A beautiful ending

I've loved this series from start to finish, and this finale was no exception. It was an abolsutely perfect and fitting ending to this amazing story of love, magic, betrayal and acceptance. I loved following Wren along for this journey of finding herself and discovering just what she can do. It was exhilirating, fun and intense, everything I love in fantasy. This third book brought as much answers as new questions and theories, keeping me guessing the entire time. I loved how Wren and Finn's relationship developped as well, the romance both intense and addictive. The writing is immersive and easy to read, making for a very enjoyable read altogether. I'm sad it's over, but the ending was very good.

I recommend if you like fantasy romance with magic, mystery and action.

"A wild hope seized him. Not a hope of salvation or anything so stupid as that. But a small hope, which was, at the time, the greatest tragedy."

Overall: 4.5⭐️/5; Spice 2 🌶️/5

What a perfect conclusion to this series!! I genuinely do not want to ruin this ending for any other readers, so let me attempt as much of a spoiler free review as possible:

Once again, we pick up right where book 2 left off. Our main characters are separated, and there is little hope that they will be able to evade the prophesied destiny that will end in the death of one or more of them, and plunge their world into darkness. Elodie, Roland, Wren and Finn must all fight to get back to each other, and to find some way to save everyone they love.

I was absolutely heart broken at times reading this. At others, I was filled with that sense of impossible hope that reminded me of seeing Gandalf crest the ridge at the Battle of the Black Gate… The themes of good vs evil, of free will vs destiny, are so well explored in this series; ultimately, finding balance and choice is what leads our characters through.

This has been my favorite series of the year so far - it is well written, cohesive, and oh so satisfying at the end. A fantastic series for fans of true fantasy, but approachable enough for those new to the genre. I will absolutely be rereading this over and over again!!

Thanks to the author and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this series!

A Crown of Darkness was the perfect jaw-dropping, finale to The Lost Queen series. Book 3 unravels hidden truths, the mysterious histories of the kingdoms, the true and heartbreaking intentions of some unexpected characters. The battle between soul bound duty and hearts true love was profoundly moving. The plot twists kept this epic conclusion, thrilling and unexpected. The relationship between Wren, Robin, and Lark took me entirely by surprise. I was so concerned about not getting a HEA, but we got there, and the way in which it happened came full circle and was just a beautiful nod to the first book.

Wow, just wow!

Thank you to Jessica Thorne, netgalley, and Second Sky for giving me the opportunity to read this advanced copy of A Crown of Darkness, in exchange for an honest review.

A Crown of Darkness is a phenomenal conclusion to this captivating series. The emotional journey of Wren and Finn kept me on the edge of my seat, with unexpected twists and intense moments throughout. The climactic battle between the Aurum and Nox was particularly gripping. This series embodies everything I love in fantasy - heart-wrenching romance, ancient powers, and characters fighting destiny. It's a must-read for fans of the genre, offering a perfect blend of romance and fantasy that I cherished from start to finish.

The end is upon us. Wren & Finn have been through so much but the fight isn’t over yet. Will they ever be together just the two of them? The fight is about to get tougher and many losses will be felt. Roland will do whatever it takes to free his queen he can’t lose her again. But do they deserve a happy ending after everything that they have been through? Queen Eloide will do anything to save Wren she can’t lose her now. But will they be strong enough to fight all their enemies and win?
A great way to end the series. Great characters a good solid storyline.
Thank you Netgalley & the publisher for the copy. This is my voluntary review.

I absolutely ate this trilogy up. I mean: a unique magic system, dark vs. light, first-love type romance, AND second-chance romance?! Jessica Thorne truly delivered with the entire thing.

This book in particular was so incredibly well done. It was a beautiful conclusion to the story, one that made me tear up a bit!!
I applaud Jessica Thorne for her character development, even just in this book! The second-chance romance we get a little more of in this final book is one of my favorites. This story & these characters will be in my heart for a long while.

I cannot wait for more books by this author!

Great conclusion to a wonderful series. If you like a well paced story and a unique magic system The Lost Queen series is for you! A fantasy with romance and spice giving mystery vibes. Great world building with glossary and chapter epigraphs. Warring kingdoms, light vs dark, hidden identity, shadow mommy.

I was provided with a review copy of the ebook and this is my honest opinion. I gave this book 4 stars. (If I am unable to leave partial stars, I will always round up.)

Thank you again NetGalley, Second Sky, and Jessica Thorne!

I had a hard time getting into this book even though I liked the first two in the series. I didn't connect with the characters, which could've been the writing style or because it was in third person. This book did have great world building and it ended the series well. There was a lot of action but the story lines wrapped up well.

I think I would have liked it better on audio. I would recommend this to someone who wants a completed trilogy with witchy, gothic atmospheric vibes and lots of magic! Available on Kindle unlimited.

I absolutely loved this series! It was definitely hard to put down and each book took me only a day to read. I love that this series is jam packed with all of the great romantasy essentials, but the books are just a little bit shorter. Sometimes it's nice to be able to enter into a fantasy world and not have to commit to 3+ 500 page books! This is the 3rd book in the series and it is non-stop action, betrayal and twists.

I highly recommend this series to any and all fans of a good romantasy with shadow magic, lost queen, found family, dark vs. light magic and what I consider to be a great shadow MOMMY!

Thank you so much to Second Sky Publishing, NetGalley and Jessica Thorne for the opportunity to read all 3 books as ARCs! I purchased them on audible so I can have my husband listen to them now too!

I love it the book and all the series, the plot of all the book it's fantastic and the romance its incredible I recommend to all the people to read this book and thank you @netgalley for let me read it.

This series has been my pick of the year's reading.
The world building is great, the story of as fight between good and evil is engrossing... and not at all what you expect at times, with all its twists and turns.
But it was the love stories that got me - three of them. All different. All wonderful and tear inducing!
I am a big fan of Jessica Thorne's books - and these are my fav so far - with The Bookbinder's Daughter running close behind.
High recommended.

The last book of the series and oh so good. We are still foll0wing Wren, Finn, Elodie, and Roland.
Finn returns to his kingdom but is it really Finn? Elodie is missing and Roland is on a hunt for them.
Lots of emotions and a great ending to the series. It was a little slow at one point but well worth the read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Second Sky for the ARC to read,

I can't believe this series is now over. I adored Wren and Finn's plight in this world against the Nox and the Aurum. I am going to be honest here and say, I think I have done the book a disservice. I bought the audiobook, as I can read quicker this way. But I wished I read them. I loved the narrator and I loved the book, but I think I missed the connection if I had read it. I think I will need to find time to re-read it - and what a great excuse! Mainly because I am gutted it's over already! I wanted more and still do!

What a change these characters have gone through! It was the beginning that got me, I dove straight into this after finishing Book 2 and I was eager to see how Finn and Wren were doing at court. Man, it was dark.!! I couldn't believe what was going on, I thought the narrator was making things up. Then my mind was blown! I had suspected something was coming, and I thought it might be what it was, but the relief I felt when it was!! Cryptic I know! But thank god, that is all I can say!

Second Sky has been banging out some epic romantasy books, and this is one of my top ones! I have some of the older books by Jessica on Kindle and after reading these, I can hear my Kindle whispering to me....or is it the nox?

I love the world-building from this series, I could see the courts, the forest, especially with Finn tied up at the end *wink wink*, everything was so visual and clear in my mind.

I have to end my review with three words...Elodie and Roland
*sigh*

Jessica Thorne’s Crown of Darkness, the second book in The Hollow King series, takes readers on a thrilling, emotional journey, filled with dark magic, betrayal, and romance. It’s a perfect continuation of Wren’s story as she faces greater dangers, both external and internal.

The novel picks up with Wren trapped in enemy territory, her fate intertwined with Finn, the man she loves—or thought she did. Thorne expertly plays with themes of trust, loyalty, and the tension between love and manipulation. Finn’s sudden change in behavior keeps readers on edge, as Wren struggles to discern whether he’s still her ally or if he has become a pawn in his father’s sinister plans. This ambiguity surrounding his true motivations adds a layer of psychological suspense that makes their interactions even more intense.

Wren’s internal battle is a highlight of the story, as she fights to control her dark magic and not succumb to the growing pull of power. The castle’s eerie influence on her enhances the Gothic atmosphere, giving the novel a haunting backdrop. Thorne crafts vivid descriptions of this magical yet foreboding world, making it easy for readers to feel immersed in the dangers Wren faces, both magical and emotional.

The romantic tension between Wren and Finn is palpable throughout, particularly as Wren wrestles with her desire for him and her doubts about his loyalty. The chemistry between them still smolders, but the uncertainty in their relationship heightens the stakes, as Wren questions whether Finn is truly under the influence of the dark power surrounding them, or if he’s making a deliberate choice to betray her.

While the pacing is fast and action-packed, Crown of Darkness does a good job of blending character development with plot. Wren’s growth is particularly well-handled; she’s not just a pawn in the political game but a powerful force of her own. However, some secondary characters, while intriguing, could have used more development, and a few plot twists feel slightly predictable, even if they’re executed well.

Overall, Crown of Darkness is a dark, romantic fantasy that keeps readers hooked from start to finish. Fans of Thorne’s work, or anyone who loves a good balance of magic, romance, and emotional complexity, will find this installment a satisfying read that sets up exciting possibilities for the next book in the series.

hanks to @SecondSkyBooks for having me on the tour for A Crown of Darkness Which is the third book in The Lost Queen Series by Jessica Thorne

Wren has been captured and imprisoned by the enemy who has plans to use her against this realm and her love Finn is also held capacity main her question if there feeling for each other are true or is it just because she’s powerful especially since he’s changed after they’ve reached his father’s areas.
I have got to say I have absolutely devoured and loved every minute of this book. This one had me absolutely engrossed and I did not want to put it down. I really felt for Finn within this book and Wren this broke my heart and had me on tethers throughout.
The ending has absolutely blown me away and has been a fantastic way to wrap up the series. My heart ached for both Finn and Wren as they faced challenges, making the ending a truly remarkable conclusion to the series. This book was an absolute delight to read, leaving me wanting more.

#SecondSkyBooks #BookTour #JessicaThorne #FantasySeries #EmotionalJourney #CaptivatingRead #PowerfulCharacters #BookReview #BookLovers #MustRead #Se

I have absolutely LOVED this series. And this last book did not disappoint. There were so many twists, I never knew what would happen next.

This was such a fun trilogy and it felt like it was wrapped up in a beautiful bow! I was initially worried we wouldn’t get the happy ending I think we all deserve but we did!!
I know these characters will be in the back of my mind for a long time! I will definitely be watching for more from this author

First impressions 💭
The start of the book had me questioning everything! I liked that the cliffhanger from book 2 was not immediately resolved in chapter 1. And the twist was completely unexpected, off to an amazing start!

What I Loved ❤️
- It was so Fast paced! Never a dull moment in this book and it kept you on your toes wondering what would happen the whole way, I love that it wasn’t predictable.
- The introduction of a few new characters that I really enjoyed reading about!
- The ending was wrapped up perfectly for all the characters that I was hoping to get closure on. Even though it wasn’t what I was expecting, it was even better!

What I didnt love 👎🏻
- I did feel that this COULD have been a really great duology. Condensed some of less important moments in books 2 & 3. But I still loved it as a trilogy!

Favourite Quote 📝
“ Am I always going to be saving you from this forest Finn?… If you’ll have me”

Final verdict ⭐️
It was fast paced, super easy to read, and just the right amount of suspense!
Very enjoyable to read and a perfect conclusion to the series! ♥️

One-word review:  Complex
Emojis: 🥺🤔💔🥰
Series: The Lost Queen, book 3 
Rating:  4.5 🌟s

My Top-Five-style Review:

5. The world-building is a perfect blend of relatability and uniqueness. The creativity of the different magic systems, their symbolic representations, and their integration with the political systems make the story easy to grasp and yet intriguing enough to keep you engaged.

4. The characters are developed very well. They are stereotypical heroes and villains—except for Wren, who is so conflicted and complex that I enjoyed every moment with her.

3. The second-chance romance between Elodie and Roland just grabbed my heart and held on to it. I loved their story and how it developed in this trilogy. I wish I had felt the same about Wren and Finn's romance. They are the main characters, so I thought I should care about their story as much or more, but somehow I just didn't.

2. The ending is not just good, it's brilliant - a masterpiece of storytelling. I won't spoil it, but it's a perfect conclusion that will leave you wanting more.

1. What I loved the most was the story's progression from book 1 to book 3.  It started off simple, but as the complexities grew, it developed into a highly intricate story that twisted and turned, captivating and enthralling me with every page.

What a great way to trap up this intriguing tale!  Wren has been through the wringer in this series and I'm so happy that she has found her way to some peace.

Wren has accepted her fate and her power and she valiantly attempts to leave her old worries in the past.  But her love for Finn should be her prop but can she trust Finn?  He has changed since their last adventure and as much as she loves him, she's not sure that she can rely on him to see things through to the end.

The Aurum & the Nox are pivotal to Wren's fate and as the story unfolds we learn the true history of the divides between the peoples, not just the stories that have been told.  Wren may be souped up power wise but she's still a young woman, she still makes mistakes as she doesn't have the experience to fall back but she at least is proactive in her own life and doesn't let others dictate what happens to her.

Leander is a real Machiavellian character, I really enjoyed watching him get what he's owed!  He can manipulate events only so far before fate starts to fight back!

Finn and Wren are great partners in this adventure - Finn is steady and dependable to Wren's more impulsive behaviour.  But this story really does have layers of tension and deceit to cut through.  Not all is as it appears and there will be a few times you have an "aha/WTF" moment.

Great world building, empathetic characters and complex storylines that were all resolved and I'd happily read more books set in the same world.