It's a must read for those who love fanatsy with fantastic world building, politics and a swoonworthy romance!
I enjoyed elana's character very much....and it was a great character growth to read.
The plot, build up and the exciting cliffhanger made a standard set for every book 2 in a fantasty series!
Super excited for the third book!
Thank you Netgalley for this book!

I honestly didn’t have chance to read the first book so I believe my review would be slightly off as I don’t have all the information from the first book. I did enjoy it though so hopefully I’ll go back and read the first book and then this one again for a better view of the storyline and plot

This is Book 2 of The Twisted Crown Trilogy and picks up pretty much after Book 1.

Elara is now, but the kingdom is pretty chaotic, and of course, King Cai is hanging around offering his help... for a price.

One of the tropes that has been identified for this book is 'we support women's rights and women's wrongs', which is actually a pretty powerful statement.

Here we see a young, new queen taking up what is rightfully hers, but we witness the mishaps she also makes.

I love Elara as she takes to her new role with determination and is a great role model!

As always Leané's writing is beautifully written and enthralling; however, I would agree that this is slightly more political, which only adds to the intrigue.

I honestly can't wait to see how this trilogy ends, but at the same time, I'd be sad for it to be finished.

A great book, all fantasy lovers!

Leané Giliomee, you master of emotional torment, have spun another tale that grips the soul — and this time, you’ve left us clinging to the edge of a literary abyss with nothing but shattered hearts and an insatiable hunger for the trilogy’s conclusion.

“Crown of Hearts” is a slow burn, emphasis on the slow. If you came here expecting breakneck action from page one, you might find yourself tapping your fingers, but stick with it — the emotional turbulence more than makes up for the leisurely pace. The plot meanders, yes, but it’s like a scenic route through heartbreak and longing, with the final cliffhanger hitting like a thunderclap.

Our beloved Cai and Elara? A tragic mess. Separated, guarded, and wading through their respective swamps of misery, they’re the heart of this installment. Elara, haunted by her past and thrust into a world she despises, wrestles with impostor syndrome while dodging danger at every turn. Meanwhile, Cai discovers that responsibility is a beast with far more heads than he was prepared to tame. Watching them fight their battles while yearning for each other is both deliciously painful and maddening — in the best way possible.

And let’s talk about the side characters. Anesta, Jack, and Rhen don’t just steal scenes; they waltz in, grab your heart, and smash it to pieces before you can even protest. Their arcs are rich and vibrant, adding layers of depth and unpredictability to the narrative.

By the time the book wraps up, countless threads are left fluttering in the wind, unresolved and teasing. It’s the kind of ending that makes you glare at the last page like it personally insulted you. But one thing is clear: Ms. Giliomee knows exactly what she’s doing, and we’ll be first in line when the final book arrives to wreck us all over again.

So yes, “Crown of Hearts” might test your patience, but it rewards your perseverance with a banquet of feels. And honestly? I’m already hungry for more.

“Crown of Hearts,” by Leané Giliomee

I loved book 1 of the Twisted Crown Trilogy so I decided to read this one. I definitely liked book 1 better because this book has so much courting and was more focused on building that romantic plot than the first one was. The ending section of the book had more action and peril, but I wished more of the book was like that. I am excited to read book 3 because hopefully a lot of the romance would have been built so that there would more plot. 3 out of 5 stars.

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

Another great addition to this trilogy and one that kept me reading and now I am hanging out to see what happens in the next book.

The magic from the last book has continued on and I delved into this mystical world with anticipation. I wasn't disappointed and I read and read until I finished (didn't take me long!). Elara continues and remains a strong character and I love the depth the author has given this character. I enjoyed every moment of it and will wait patiently (or not) for the next book to land in my lap.

Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

In Book 2 of the Twisted Crown Trilogy, Elara must navigate a court filled with deceit, assassination attempts and dangerous alliances. She knows in order to survive, she must make a bargain to marry King Cai of Norrandale. With enemies closing in on every side and the threat of war looming on the horizon, Elara has to figure out how much she is willing to risk to ensure the fate of her kingdom, without her heart getting destroyed in the process.

You definitely need to have read the first book in the series, before you read this one. I admit I had forgotten a lot of the first book, and had to do a refresher course before I could really get into this one. Once I did, I really started to enjoy this one. This is not just your run-of-the-mill fairytale. Not only is there the potential love match, but there is also a lot of intrigue, court politics, fighting & drama. If you love fantasy fiction, then you should definitely check this series out.

Crown of Hearts by Leane Giliomee is book two in the Twisted Crown trilogy and If you haven't read the first book of this series, you'll want to stop reading here because I can't promise not to give anything away for that one.

This book picks up shortly after book one left off. Elara is now Queen but she is still surrounded by danger and deceit. She quickly realizes that the only way she will be able to keep her throne and kingdom safe is to marry and while things didn't necessarily end well with Cai when he went back to Norrandale, he's really the only one she wants to consider so after another failed assassination, she makes the journey to him to try to convince him to marry her.

Cai is now King and he's still trying to find his way. When Elara shows up asking him to marry her, he knows there is more at stake than just their feelings. He has to take into account their kingdoms and the threats that surround them both and when he and Elara find out that her missing sister happens to be in the kingdom of their biggest threat, they decide to chance it and go get her.

A lot happens in this installment but I don't want to give anything away. There is quite a bit of character growth though for both Cai and Elara because they can't just think about what they want anymore and I think Elara struggles with that more than Cai just because of how she grew up. There were some great secondary characters that helped to move the story along as well - Rhen, Jack, Ray, Anesta...they all had a roll to play.

If you're looking for a book with some action, romance, and royal politics you might enjoy this one. I will say with the ending, Giliomee has me wondering what is going to happen next (no I'm not telling you what happened) so I'm definitely going to be picking up the next book when I can.

The second book in the Twisted Crown Trilogy, Crown of Hearts further explores the relationship between Elara and Cai, now the queen and king of their respective countries which share a neighbouring border. Rebellion, betrayal and the threat of invasion colour the majority of the story along with the primary narrative of Elara's need to marry.

The writing has an enjoyably simple young adult feel and the story is fairly short for this genre, however, the first two-thirds felt a little slow. The narrative really picks up in the final third and becomes much more interesting with plenty of action, although this is often skimmed past a little too quickly and could be delved into in more detail. Unfortunately, the 'baddie' seemed incredibly obvious to me, which was disappointing. I was hoping for a twist, and to be taken by surprise.

I am still looking forward to the final book in the trilogy, and discovering the conclusion of the story.

Thanks to NetGalley, Joffe and Leané Giliomee for the ARC, this is my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This is the second book in the Twisted Crowns trilogy, and it was such a quick, easy, and engaging read. Following Elara—who went from commoner to Queen of Evenness—it’s safe to say this is a serious glow-up!

What to Expect:

👑 Political Intrigue & Strategy – Elara’s reign isn’t exactly smooth sailing, and marriage seems like her best shot at securing her throne. Enter King Cai of Norrandale—a potential ally with a shared enemy in King Aries. Their best political move? A strategic marriage.

🔥 Banter & Chemistry – Elara and Cai’s dynamic is so entertaining. Their snarky exchanges had me hooked, and their chemistry? Absolutely on fire.

⚔️ Action-Packed Plot – The pages are full of adventure, betrayals, and high-stakes decisions that kept me reading late into the night. The pacing picks up significantly in the second half, making for an explosive ending!

🏡 Found Family Vibes – Jack, Rhen, Cordelia, and Ray are back, bringing warmth and loyalty to the story. But brace yourselves—there are some heart-wrenching losses along the way.

Final Thoughts:

While I enjoyed the story, the first half felt a little slow and lacking depth, especially in character development. That being said, the plot and tension kept me hooked, and the ending delivered in a big way! If you love romantasy with political intrigue, sizzling romance, and action-packed adventure, this is worth picking up.

⭐ 3.5 stars!

#TwistedCrowns #Romantasy #PoliticalIntrigue #BookReview #FantasyReads #ARCReview

The second book picks up where we left off with Cai and Elana over seeing theirs kingdoms. They both have to work to mend their heartbreak as they rule their kingdoms. However, love comes at a cost.

This was a fast paced sequel that was easy and fun to read. I enjoyed Elara and Cais hesitant re-alliance as they fight their common enemy. I enjoyed the spicy scenes and felt that they were in good taste.

I almost wish that this book was a bit longer, so some portions of the story could be more flushed out. But that was my main gripe.

Thanks to Netgally and Leanne for the e-arc!

this was a strong sequel in the Twisted Crowns Trilogy series, it had that element that I enjoyed from the first book. The characters had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed from the first page. It was everything that I was hoping for and was glad I was able to read this. Leané Giliomee has a strong style and was glad I got to read this.

I love the Twisted Crown series . It keeps my attention and it's very well written. I love the cover as well as the plot. I definitely recommend reading Crown of Hearts by Leané Giliomee.

A Romantasy Adventure across the Kingdoms

Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in the Twisted Crowns Trilogy. A quick, easy read following Elara who is now Queen of Evenness.

Elara’s reign is fraught with difficulties from all sides and marriage looks like the only option to secure her throne. One possibility is to see if her old friend, King Cai from Norrandale, would consider marriage to align their Kingdoms. Elara embarks on a journey to explore this option and once there, discovers that they also have a mutual antagonist, King Aries from a neighbouring Kingdom.

The pages are full of action and adventure and a most enjoyable read. Liane has a way of engaging you with the characters and taking you on their journey with them. I found the characters relatable and what they lacked in depth, Liane made up with storyline. I couldn’t wait to turn the pages, reading into the night.

If you enjoy Romantasy, then give this a read. A good 3 star by the end of the book, although, as before, the first half always seems to be slightly lacking but ends up with a bang!

Go on, give it a read! Recommended and looking forward to the next one.

Just finished "Crown of Hearts" by Leané Giliomee, and let me tell you, it's a wild ride! 🚀 If you're into fierce queens, brooding kings, and courtly drama, this one's for you. 👑🔥

So, Elara's back, and she's not playing around. Raised as a commoner, now ruling a kingdom? Talk about a glow-up! 🌟 But ruling isn't all tiaras and tea parties. She's dodging assassins, navigating shady alliances, and oh, did I mention the looming war? 😬

Enter King Cai of Norrandale. Their solution? Marriage. 💍 Because nothing says "political strategy" like "Please marry me because there simply isn't anyone else." 😂 The banter between these two is top-tier. And their chemistry? FIRE 🔥🔥🔥

Cai's grandma drops some wisdom, which I'm sure will be revealed to be relevant somewhere down the line: "Pretty things can be dangerous, you know." 👵💬 And Lance? He's back, showing some redeeming qualities, hugging his sister when she most needs it: "In the end, I suppose, we were all only human." Still, he's so... Lance. 🙄

Expect betrayals, sizzling tension, and our fave found family vibes with Jack, Rhen, Cordelia, and Ray. But brace yourselves—there are also some heart-wrenching losses woven throughout this story. 💔

Already counting down to "Once Upon a Crown." June can't come fast enough! 📅 If you're into "Throne of Glass" or "The Cruel Prince," this series is a must-read. 🌟

Thank you Net Galley

This was an amazing second book in the series!

I really loved the romance in this relationship and the character development was so good!

I cant wait for the next book!

This took me a little while because it's the second book in the series. If you don't read the first you will be lost. The book is a good cliche fae story. I don't know if I would categorize it with all the big names it was listed with but overall it was decent.

I was really excited to read the second book in this series after having read and reviewed the first.

But, I feel like this was verry different to the first book. Which I do understand - this is the second book etc but I was hoping for a lot more action etc.

We follow on from the first book with Lara (Elara) now the crowned Queen of Everness, and Cai the crowned King of Norrandale. They are brought back together to try and bring peace to their kingdoms.

I feel as though the first book in this series had a lot more action and Robin Hood vibes, whereas this book was more of a slower love story.

There is minimal spice, and the storyline was very slow and I felt did jump a lot between chapters.

Although I wasn't 100% sold with this book I am still keen to read the third book in this series to see what eventuates.

This book was a nice second book to this whole series. I would definitely recommend this book to library’s or book stores towards young adults readers. I loved the twists and turns in this book, while keeping the magic of the lands and keeping the humor and charm of these stories. I also love the cover, which keeps the theme of the book. Very interesting ending, which made me want the author to quickly write a third.

Being the Masked Bandit of Evenness was hard, but being Queen of Evenness is even harder.

I loved If The Crown Fits and was so excited to have the opportunity to read Crown of Hearts.. Cai and Elara are still dealing with unrest, with the appearance of a new antagonist, King Aries from a neighbouring kingdom. If the last book had the feel of a heist, this one has a bit of a comedy of errors, with two people who are in love with each other, but can't quite get it together. I couldn't put the book down, and I kept screaming at the them to just be honest with each other! I also really enjoyed getting to see Elara's brother Lance again. Is he amoral? Yes. Incredibly entertaining? Also yes. I loved seeing these two near strangers navigate their relationships as siblings. Watching Elara learning who to trust, and that the world is perhaps less black and white than she thought, is incredibly entertaining.

The one thing I wish we had gotten to see more of is Elara's relationship with her ladies in waiting. They were prominent parts of the book, but we got to know them little beyond their relationship ambitions - I would have really enjoyed getting to know a bit more about who they were and their worldviews.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves romantasy novels with a softer bent.