I think the story overall is pretty okay. It reminds me a lot of Hunger Games in space, but I really liked The Hunger Games so it was still enjoyable. I appreciated as a teen read that it was PG that makes it easier to put on the shelves of our library. However, there were times that the story seemed a little rushed, especially a race throughout the 1,001 planets in the empire. Also, I would have liked more background intrigue to cause drama that could be parallel with the race going on. So while it left me wanting more, that is not a totally bad thing, I would definitely recommend this to my students and I think there will be several that would really like it.

I really enjoyed this book. I like the adventurous spirit and atmosphere. It took me while, but I also really liked all the characters. I found it to be well-written and quickly paced. My only gripe is with all the language - I don’t generally mind language but I felt it was overdone & didn’t have a real purpose. Regardless, I’ll be picking up the next one ASAP to see how it ends.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

I loved this book so much. Hard conversations about colonialism while still in a very fun book. Characters you want to root for, very funny.

Crownchasers by Rebecca Coffindaffer is the first book in a new young adult science fiction fantasy series by the same name, Crownchasers, and is meant to be a duology. Of course as with most fantasy series this first book in the beginning of the story and it will continue into the next so it’s best to read the entire series from beginning to end and not as a standalone.

Crownchasers introduces readers to Alyssa Farshot who wants nothing to do with ruling the galaxy, she leaves that to her uncle who has been emperor for decades now after Alyssa’s mother helped bring peace. Despite the family legacy Alyssa only wants to be free, out exploring the galaxy and not trapped inside the family palace.

However, when Alyssa gets the news that her uncle is dying and he hasn’t named her as his successor but instead called for a crownchase to decide the next ruler she can’t help but wonder. Alyssa is expected to still represent her family in the crownchase along with those from other prominent families. Alyssa knows her uncle would want her to compete and she is favored to win but she never expects the race will turn deadly.

Crownchasers is a perfect example of why even though I feel I can sometimes be overly picky with the young adult fantasy genre I still continue to read them. This book was a lot of fun and moved at an excellent pace that kept my interest throughout reading even if it was a bit lengthy overall. While it did remind me a tad of other past fantasies I’d read it definitely had it’s own unique story that kept me compelled while reading and always had my interest. This is definitely a series that I would like to finish and will be on the lookout for book two.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Sadly i thought this book was quite forgettable. While the plot was interesting, the main cast of characters were subpar.

Once you start Crownchasers you can’t stop. I loved the high stakes and the scavenger hunt plot. But what stood out the most was our incredible protagonist. I loved her voice throughout the book. Can’t wait for the next.

Sassy upbeat space opera adventure. This is great read if you enjoyed The Hunger Games and/or Aurora Rising...which I did!

5 stars - Outstanding! Excellent! Perfect! Stellar!
As things stand today, this will be my favorite book of 2020. This is EXACTLY the sort of story I enjoy. If I could give more than five stars, I would. And if I hadn't had other things I needed to read, I probably would have started this over immediately after finishing it.

This stars a strong female lead who is (literally) charting her own course, walking away from her expected path. Alyssa is irreverent and impulsive, and I loved her.

The science fiction story with the race to the finish plot felt familiar, although I couldn't place exactly what this reminds me of. This isn't a kill-the-competition sort of race. And Alyssa is more about putting the right person in charge rather than winning at all costs. For her, doing the right thing (by her own moral code) is primary. There are some fantastic ensemble moments that I loved, too.

The ending was stunning. I finished this at 2am and was at a loss because there was no one to share the awesomeness with. (Except myself. I immediately ordered a print copy of the book.) I need book 2 in my hands right this very minute. Highly recommend!! (Language, LGBTQ+, space violence - blasters, space battles, etc.)

Crownchasers is an exciting start to an action-packed sci-fi duology featuring a high stakes race across 1,001 planets. Fans of Three Dark Crowns, The Crown’s Game, and Aurora Rising will be thrilled with this new series. The story follows Alyssa who just wants to avoid the legacy of her royal family until her dying uncle announces a crownchase. A crownchase is a deadly race across the galaxy to find the hidden royal seal and become the next ruler. The story is filled with incredible characters, strong world-building, and a nice bit of romance. The race is full of adventure and brings us to fascinating planets with all types of life-forms. Be prepared for that ending. You’ll be dying to get your hands on the sequel. Highly recommended to readers who enjoy adventurous science fiction. Be sure to check out Crownchasers today!

This was brilliant and everything I ever wanted. It has it all: sass and banter, a clever plot with clues and codes to crack, reluctant royals, soft bois, unapologetically queer, excellent fun + really meaningful plot and story lines?! It said "let's not put a bandaid on colonialism" and just WENT for it with some hard conversations and I love it. And just the pure softness of Alyssa and Hell Monkey? My heart, forever owned.

So what's a Crownchase? Alyssa's uncles rule the galaxy, but as the emperor dies, he doesn't name Alyssa heir (she hates hates the idea of being empress) and instead declares a crownchase. A clue has been hidden and the children of all the top prime families will go search for it. The clues are super clever and there are mysteries to solve, tons of planets to visit, and of course subterfuge amongst the contestants. What I loved is they all grew up together and were friends and now they're COMPETING. Such excellence.

The characters are the standout for me! Alyssa has the best quips and shoots finger guns when she's nervous, and she's just grimy and real and down to earth. She's SOFT for Hell Monkey but pretends she's not. And Hell Monkey is your local fave himbo, whom we adore, and he is both badass and will also laugh his head off at Alyssa faceplanting in the dirt. It was just refreshing to have a duo who didn't take themselves too seriously?! Who had FUN. But they also have tragic backstory and angst and yearning.

I actually cram read this and I don't regret it because being immersed was amazing. I did get confused a bit with the clues, but I am also very tired and have on functioning braincell. I will def be rereading before book two. OOOF THAT ENDING.

This is a sassy, scifi disaster adventure, with high stakes and characters who’ll steal your heart. I’m obsessed.

Crownchasers is SUCH A GREAT BOOK. It's about a race to win the empire’s crown but our MC, Captain Alyssa Farshot, does NOT want to win it. And yet we do plunge into a fast-paced competition across the galaxy in search of clues with our trusty engineer Hell Monkey (I know, he’s awesome). The characters are fantastic, the casual queer rep amazing, and the political themes that are not so different from our own just made this book even better. The epic humor and snakiness was also a big plus.

Think The Hunger Games meets space but no one is allowed to kill (yet things do get out of control really fast).

Highly recommend this book!!!

Thanks to @mtmctours, the publisher & Netgalley for the eARC.

A fun and gripping YA sci-fi novel with heart-pounding action and compelling characters, Crownchasers follows Alyssa Farshot as she competes in a dangerous game for the throne. There are so many levels to this story. At a basic level, it’s a space race for the throne. However, the story is also about what it takes to be a good leader. It examines values and morals, what people are willing to do or sacrifice for those they love, the lengths people go to for power, as well as the power of friendship, grief, love, and loss. And at the heart of it all is Alyssa.

Alyssa is an exceptional protagonist. Finding herself as she grudgingly participates in the competition, Alyssa is smart, astute, vulgar, and fierce. I love her sass and independent spirit. As the only relative of the reigning emperor, Alyssa knows she must eventually face the responsibilities of her station. However, she has wanderlust and longs to travel the universe. The Crownchase is Alyssa’s chance for adventure before she fulfills her familial expectations.

Alyssa is also really funny, though she often uses sarcasm to avoid her feelings, especially when dealing with her love life. Her witty banter with friends and foes lightened some tense situations and exacerbated others. Alyssa is a good person who can be selfish and selfless at the same time, but, above all, she is loyal and true. People tend to gravitate toward her because of her empathetic, interested, and adventurous personality.

The other characters in the story are equally interesting and well-developed, and, as the characters explore the universe, there is also an exploration of their relationships. I found this aspect of the story really interesting since the relationships are complex and universal. There’s a young woman taking steps toward independence, there is a blossoming relationship with the pair afraid to reveal their deep feelings, there are trustworthy and untrustworthy friendships, and there are frenemies whose intentions are unclear. All of the relationships are intricately woven, fascinating, and universal.

An epic sci-fi odyssey that’s a cross between The Amazing Race, Aurora Rising, and The Hunger Games, Crownchasers gripped me from beginning to end. I loved the immersive story, the sci-fi setting, the intense competition, the dynamic characters, and the poignant messages. Plus, there’s the romance and that ending!! Amazing!!

Thanks so much to Netgalley and Harper Teen for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Oh, this was so damn good! I was first interested in this book because of that synopsis, but then I also found out that the main character is pansexual and other minor characters are LGBTQ+!

This was action-packed and fast-paced all throughout and I loved that. (All the action actually reminded me a bit of Guardians of the Galaxy!) Apart from this, the story also didn't shy away from deep and significant themes such as loss and grief, power imbalance, political intrigue, and more. Most importantly, I did not expect there would be yearning in this book and that I would be rooting for the romance part! And of course, that ending wrecked me! (Pretty sure I'm still internally screaming because of it.) Overall, I loved Crownchasers. It's action-packed, heart-stopping, and absolutely engrossing. I cannot wait for the sequel!

Anyone looking for some sci-fi goodness + queer characters in SFF + exciting political intrigue, this is it!

What a fun, upbeat space opera that despite it’s light tone managed to make me cry.

Content warnings include: character death, grief, characters get drunk, oppression, corruption; mentions of sex off-page.

Crownchasers is one of what I feel is many SciFi books with a charming-rascal-who-wants-to-avoid-responsibility-at-all-costs-but-has-a-heart-of-gold protagonist, and it took the best parts of this trope and executed it in the best possible way.

Not only does Crownchasers score with the pansexual chaotic good protagonist, it also packs an emotional punch and was so easy to read pages flew by almost without me noticing.

It has short chapters, and switches POVs between protagonist Alyssa’s present and flashbacks, and one antagonist, interspersed with the headlines of galactic news media related to the titular Crownchase.

The setup of the book was well chosen. There isn’t too much worldbuilding, and it’s all pretty straightforward, but it all works together well without being confusing. There are a lot of hints to things going on in the background that will probably come to light and be more relevant in the sequel. It kept the book rounded and feeling alive despite the ostensibly simple structure of the plot.

The Crownchase, meaning the heirs of the prime families following clues to a hidden sigil with the first one finding it being crowned the Empire’s new ruler, sounded a bit ludicrous to me at first, but it makes sense within the confines of the story.

The book wasn’t particularly deep, and the concepts weren’t exactly new, but it still felt fresh and exciting and was fun to read. It surprised me with the emotional engagement I couldn’t help but feel, moving me to tears more than once.

One detail I particularly loved was the role of media in the Crownchase, and that the prime family heirs all knew each other because they frequently played together as kids, and that they truly were allowed to be kids and have their own lives and pretty normal childhoods despite their high status.

I liked the cast and its casual diversity, but as often is the case for me, I wanted to know more of the side characters.
There was also a subtle romantic subplot, and I liked the dynamic between protagonist and love interest, especially considering the stereotypes of heteronormative media.

Overall a super fun and easy read that plays with common tropes and makes them feel fresh and exciting.

5/5 stars!!!
Crownchasers is an absolute blast from start to finish. I literally could not put it down. Loved the characters (well, maybe not Edgar), loved the flashbacks, and loved the action of the chase. I can't wait to read the next book!