First of all thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for letting me read Tear Down the Throne. I read Capture the Crown late last year so I was SUPER excited to get to read Tear Down the Throne!

Gemma is more than happy to let everyone think she’s a typical spoiled princess. But it’s all a cover. Really she is a spy and can take care of herself. Her complicated relationship with Leonidas continues to conflict her and of course Queen Maeven and Milo are up to their tricks to further complicate things. Just like in Capture the Crown the reader is constantly guessing what all the Morricones are up to with gladiator type fights (which is a big part of why we’re here).

One of my favorite things about this series is that Gemma is able to fight and take care of herself while she is still written in a famine way. She isn’t perfect but is willing to admit her mistakes and learn from them. I really enjoyed reading Tear Down the Throne and can’t wait for Conquer the Kingdom!

Tear Down the Throne is such a great continuation to the Gargoyle Queen series! The story is set primarily at an annual summit where representatives of each ruling kingdom meet. As the leaders meet, old allies and enemies are put to the test, and Gemma must face her feelings for her sworn enemy. Can Gemma forgive Leonidas’s lies and betrayal? And how can she ever trust her enemy when his mother still intends to do harm?

I love Gemma’s journey as she battles her duty and her heart. Life becomes very complicated for her as she tries to figure out who she can trust, who is manipulating her, and who has true intentions, and when the villainous Queen Maeven calls for an old and deadly competition, Gemma realizes that her kingdom and her heart are at risk.

There are so many relationships explored in this book. Friendships and families are challenged and strengthened, and allies are put to the test. I love that the story explores so many different relationships and shows how complicated and difficult some can often be as well as how rewarding others are. There are also some adorable moments with new and old animals that I loved. These sweet and silly moments added a bit of fun and levity to a suspenseful and intense fantasy.  

Of course, my favorite relationship in the book is the romance. It is absolutely swoon-tactic! These enemies have a forbidden romance, and they face so many obstacles. Though Gemma fights her long-time feelings for Leonidas, he is pretty open in his determination to win her over. Both characters reflect on and talk about their past and the events that happened when they were kids and how they affected and changed them, which is really interesting. Even though they are enemies, they have such a connected past, and I liked learning more about it. And their chemistry in the present is amazing! They make enemies-to-lovers look good!

The supernatural elements and world-building are also fantastic, and the story is super immersive. The powers and abilities many of the characters have are fascinating and prove invaluable as they battle new and old enemies and obstacles. I also really like that the story delved deeper into Leonidas’s mother’s story. Maeven is a villainous antagonist, but in this book, her character is much more developed, and you begin to see her as more than just a villain. She is flawed and manipulative and downright evil at times, but there are other times and circumstances where she shows compassion, regret, and other positive attributes. It takes a gifted storyteller to get the reader to feel sympathy for the villain, and Estes does just that.

The story has a ton of action and suspense and so much political intrigue. Since all of the leaders of the kingdom are together, there are a lot of political dealings going on, and Leonidas’s mother adds to the already tense gathering by instigating a challenge that would unite Leonidas and Gemma. Plus, it seems there is an assassin in their midst, and danger lurks around every corner. It’s intense and intriguing and has several surprise twists.

I loved this book. It was well-paced, action-packed, and filled with intrigue, suspense, drama, a deadly competition, a little bit of humor, and an epic romance! Since this is the second book in the series and is not a standalone, I would recommend reading the first book before diving into this one. That being said, if you like romantic fantasy, you will definitely enjoy this!

Jennifer Estep weaves together adventure, romance, court politics, and lore with obvious skill in Tear Down the Throne. Gemma is back and intent on tugging the remining threads from Capture the Crown. She will not be satisfied until she fully unravels mysteries surrounding the Morricone’s. With the Summit fast approaching, Gemma is struggling to balance her feelings for Leonidas and the inevitable collision of her princess and spy identities. The tension is immense and utterly satisfying! But, for all my love of tension, romantic and otherwise, Estep’s writing shines in her action scenes. Holy Cow! It isn’t often that I find myself completely immersed and feeling each emotional beat of an epic battle. While part one was noticeably expositional and bit slow, the high stakes and frantic intensity of the rest of this book more than made up for it. I hate to wait a whole year for book 3, but I know that it will be worth it!

I loved this book! This is a great series and a great spinoff to the previous series. The characters are well developed an interesting and I love reading about what will happen next. I cannot wait for the next book next year.

Jennifer Estep's Tear Down the throne continued the fantastically well rounded world building she'd created. I loved this story and where it's leading. 5 Stars!

I enjoyed this book. It’s a stand alone book you don’t need to read the previous books to follow it. The characters are great and the story is interesting. #TearDownTheThrone #NetGalley

Estep’s writing is once again top notch. Not only is the world building and magic system incredible, but the characters are always first rate. Gemma and Leo are just *chef’s kiss* perfect and the villains are so dang villainous it’s criminal. Plus there are magical animals that often steal the scene (I’m looking at you Grimley!) And boy, oh boy can she tell a compelling and believable slow burn enemies-to-loves romance that very much delivers the heat (read very hot on page sex). This is book 2 in the Gargoyle Queen series and should be read in order. (For even more background on the world and the characters check out the Crown of Shards Trilogy)

This series is so good. Enemies to lovers, political machinations, lots of mystery and excellent H/h. From childhood on, they are drawn together like Romeo and Juliet. The magic is epic, and you never know what's going on. I cannot wait for the next book. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book for Netgalley.

A very fun follow up to Capture the Crown, without any of the pacing or filler issues you sometimes see in the middle book of a trilogy. The romance heats up, there are even more adorable creatures, and I’m super intrigued by the shading of Maeven as more of an anti-hero than a villain (though the problem of having the complexity of Maeven is that the actual villains end up seeming fairly one dimensional). It has a satisfying end while still leaving you looking forward to the next book (perfect middle book ending in my opinion)

I love this series. It's a feel good read encompassing action and magic, with a touch of Romeo and Juliet.

I'm delighted to know there is another book coming. Can't wait to see what Princess Gemma and company get up to next.

I was given a free ARC. Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher. This is my honest review.

I would definitely recommend this book, especially for fans of strong female leads. There is suspense, mystery and good dose of romance throughout this book that made me speed through the pages. I read the Mythos Academy series, and while it was definitely enjoyable, it wasn’t one of my all-time favorite series. I was curious though when I saw this new series. So glad I picked this one up! In a fantasy series featuring quarreling ruling families, this story could have easily turned repetitive and cheesy. This story is fresh and new while the characters are flawed, yet relatable.

In this book, Gemma’s adventures continue during the annual Summit. All ruling families will be in attendance, including Leonidas and the rest of the manipulative Morricone clan. Gemma must outsmart enemies on multiple fronts in order to survive through the Summit while also protecting her kingdom and her heart.

Overall, this is a great read. The only downside of receiving an ARC of this book is that I am counting down the days until book 3 comes out! Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing me the opportunity to read this book, it has been a pleasure to write a review.