DNF would consider coming back to at some point but was just not the right book at the time for me. Would still recommend to any fantasy fans to give it a try, just a miss for me.

I'm a huge fan of Legrand's Furyborn series, so I was so excited to crack into this one.

What she always does well, is world-building. This is an expansive world woven together quite intricately. What really fell short for me was the characters. I wish this book had given me more, but it just fell flat. It's super disappointing knowing what Legrand is capable of.

Overall, it was decent, but would definitely have liked to see her do more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the e-book copy!

I was not entirely familiar with this author's previous work but this story seemed like it would be good. I ultimately ended up having to DNF due to a lack of interest. I did not care for the main character and in turn, started not to care for the plot. I would be open to reading this author's future work but this just did not work for me.

So excited to finish this trilogy! The cover, the plot, the character, perfect! I would expect nothing less from Furyborn herself.

I was really excited for this book. I love the setup of the world and the magic system, and I think I would have enjoyed reading more about Mara. Unfortunately, I found the main characters unpleasant and the majority of the plot boring.

I really enjoyed the Furyborn series and had high hopes for this series. I do plan to continue on in the trilogy, but felt that is book was only an average read.

Gemma is one of three sisters born to a family of high society whose life has almost everything in it, except that she has no magical abilities. She eventually teams up with Talan, her eventual love interest, to defeat the demon behind her family's feud with another family.

I really enjoyed the world Legrand created, however I felt little connection to Gemma. The love story between Talan and her felt like insta-love. The plot felt like it was meandering for way too long. We don't meet the antagonist until way too far into the book.

Looking at the average rating for this book, it’s clear that it hasn’t quite met readers’ expectations, which is disappointing to see. I didn’t want this to be the case, but unfortunately, it is. What’s even more surprising is that the issues stem from flaws I never would have expected from CL, especially considering the incredible fantasy series she’s created in the past. It’s hard to understand what went wrong with this one.

The narrative feels surprisingly juvenile for what’s supposed to be an adult debut. The pacing is inconsistent, making the story feel disjointed, and the plot struggles to settle into a single genre, giving the impression of multiple stories awkwardly crammed together. To make matters worse, none of the characters stand out or experience meaningful development, leaving the emotional core of the book lacking.

It’s disappointing to see such potential fall short, especially from an author who has proven her talent before.

I just didn't connect with this one like I wanted to. I didn't really like the main characters or care about what was going on. I kept picking this up and putting it down and honestly wanting to DNF. It just didn't grip me and felt very similar to other stories I have read and not loved. I don't see myself wanting to continue with the series.

Didn't connect to the writing style, FMC seemed young, not a fan of instalove and infodumps for worldbuilding.

*A Crown of Ivy and Glass* by Claire Legrand is a lush and immersive fantasy that deftly blends romance, political intrigue, and magic. Set in a world where powerful families rule and magic runs deep, the story follows two protagonists—Isobel, a skilled sorceress, and Caden, a prince trapped by duty—who are drawn together by fate and desire. Legrand’s world-building is rich and detailed, creating a complex setting filled with tension, danger, and mysticism. The romance between Isobel and Caden is slow-burning and filled with chemistry, while the political drama keeps the stakes high. *A Crown of Ivy and Glass* is an engaging, emotionally charged read for fans of fantasy with strong character development and intricate plots.

I tried. I really did. I came back to this book a second time after trying last year, but it was still a DNF for me. The writing was not great, and it honestly ruined it for me, because the idea and plot seemed great.

This was just ok. Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it. I didn’t care for the main characters. It’s hard for me to get into a book when this happens. This def felt more YA than adult. The plot was good but the story didn’t flow as well as it could have.

Thank you to NetGalley for the readers copy in exchange for a (late) review.
Unfortunately I did have to DNF this book. Not a hard DNF, more a pause for now. I think I’ve gotten Romantasy burnout. I was initially confused that this was adult fantasy and not YA (just me?). Although it was enjoyable it also wasn’t reinventing the wheel so I kept feeling myself check out. I’ll try again soon and better luck to me the next time.

I wanted to like this book, because I ADORED her other series. Unfortunately, this book was a miss for me. Between the unlikable FMC and an excessive number of side plots I struggled to find a reason to continue reading. The most interesting characters were side characters in this book. I did like the world this was set it and the powers everyone had were unique.

A lush romantasy for fans of Bridgerton and Sarah J. Maas. Claire Legrand is a wonderful writer and any romantasy fan will be in for a treat with her fantastic worldbuilding and characters.

I do like Claire Legrand's books. She's an amazing writer.
It hurts no one but myself to give this book a 2 star rating, and I was disappointed with it.
The theory of it is so much better, but I had to DNF it at 50% because I just couldn't continue, life's too short.

Interesting world with a vibrant cast of characters that has you intrigued from the first chapter.
There is a mystery element to this book that made me not want to put it down!

Full review and links to social will be posted as soon as possible as I didn't download this on time and I have to wait for a library copy.

I'd like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

A new series from a renowned and talented writer. it's an interesting plot, which I feel did start slowly but picks up during the second half of the book. I still favor her previous publications, but Legrand's new series has potential.

If I had read this in a timely fashion, I would have never read the sequel. I found this book deeply tedious - in large part due to Gemma's whole personality. Gemma felt very YA - she's selfish and silly and doesn't think through her actions at all. It doesn't match to the tonally adult book. The worldbuilding seemed contingent on several info dumps, and I have absolutely no idea when the romance started - it was just suddenly there. I do think the second book in the series is better, but is it worth slogging through this one?

(no)