The Crown of Gilded Bones by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Five Word Summary

Epic, gripping, scintillating, illuminating, calamitous.

For

  • Fantasy lovers
  • Lovers of sexy fantasy

Blurb

Bow Before Your Queen Or Bleed Before Her…

She’s been the victim and the survivor…

Poppy never dreamed she would find the love she’s found with Prince Casteel. She wants to revel in her happiness but first they must free his brother and find hers. It’s a dangerous mission and one with far-reaching consequences neither dreamed of. Because Poppy is the Chosen, the Blessed. The true ruler of Atlantia. She carries the blood of the King of Gods within her. By right the crown and the kingdom are hers.

The enemy and the warrior…

Poppy has only ever wanted to control her own life, not the lives of others, but now she must choose to either forsake her birthright or seize the gilded crown and become the Queen of Flesh and Fire. But as the kingdoms’ dark sins and blood-drenched secrets finally unravel, a long-forgotten power rises to pose a genuine threat. And they will stop at nothing to ensure that the crown never sits upon Poppy’s head.

A lover and heartmate…

But the greatest threat to them and to Atlantia is what awaits in the far west, where the Queen of Blood and Ash has her own plans, ones she has waited hundreds of years to carry out. Poppy and Casteel must consider the impossible—travel to the Lands of the Gods and wake the King himself. And as shocking secrets and the harshest betrayals come to light, and enemies emerge to threaten everything Poppy and Casteel have fought for, they will discover just how far they are willing to go for their people—and each other.

And now she will become Queen…

My Thoughts

I was super keen to get into this book after the cliffhanger at the end of the second book (see reviews for Book 1 and 2) and when the book arrived with other book mail goodies; it took great strength of will to not dump my current read and leap in immediately.

Book 3 didn’t disappoint. The story moved along brilliantly, and we see Poppy shake off the last of her Maiden persona as she accepts her destiny. She gets into some horrific binds, and the reader is taken on the journey with rage filled heart-in-mouth tension.

The pacing is similar to the first two books, but we are given a lot of information that’s been withheld to date. New questions and mysteries are also raised to keep interest piqued.

Poppy and Casteel’s relationship solidifies and there is no on-again/off-again trope, with is refreshing. The sexy times are still hot and plentiful, even when they occasionally feel contrived.

The ending is a ‘fuck, yeah’ moment and I loved the gritty resolve shown by Poppy. I assume Book 4 will bring us to a conclusion, and I look forward to seeing how it will all end for Poppy and Casteel.

Cover

The cover is another stunner, blending beautifully with the previous books and looks perfect sitting on my bookshelf.

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