I absolutely loved the Crown of Shards series, so I was very excited to dive into this new series set in that world! Overall I enjoyed it but it felt the plot was a little uneven. Gemma was an adorable child and reads as an adorable teenager now. However her character is supposed to be 29! Her emotions and reactions to certain situations are not what I'd expect from an adult woman. I'm curious to see how the author grows her character. Although she seems very emotionally immature, Gemma also has complex issues from the tragedy she experienced in the first series and I'm looking forward to seeing that explored. Great world-building and it was fun seeing little cameos of characters from the first series.

4 Hearts
SJ, Romance Junkies

Jennifer Estep returns to her Crown of Shards world with a new trilogy. It's not necessary to read the Crown of Shards trilogy to understand CAPTURE THE CROWN, though it does help for a better understanding of some of the characters. Still, this was a fun, adventurous tale about a princess who is much more than she seems, and the book is hard to put down once you start reading.

Princess Gemma Ripley of Andvari has worked hard to be seen as no more than a pampered princess interested in shopping, gossip, and frivolity. But she's actually a mind magier and spy. She's spent years gathering information to help her kingdom, trying to make up for a perceived failure in her youth.

Gemma is working undercover, trying to determine who's been stealing tearstone from the Andvari mines. In the process, she runs into Prince Leonidas Morricone of Morta--the man who, as a boy, turned her over to his evil family. The Andvari and Morta kingdoms have been enemies for some time. But Gemma and Leo have a connection, even if he doesn't realize who she really is. In the course of Gemma's investigation, she becomes injured. To save her, Leo takes her back to the kingdom of Morta, and there the trouble really begins.

The world-building is wonderful, full of gargoyles, strixes (think griffon-like beasts), and magic. Court politics play a large part, and Gemma does her best to navigate the danger while also trying to find out—along with Leo—what Prince Milo (Leo's treacherous brother) wants with all the tearstone he's been stealing.

Unfortunately, Gemma doesn't seem to be very good at spying. She makes odd decisions and is pretty headstrong. Were the character in her late teens, this would be fitting. But it's said she's in her late twenties, which really didn't seem consistent with her behavior. Honestly, this is the only part of the story that didn't quite jibe.

The romantic tension between Leo and Gemma really works though, as Gemma is conflicted about what Leo once did to her and how he acts now. Leo seems to be helping her. He's handsome and strong, and she's definitely attracted. Yet they're enemies...

For a fast-paced fantasy romance with appealing characters and a well-thought out plot, pick up a copy of CAPTURE THE CROWN.

It is simply not fair that I have to wait until 2022 for the next book in this series.

Jennifer Estep just keeps getting better. The first foray into Crown of Shards universe was...alright. Evie and Lucas are fun, you believe wholeheartedly in them and their trials and triumphs, but something was missing. What? I'm not sure. But whatever it was is PRESENT and unleashed in full-force with Capture the Crown. The expansion of the world is on point, the growth of returning characters is logical yet still enjoyably surprising, the pacing is tighter than a Bellonan corset and the relationship between our two leads is ~chef's kiss~.

From the moment Gemma Ripley waltzed onto the page with her faithful companion Grimley in Protect the Prince, I wanted more; and the decision to age her up for this new series works perfectly with the tone set by Crown of Shards. Like her Aunt Evie, she is strong-willed, fiercely loyal and clever, but otherwise she stands on her own as a fully-fleshed out heroine. Defining acts of her childhood serve as a background to the tapestry of Gemma, and while the reader is privileged with some of the knowledge as to who she is, there were still many fun surprises to be had.

And then Leonidas. Sweet, cinnamon roll Leonidas. There is nothing I did not love about this character and the man he's grown into. While Estep uses the events of the Regalia in Crush the King as the jumping off point for the reader's familiarity with our Leo, he quickly moves beyond the terrors of those days and (while I think he'd refuse to admit it) there's a sunny-eyed optimist lurking beneath the many necessary walls he's erected in order to survive in the Mortan court.

Cannot wait to see these two continue their dance in the next book. I need for Gargoyle vs Strix sass fights; and, again, it is not FAIR that I have to wait until 2022.

I loved the suspense of the plot and I felt like the author did an amazing job capturing the MC's emotions and inner conflict. The fact that the book included gargoyles was another satisfying point.

I felt the world building was a bit flat and the romance wasn't believable or genuine at first but it quickly grew on me and I felt it was sweet. I didn't realize this was the beginning of a spin off series and I think if I'd read the previous series, I would've connected to the story more.

Overall This was still a satisfying and interesting read and I'm very interested to see where the author takes it in the next book.

Espionage, suspense, personal growth are woven throughout the plot.

Characters are thought provoking - strong protagonists who are not purely good or evil. Shades of gray are explored - what will you do to solve a puzzle, avenge a wrong doing? Does the end justify the means?

World building is believable, a combination of old world monarchy, current culture. You can see your surroundings with very little effort.