Hellevir is a young woman, touched by Death from a young age, who has the power the raise the dead (for a price). When her gift becomes known to the Queen, Hellevir is called the save the Princess from death after an assassination attempt and is forced to remain with the Princess to prevent future attempts from succeeding.

This book really gripped me in the first half, but I found myself losing interested when it slowed down about halfway through. The pacing felt like it slowed down a lot, but I feel a lot of that may have been background before things ramp up towards the end of this book and into the next?

The author’s writing style and prose are beautiful though, and even though there wasn’t a lot of action in some parts I still really enjoyed reading this book. I’m excited to return to this world and read the Antlered King later this year.

**3-Star Review of *The Gilded Crown: A Raven's Trade Novel* by Marianne Gordon**

*The Gilded Crown* by Marianne Gordon is a fantasy novel that offers an intriguing blend of magic, political intrigue, and romance. Set in a world filled with power struggles and mystical forces, the story follows a protagonist caught between loyalty, ambition, and love. The premise is compelling, and Gordon's world-building creates a rich backdrop for the unfolding drama.

The writing is solid, and the pacing keeps things moving, especially during the action-packed moments. The political intrigue and magical elements are engaging, and there are enough twists and turns to hold readers' attention. The romance, though present, is secondary to the broader plot, which adds some depth to the character dynamics without overshadowing the story’s main conflicts.

However, while the world-building is detailed, at times it feels overwhelming with the amount of information introduced, making it difficult to fully connect with the characters. The protagonist is likable, but her motivations could have been fleshed out more, and some of the secondary characters didn’t feel as developed as they could have been. The plot itself, while engaging, can feel a bit predictable in parts, and the stakes don't always feel as high as they could be.

Overall, *The Gilded Crown* is an enjoyable fantasy with plenty of potential, but it doesn't quite reach the level of depth or originality that would make it stand out in the genre. It’s a solid choice for fans of political intrigue and magic, but may not be as memorable or emotionally gripping as some other books in the same vein.

I found the story to be very intriguing! I love the idea of a necromancer. The world-building is wonderful! However, I thought the story was a bit drawn out! Still, I recommend this for fans of Sophie Kim!

The premise of this book was fabulous - I am a big fan of the necromancy magic in this series; and loved that this was more heavily fantasy and less romance.

Loved this so much I went out and bought book 1 and 2. So happy to have gotten to see this world before everyone else did and so glad book 2 came out wd quick as it did

A surprisingly refreshing work of dark fantasy, which has the external trappings of a sapphic romantasy, but decidedly is NOT. I was immediately enamored of the writing style and the narrative voice. I devoured it in a day and a half or so. The world-building is intriguing, and the protagonist's internal emotional landscape is complex and gripping, as is the political landscape. That said, a lot of it is left to the reader to find pretty glaring similarities to real world religious politics, while the narrative creates a conflict for Hellevir that really shouldn't be one at all. Her ability to walk in and out of the realm of Death, to bring back the dead and talk to the enigmatic guardian of that realm, and the ethics around who to bring back and at what cost, is the most interesting element of this story. Unfortunately, while this isn't a romantasy, her insta-love for a very consistently toxic princess creating moral conundrums is really hard to believe. Listen, I'm all for exploring toxic relationships between believably broken characters, but this one does nothing to justify its existence at all. Her relationship to her family and peers of old faith priestesses and even Death were more fleshed out as core emotional drivers, but entirely too much was devoted to her baffling attraction to Sully. That said, the writing is gorgeous, and overall an interesting work of fantasy that questions systems of power and inherited colonial trauma. Not the best I've read but always good to see fantasy that doesn't romanticize courtly social structures.

I will be honest, I had a hard time getting into this book. after finishing it… i can’t say anything stood out for me. maybe it was just because i wasn’t entirely in a fantasy mood but it was okay!!

The Gilded Crown is a queer, political fantasy, historical fiction novel about a woman named Hellivir who has the ability to resurrect people from the dead, but her power comes at a price.

Starting off I got major Belladonna vibes, which is perfect for me! The necromancy magic was really interesting and well written. However, the romance aspect of this story lacked for me. Hellivir and Sullivain gave me a more tragic story which isn’t bad, it’s just not what it feels was promised. Also, Death was very intriguing and I liked the relationship that was written between him and Hellivir.

The writing and the world building are superior and it’s a fresh concept that I loved. This is definitely not a romantasy book though.

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 ⭐️’s rounded up

I quite enjoyed this book. It's not my usual kind of read but I was sucked into the story, trying to figure out who Death was and who kept tryingt o kill Sullivain.

Hellevir always did her best with the information she had in the moment, and I appreciate that. I do think that Sullivain in the next book won't be nearly as kind sh she has been. I have a feeling the war that's her second shadow will come to fruition.

All in all, this was an excellent read and I look forward to the next book ,

"The Gilded Crown" captivated me, though this might not be the book for readers seeking an epic romance. Despite this, the story stands complete and engaging on its own merits.
At its heart is Hellevir, a necromancer with the power to bring people back from the dead—but every resurrection comes with a price. Death offers her a bargain: collect certain objects for him as payment, rather than sacrificing pieces of her own soul for each resurrection.
When Hellevir resurrects Princess Sullivain, she finds herself forced into becoming the princess's personal necromancer, trapped by threats of what might happen if she refuses. As she searches for Death's requested objects to preserve what remains of her soul, an unexpected bond forms between her and the princess she brought back to life. Their growing romantic feelings for each other had me grinding my teeth in frustration—Hellevir for allowing herself to be manipulated and failing to see through Sullivain's BS, and Sullivain for lacking the courage to stand up to her grandmother, the Queen.
Adding another layer to the story is Hellevir's intriguing non-romantic connection with Death himself, which I am eager to see how it will evolve in the sequel. By the end, Hellevir emerges as a true fighter determined to reclaim control of her life. And I can't wait to get my hands on the second book! --- NetGalley provided me this book as an ARC in return for my honest review.

Apologies for the severe delay in reviewing!

A solid 3 rating, I think. I wanted to like the characters more, and I was left a little frustrated with certain aspects, but the writing was well done and the political intrigue was enough to keep me wanting to find out how layered it was. I felt for Hellevir, but found her dynamic with Death way more interesting than anything Sullivain had to offer. I think the marketing for this (romantasy or romantic in general with a cover usually indicating a level of spice) worked against me for this one as I couldn't shake those misconceptions as I was reading.

Full review is provided at the Goodreads link. :)

The Gilded Crown by Marianne Gordon is an intriguing start to The Raven's Trade series! The book draws you into a world of rich characters, political intrigue, and the complexities of power. The writing is strong, and the pacing keeps you hooked, making it hard to put down. The main character's journey is compelling, and I loved how the stakes were high throughout. While the plot does introduce some familiar fantasy tropes, it manages to twist them in interesting ways. Overall, it's a solid first book that sets up a fascinating world, and I’m eager to see how the series unfolds in the next installment. Definitely worth checking out for fans of fantasy with layers of intrigue!

The Gilded Crown by Marianne Gordon is an enchanting blend of historical fiction and political intrigue that grips the reader from start to finish. The novel weaves a compelling narrative around complex characters, vivid world-building, and high-stakes drama.

The protagonist’s journey is both emotional and thrilling, as Gordon masterfully balances personal growth with larger, more sweeping events of courtly power struggles. The detailed settings and rich descriptions transported me to another time and place, while the plot kept me turning pages, eager to see how alliances and betrayals would unfold.

What stands out most about The Gilded Crown is the depth of its characters. Each one feels fully fleshed out, with their own motivations, flaws, and desires, making their actions all the more impactful. The tension between duty, loyalty, and personal ambition is portrayed with nuance, making it easy to become emotionally invested in their stories.

While the book is well-paced for the most part, there are a few moments where the plot feels a bit slow, especially during certain political maneuvers. However, these moments are brief and don't detract significantly from the overall experience.

Overall, The Gilded Crown is an excellent read for anyone who enjoys a mix of historical fiction and political drama. Gordon has crafted a story full of suspense, emotional depth, and captivating characters that will stay with you long after you've finished the book. Highly recommend!

This book had a potential, but it lack connection. I didn't feel for the characters. I sometimes felt lost whenever I read

Filled with wild folklore, death magic, and a sapphic romance that will keep you wanting more, this book feels like a spiritual successor to The Bear and the Nightingale.

We follow our main character, Hellevir, a woman who can speak to animals and see spirits in nature that others are blind to, as she discovers she has the power to enter Death and bargain to bring the newly deceased back to life. Every toll has its price, however, and soon she is trapped with a bargain with Death itself to keep from cutting herself into smaller and smaller pieces to save those around her. When she saves the princess herself from Death, knowledge of her skills go far beyond her and force her into serving the Crown - no matter the cost to her, or those around her.

The imagery in this book is beautiful, as we travel with Hellevir as she speaks with spirits in the trees in lakes, to the strange place she goes when she enters Death. Everything evokes a kind of wonder in the reader as they can see the beauty in the world through the main character’s eyes. However, not everything is wonderful, as the more and more she travels into and bargains with Death, the tighter the binds around her begin to close in as she becomes entangled in a political mess where no one will leave unscathed.

The romance in this book - mild as it is - I felt really strongly added to the tension and the stakes present. Hellevir is forced to contend with what she believes she knows about Sullivan with what Sullivan (and her grandmother) are actually doing. With parts of her soul given up each time she resurrects Sullivan giving them a connection neither can break or understand, she has no choice but to follow both her heart - and the threats - even when she wants nothing more than to escape back to the small village she left.

Perfect for fans of Katherine Arden, Ava Reid and Naomi Novik, The Gilded Crown will captivate you from the first page and keep you wanting more even after you finish reading.

A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing this e-ARC.

This is a fantasy, and I love the world that we were introduced to inside of the book. The protagonist are intriguing, and I love the byplay between all of the characters. I was intrigued and engrossed from start to finish.

This was a very interesting read. I loved the magic world and the necromancy aspect of the story. The two love interests just didn’t make sense to me and that kind of irked me. The plot also started to just feel repetitive which started to bore me. I loved the idea of this story but I think it could have been executed better.

The twists and turns of this story kept me on the edge of my seat. Hellevir traverses life with the power to bring people back from the dead, but at a cost. Her life isn't what she wanted or expected...but her wit and determination help her through her journey.

We follow Hellevir, a girl who can travel between life and death. Hellevir is very compassionate and naive character who we see learn that most people will take advantage of her kindness. This includes Sullivain, who is selfish and arrogant and angry. The story was okay, but didnt really draw me into the world and make me feel invested in the characters.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for an arc in exchange for an honest review.*

The Gilded Crown was such a surprising and interesting read. The interesting take on death and afterlife was really cool. The characters were deep and multi faceted and I want more or their stories.