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)

I tried, I really did. I wanted to love this but unfortunately for a HUGE chunk of it, this reads as bad regency era romance not fantastical tale ala Legrand's usual work

The main character is less than interesting - I don't mind when character's are a little woe is me, its just that this get excessive until almost half way when she finally realises someone did something to her they shouldn't have.

I was hopeful that Talan could rescue the situation. He's dark and broody and generally seems to care. But every time I came across his character, I kind of despised him more. There is definitely a point to him by the end but frequently oscillated from love interest to bad guy so he just felt very mid and non-sequeter - It like if Hans from Frozen was frequently going backwards and forwards.

The overall premise and progression of the story was ok, it just felt like it took forever to get to a point where the narrative flowed freely. It took me 4 goes over the past 18 months to actually finish it and I ended up resorting to the audio to get through it.

This being said, I'm sure there is an audience for this. If you like Bridgerton and books that don't have a logical progression, this is the one for you just don't expect a great amount to happen in the first half.

I am not the right target audience for this book and instead of leaving a negative review, I have elected to DNF.

DNF at 20%! This just wasn't for me. I couldn't get into the story nor connect with the characters, but I would give this author another chance with a different book.

So I absolutely adored this book when I read it even though I seem to be in the minority. I thought the main character was complex and interesting and that Claire was giving us just enough worldbuilding to help us understand while leaving us guessing for more. I know that style is not everyone's cup of tea though! I also loved the romance and can't wait to pick up book 2!

A Crown of Ivy and Glass by Claire Legrand is a captivating read for fans of lush, atmospheric fantasy-romance, particularly those who crave stories of forbidden love, redemption, and self-discovery, set against a backdrop of dark magic, ancient secrets, and epic battles between good and evil.

A hero whose family has lost the queen's favor. A heroine who's the odd one out. And a mutually beneficial proposition. A Crown of Ivy and Glass is full of action, twists, steam, magic & paranormals which make for an entertaining read One of my favorite reads this year! I would definitely recommend.

I would like to thank Sourcebooks Casablanca for a digital copy of this novel via NetGalley. This is a fantasy romance story centering around Lady Gemma, who comes from a powerful magic-wielding family. Unfortunately, she is the only one in her family without powers. I found this part interesting and enjoyed much of the world building. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy much of the romance, as I found the relationship with Talan mostly off putting. Ultimately, the story was decent, but for me, it was lacking in certain key elements of a fantasy romance.

Regretfully, I was unable to make this one work for me. I kept picking up this book, but I couldn't get into the characters or the plot. The odd pacing and uninteresting main characters didn't appeal to me. Perhaps in the future, I will try one of the author's other works.

Thank you to Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for the arc.