ARC Review:
👑 A Crown of Dakrness 👑
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5
🌶️ 🌶️.5/5

The final chapter in Wren and Finn's journey unfolds. Though the story starts off a bit slow and slightly confusing, it picks up pace midway, launching into a whirlwind of magic, love, and loyalty tests.

Finn is on a mission to find Wren, but Wren is already confronted with a version of him—or at least, someone who resembles him. A twist on the brothers of Ilanthus.

The characters face battles both within and without, with tensions mounting between Nox, Aurum, and ancient forces. Shifting points of view immerse the reader in different corners of this world, where some characters are deceived, others uncover long-buried truths about their past and future, and still others fall prey to the allure of power, resulting in heartbreak and loss.

Elodie stands alone, fighting for the light, while Roland discovers the old magic and the ways of the "free." Are they destined for the light, the dark—or perhaps both? And who among them is strong enough to bear the weight of it all?

If you were captivated by the first two books and are looking to conclude the series with a mix of hope, emotion, and fulfillment, I highly recommend diving into this beautiful finale!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
4.5 stars

A Crown of Darkness is the stunning conclusion to The Lost Queen series. Picking up where A Kiss of Flame had left off, A Crown of Darkness brings heartbreak and betrayal for our main characters. The storyline is littered with plot twists and reveals whilst Wren, Finn, Elodie and Roland all battle towards a final showdown between the Aurum and the Nox which departs from the classic expectation of how it will all end.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this series and would like to thank @secondskybooks @jessthornebooks and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you’ve been following Wren’s journey from the beginning, A Crown of Darkness is the thrilling payoff you’ve been waiting for! In this third installment, Wren finally steps into her power and takes charge of her destiny, leaving behind the uncertainty of her past. With dark magic threatening everything she holds dear and a master manipulator pulling the strings, the stakes are higher than ever. As she and Finn fight to protect the Aurum (or is it the Nox?), the mysteries of their pasts unravel, pushing them toward an epic showdown that will test their limits. If you thought the first two books were good, buckle up—this one promises to answer the lingering questions since the first book.

Wren is stepping into her strength, and it’s refreshing to see her take on a more proactive role. She’s no longer the naive character from the earlier books, but she’s still young—and that youth definitely shows at times. Wren gets herself into some frustrating situations that feel like she should’ve known better, which kept reminding me that she’s still learning. I just wish the author had given her more complex challenges from which to grow. It felt like some of the scenarios were predictable, given the stakes in the world around her. At times I as the reader felt like Iike I knew what Wren was going to do even before reading her next move.

Leander is still playing the role of master manipulator, using old magic to control and twist things to his advantage. The dynamic between him and Wren was intense, especially as Wren starts to realize how deep his deception runs. She’s not fully prepared for the dark magic he wields, but you can tell she’s starting to piece things together.

The introduction of the Nox adds a deeper layer to Wren’s journey as she and Finn set out to protect the Aurum, all while uncovering more about their past. Finn, as always, is steady and dependable—always there to balance out Wren’s impulsiveness. Their bond continues to grow as they face the mysteries of their world together.

The book hits hard on the classic good vs. evil and light vs. dark magic themes, but with Wren finally embracing her power, I wish the stakes had felt a little more complex for her. Still, it’s a solid continuation of the series, and Wren’s growth (though bumpy) makes it a worthwhile read. If you’re in it for the magic, the adventure, and Wren’s evolving strength, this one delivers!

Posted on GoodReads 9/11

Since the very start of this series I've been hooked ,not only by the characters themselves but also becouse of the story line , even though this one was a bit of a Rollercoaster with all of the emotions it made me fell, will differently be doing a re read of this series some time down the road .

A great ending to an interesting story. Maybe a bit confusing but it all made sense in the end. Intriging romance! Perfect of witchy season if you want action-packed romantasy.

Post on IG 13 of sep with A Kiss of Flame!

What a rollercoaster! I had all the feels, but thankfully got a HEA. Parts of book were slow compared to the others in this series. However, those parts did contribute to fully closing out this trilogy without unanswered questions.

Thank you Second Sky for providing me an ARC and to Jessica for writing one of my favorite trilogies.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jessica Thorne, and the publisher for allowing me access to the e-Arc.

4.25 stars

This was such a great and fun trilogy. The way that it ended was wrapped up beautifully. I was a little nervous that there wasn’t going to be any happy endings but there was. I know that I will be thinking about these characters for a while. There is something about Wren that is so special. She is a strong FMC but also a girl struggling to find her place in the world. She is constantly divided by her divine path and her personal one. I enjoyed this series more than I thought I would. If you are interested in this trilogy then I would highly recommend you give it a chance.

Thank you Second Sky Books and NetGalley for the gifted review copy!

A Crown of Darkness by Jessica Thorne is the sequel to A Kiss of Flame and final installment of The Lost Queen series.

The third book was whole rollercoaster of emotions for me. Some things confused me int rh beginning before I realised one of the majors plots twist. The first few chapters are confusing but then you get into the action and reality of the situation before everything sets up.

There's a lot of plot twists and revelations, all throughout the book. Every page has essential movement and information to contribute to the plot. There is pain, heartbreak and betrayal and a lot into the insight of the hedge witches. There are new tales and ballads by the scholars that are as captivating as the main sorry.

I enjoyed the new side to Roland and Elodie. They deserve the world. There was a lot of improvement on Finnian and Wren's romance and story.

It was a thrilling and heart-breaking conclusion to the story, there's a lot of hope for spin-offs. Overall, a very emotional read for me. I enjoyed the last book in the series every much and it was be close to me.

Wonderful conclusion for the series!