deception. There, she reunites with Jacquetta, a figure from her past who once broke her heart, and together they navigate the treacherous political landscape to survive.

While the narrative's pace may not suit every reader's preference, as it occasionally drags, the rich depiction of witchcraft and the coven life is thoroughly engaging. Walter excels in crafting a vivid and immersive world where magic is both a blessing and a curse, and the stakes are palpably high. Ayleth’s journey from a hesitant young witch to becoming the formidable queen is compelling, showcasing her inner strength and resilience.

However, the romantic subplot with Jacquetta might feel distracting to some readers. The love interest, while integral to Ayleth's character development, lacks the depth and appeal needed to make their relationship truly resonate. Despite this, The Crimson Crown remains a captivating tale of empowerment and transformation, offering a fresh perspective on a well-known legend. Those who appreciate strong, complex female protagonists and a darkly enchanting fantasy world will find much to enjoy in this novel.

Special thanks to NetGalley and DelRey for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Crimson Crown by Heather Walter
Penguin Random House, Cornerstone, £16.99
Reviewed by Nadya Mercik

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?
And is there one? If so how do we choose her? And what happens to the second? Second most beautiful. Second in power. Second sister in succession. Are they substitutes? Mere functional copies? Are they to be manipulated? Ignored? Feared?
This and many other threads are explored in the new fantasy retelling of Snow White (and not only!) from Heather Walter. Expect witches, covens, creeping shadows, monstrous wolves, mad kings and queer romance. All tightly packed and fast-paced in a beautiful atmosphere of court and coven.
Ayleth is the second daughter. Her sister Rhea is supposed to succeed their mother in ruling the coven and continuing the line of one of the Ancestors. And Rhea was born for it – her magic is powerful, she goes through the fire ritual without fear, and she seems happy to inherit it all. But fate decides differently, and after the arrival of the King’s Hunt Ayleth suddenly finds herself in the position, where she has to become her mother’s Second. And it is not easy since her gift does not want to manifest itself properly. But things really escalate when Ayleth reaches the age to pass the ceremony of Ascension. Instead of completing the ritual, she sees in the flames the shadow of her sister and a slice of it settles in Ayleth. But is it really Rhea? Can her sister truly return and take her rightful place? Then Ayleth could go back to being herself. Only to accomplish this Ayleth needs a particularly powerful anchor for her sister. The ancient Bloodstones, which hold the barrier between this world and darkness, sound like a solution. The only problem is that they have been stolen from the covens. And to return them Ayleth will have to penetrate the nest of the enemies.
The novel is truly atmospheric. The elements of the original Snow White tale – hunting, mirrors, dwarfs, and apples used amply as royal decorations – all get their new meaning and create a luscious background. But the world of The Crimson Crown has a much richer symbolism. Walter combines the original fairy tale with the story of the witch hunt and covens, developing the thread of the other and xenophobia. The character of the mad king also made me think of the Blue Beard story, the allusion to which runs nicely along the arc of the hunted covens. The whole story is interspersed with oppositions that run deep and whose origins turn vague with centuries.
What I really loved about the novel is how subtle the retelling is. Though the hunt and the apples hit you in the eye, the real story of the dark queen is less visible. Darkness seeps in slowly so that the final transformation looks so radical. The story is not forced, and the path is not littered with breadcrumbs, which makes it even more intriguing and enigmatic. Overall, Heather Walter is great with subverting expectations and turning the tropes upside down.
I loved how the mother-daughter relationship was explored in the story, the idea of the expectations that ruin us.
I think my only complaint about the novel is that some storylines weren’t exactly completed. I would love to learn more about the fate of Blodwyn, the King's daughter and clearly the reference to Snow White, and even Ayleth’s mother. But at the end of the day, this novel is not about them.
If you a looking for an enigmatic and multilayered retelling with court intrigues, mysterious voices, mirrors and scrying, if you want a story that will surprise you, I will definitely recommend The Crimson Crown.

Over all I loved this book but wished I could have gotten the story of Snow White not just the prologue of how the Evil Queen came to be. Fingers crossed that Walter writes a short story.

This retelling had me on the hook, Ayleth was a brilliant character. This is sapphic, full of betrayal and curses, death and dark magic.

The covens are in hiding due to the kings edict that to kill a witch is to free a soul, magic is banned and to be caught as a witch means a swift execution. Ayleth is meant to be her mothers 2nd in command after her sisters death, but she isnt ready. Ayleth believes there’s something she must do before she steps into her position, she travels to the white palace where the king and enemies of witches will surround her at every turn. However, the one person she didnt expect to see again is also at the palace with an agenda of her own.

I love this author 😊

Ayleth (The Evil Queen from Snow White) is such a good character. It was great reading about what she goes through to become the Queen we love. She goes through so much and I honestly didn't know what to expect with all the plot twists.

I liked the witches, covens and the Court but I loved the ending and cannot wait for book two!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.