I love alternate historical stories and was eager to dive into a period I know little about— twelfth century Europe and the chafing between England and France and, in more ways then one, the tension between Richard the Lionheart and Philip Augustus.

Natasha Siegel tells a story that is both heart wrenchingly poignant and achingly romantic. I adore how she wrote the story as both a war between countries and a war between selves. Both men struggle with the balance between monarchy and personal romance, each of them working through the murky path of loyalty to one’s kingdom and love for the other. I love how it wasn’t a simple black and white, and the shades of grey made their relationship strikingly realistic.

Solomon’s Crown will appeal to readers who enjoy political intrigue mixed in with their romance, as it has both in equal measures. Both Richard and Philip are fleshed out, dynamic characters with clear motivations and wants. As much as I enjoyed forming my own picture of them in each of their POVs, I loved seeing how they viewed each other. Where Philip often saw himself as conniving, tied to his throne in a way that made him weak, Richard saw someone loyal and meticulously exacting— qualities he quickly grew to love in the other man. The same went for Philip’s view of Richard. Though he came across brash and quick to pick a fight, Philip admired his candour and guileless nature. Their stories reminded me just how much I love dual POVs!

This is a story that will appeal to readers who enjoy a bit of alt-history, a truly exorbitant amount of pining, and plenty of political intrigue. If you liked A Taste of Gold & Iron, The Scottish Boy or the Captive Prince trilogy, this will certainly by up your alley. A stunning debut that lingered with me long after I finished. I can’t wait to read whatever Siegel writes next!

At the beginning of the book the author makes sure readers understand the story is historically inaccurate but is merely her re-imagining of history. I was immediately caught up in her re-imagined world. The characters, both primary and secondary were believable and well-drawn. The pacing was perfect. There was enough interest and intrigue to keep me reading. Now I am curious to read the real history of Richard the Lionhearted and King Philip of France to see if I can also see how this reimagined relationship might have been plausible Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The publisher of this book is marketing it as romance, but it's definitely more historical fiction. Set in 12th century France and surrounding kingdoms, real-life medieval kings Philip of France and Richard the Lionheart meet as young men and fall in love. It's not a spoiler to say that they get an HFN, not an HEA, given that well-known historical events pull them apart.

As a romance, I found Philip and Richard to both be very reserved. Even though they narrate the book in alternating first-person chapters, they're both so restrained in their love affair that it was hard to feel what they were supposedly feeling.

But as historical fiction, it was very interesting reading. I learned a lot about medieval geopolitics and the shifting borders of France and England. The author included a note that she has taken liberties with some events, so it's obviously not meant to be read as nonfiction, but it still makes for interesting reading. The romance between the two kings may be true to history, although scholars have debated for centuries about it.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

If you're looking for a quick read that's also a historical romance, look no further! I personally found myself wanting a little more depth from the narrative, and more time spent building the romance, but I have really specific expectations when it comes to enemies-to-lovers. This book really didn't hit that spot for me, as they never really felt like enemies, but it ended up being a sweet alternative history where the queer couple gets a happy ending, which I enjoyed. The book also doesn't get bogged down with too much detail as can sometimes happen with historicals--it was a surprisingly quick read!

Solomon's Crown by Natasha Siegel is a great historical fiction that creates an alternative history of sorts to give the reader a unique and entertaining journey.

This was definitely a unique spin and trip into an alternative universe and history involving Europe within the 1100s. This a story of love, loss, loyalty, country, passion, regrets, allegiance, and ultimate choices between person and country. The historical context surrounding the what if relationships that develop, specifically between King Phillip of France and Richard, Duke of Aquitaine (to be Lionheart), was real, raw, emotional, and couldn’t have been written more poetically.

I was held captive from beginning to end and really loved the beautiful alternative narrative that the author imagined and presented to us within this book. No matter what one’s baseline knowledge is of the 12th century history of England and France, aka a little or a lot, one can easily find interest, passion, and heart within this story.

Highly recommend.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Ballantine/Dell/Random House Publishing for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 3/14/23.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

AAAAAH!!! I got approved for this last night and stayed up until 5:00 am reading it to completion. I'm a queer history buff, and I've always been enamored with the lives and relationship of Philip II and Richard, so obviously when I heard about this book I was absolutely dying to get my hands of it. This book was my Super Bowl. It was my most anticipated read of 2023, and DAMN did it deliver. I squeed, I cried, I fell asleep thinking about this book. Seriously, so amazing.

Solomon's Crown is a lyrical, romantic book with insanely beautiful prose and a plot that was not at all what I expected, in the best way. No spoilers, though! You'll have to read and see what I mean for yourself :). It follows Richard the Lionheart and Philip II from their teenage years and into adulthood, and all the historical fallout that came with it. I was really pleased with Seigel's liberal use of alt-history--I enjoy authors who are willing to bend the timeline a bit in exchange for writing the exact story they are longing to tell, and Solomon's Crown felt very much like that.

When reading, sometimes I can feel that a book is the book of the author's heart, if that makes sense, and Solomon's Crown really felt like that. '

Anyways. If you like lyrical books, queer fiction, and history--this is the book for you.

I went into this story expecting a tragedy that would leave me sobbing by the time it finished. Well, I can say I sobbed but it was with joy from just how beautifully told this story - a love between two rival Kings - was. There were moments when I laughed, moments when I smiled, and moments where I couldn't help but tear up as I read. Is it historically accurate? No, and I don't care. This is a story full of yearning and uncertainty and two men who must battle between their love for each other and their destinies to be enemies.

God, I cannot wait for this to release so I can put it on my shelf. I cannot wait to see what Natasha Siegel writes next considering just how much I adored this debut.

I truly adored this book. The love story between the two characters of Richard and Philip was both beautifully written and left me aching for more. Honestly, I did not want it to end. I wanted to see Richard and Philip continue to grow together, to see what the future might have for both of them, but truth be told it ended perfectly. I cannot wait to see what the author writes next.