Hellevir has been able to raise the dead since she was a child. She learned early on that any soul can be saved for a price. When the princess and sole heir to the chron is assassinated, Hellevir makes a deal with the dark figure of the afterlife to bring her back. Soon Hellevir finds herself summoned to the capital and manipulated into raising the princesses again and again. With each successful assassination, Hellevir must sacrifice more of herself in order to bring the princesses back, but how much of herself can she sacrifice before there is nothing left to give.

Overall I enjoyed this book but I struggled with Hellevir and Sullivain’s romance. There relationship is very toxic because Sullivain is using Hellevir’s abilities for her own self interest. She threatens and manipulates Hellevir into using her abilities. She doesn’t care about the physical or emotional cost to Hellevir and throughout the book she never really takes accountability or apologize. This makes it very difficult for Hellevir and Sullivain’s romance to feel genuine and real. I hope that this is an intentional choice by the author and that we will see Sullivain’s character grow and develop in the next book.

For me the best part of this book was the well developed character. All of the characters are well rounded and have complex interpersonal relationships. Gordon does an excellent job of showing how each character morals, motives’, and beliefs drive their behaviors and actions/inactions.

This dark fantasy has court politics, religious conflict, paganism, necromancy, animal companions, and queer romance. People that enjoy folklore, dark emotional stories, complex character relationships, and a little bit of mystery will enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for allowing me to read this ARC!

Content Warning: death (including animals and children), murder, violence, torture, emotional abuse.

Hellevir was only ten years old the first time she visited Death. Able to raise the dead, Hellevir goes between the land of the living and Death's domain, where she haggles with the shrouded figure who acts as its Guardian -- and who she speculates may be some kind of God, or Death himself. But raising lives comes with a hefty price, and Hellevir loses bits and pieces of herself each time she must bring someone back. When Princess Sullivain, the heir to the throne, is assassinated, the Queen seeks out Hellevir, demanding that she raise her granddaughter, and once Hellevir has done as she's asked, she promises not to tell her court of Hellevir's gift. But the Princess has made no such promise, and she decides that Hellevir will serve at her side, her protector from any further attempts on her life. As Hellevir grows closer to the Princess, despite her intentions, she learns that there is a deeply tangled web around the court, and that she may be at its center.

How exciting, to see a sapphic fantasy debut that is not young adult! Although I understand the importance of YA stories that portray diversity and queerness, it seems the curse of WLW-centered books is never being allowed to burgeon into adult fiction. It's a problem that irks me to no end, and so I was very highly anticipating The Gilded Crown, particularly with its Nordic inspired setting and its interesting premise revolving around a necromancer.

My first impression upon reading the first few chapters was positive, but unfortunately, as I delved deeper into the story, some of the shine wore off for me. While it's beautifully and brilliantly written, with some turns of phrase that left me downright envious I hadn't come up with them, the characters and plot suffer in comparison. Hellevir, for example, is strangely blank, without much personality. She deals with constant backlash and overcomes obstacle after obstacle, but she never seems to grow much of a backbone, at least not until the very last few chapters of the novel. I suppose that's growth, which I can't condemn, but aside from being forgiving and naive, there's really not much else to her.

Sullivain, on the other hand, is perhaps a bit better. She has hidden depths, at least, much of which centers around not being a very good person. Many other reviewers have a problem with Sullivain, and specifically her romance with Hellevir, but I didn't -- I'm tired of sapphic and women characters always having to be good and boring. People were upset with some of the things she does to Hellevir, but what about Cardan in The Cruel Prince, who readers absolutely adore? He does far worse things to his romantic interest, but strangely enough, no one seems to bat an eye at it. How odd, that a man might be forgiven for things ten times worse than what a woman might do, but she'll be the one who is criticized.

I'm not saying Sullivan and Hellevir's relationship is healthy; it's not. But aren't LGBTQ+ people allowed complexity, depth, and sometimes toxicity in their relationships? I grow weary of always reading "positive" representation, which only means that queer characters are never allowed to do anything wrong, lest they be seen as a negative reflection on the community. So, for the most part, I greatly enjoyed the dance between Hellevir and Sullivain, and being able to feel angry and hurt when they do things that wound one another.

The plotline is strangely boring, despite its rather original and fun concept. The riddles that Hellevir must solve for Death are so conveniently resolved that I felt they were pointless to begin with, and most of the characters and relationships feel like little more than window dressing (and the same can be said for the world-building, which doesn't feel fleshed out). The pacing, though, is what does the most damage to the narrative: nothing feels as if it really happens until around the 70% mark, and it's somewhat agonizing to get to that point, since everything in between is boring and struck me almost as being filler.

The third star is because the ending is pretty great, and suddenly, I found myself wanting to read more. I'll probably pick up the next book in this series (because it will be one), but I'll have some reservations when I do. If the pacing errors and characterization issues aren't fixed, I'm afraid it'll turn many people off. All in all, I think there's so much potential here, but it's hard to give it a higher rating than I did, because the majority of it is just so boring.

While this read more YA than I had initially expected, I did still enjoy the plot. It is certainly not a romantasy but I was happy to read about queer characters. I really liked the concept of resurrection and the character/setting of death. And I actually liked the politics, it was easy to follow. I do think the story has more potential for the series and would be interested to see where it goes.

A girl who can bring back people from the dead, a princess who is blackmailing her to working for her, and Death who strikes a bargain in exchange for treasure. Hellevir has visited Death many times in her life, and when she brings back the life of Princess Sullivain, the sole heir to the kingdom's throne from an assassination.... Sullivain forces her to work for her. The catch is that Hellevir is falling for Sullivain and must find a way to figure out who is trying to assassinate the princess whose death would lead to a war.... but if she does not find a way to pay Death then he will take from her more than she could ever imagine. The book started off really fun but then fell apart the more it went on. I was initially really interested in the dynamic between Hellevir and Death, and honestly couldn't care less about the romance between Hellevir and Sullivain (which is so strange because I am always a sucker for a sapphic romance). Sullivain just felt like the wrong choice as a love interest and never really felt like there was any romance or connection between the two. The story itself just never really felt like it was there and the plot just didn't move all that well. Sadly I will not be continuing with this series. The initial premise sounded fantastic but the actual execution of the story felt lacking for me personally. I do think if you like necromancer/princess romance and don't mind a slow read, give it a go maybe you'll have a better time with it than I did.

Release Date: July 2, 2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager | Harper Voyager for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

This was not what I expected it to be, but I enjoyed it!

In the first third or so, I was convinced this was actually YA. You have a younger character learning about herself, coming of age, discovering her place in the world & trying to make it better, plus just making any and all terrible decisions along the way. BUT, in the second half, things got more political, darker, and by the end our main character finally had some growth & development. I was really happy with where it ended and I want to read book 2!

For fans of The Foxglove King but slower paced and more queer (so much toxic sapphic yearning, plus a gay couple as one of the main side characters). Tons of political intrigue, religious trauma, parental issues, and a mysterious Death that is NOT the love interest (thank you and also curse you romantasy for the brain rot that has conditioned me to expect that). I loved the raven side kick too.

There were some aspects of this book that I enjoyed. First of all, the premise was very enticing. I really loved all of the scenes where Hellevir and Death interact, and I loved all of her interactions with animals. Hellevir overall is an easy protagonist to root for. I even enjoyed Sullivain, which it seems some other reviewers did not. There was a lot about the writing style that I did enjoy, particularly the descriptive prose.

However, some things about the book hindered my enjoyment. Notably, I felt like a lot of the decisions the characters made didn't make logical sense, and didn't have compelling explanations in the writing, other than "this is the next plot point." It didn't make sense to me that Hellevir would keep using her power over and over again, even for small situations. I understand maybe one fluke to show her empathy, but homegirl was raising everybody left and right. Also, no spoilers, but the decision that her brother makes at about 80% of the way through the book made no rational sense to me, and it felt like a plot device.

Another issue I had was with the worldbuilding/lore dumping. I actually enjoyed a lot about the world and the magic system. The religions were very interesting to me. However, a lot of the time we would get lore or important information, it would be through Hellevir reading pages from textbooks, or overhearing someone who just happened to be saying everything she needed to hear. It didn't feel authentic. A lot of problems in this book could have been avoided if people just didn't have private conversations in other people's earshot.

The unique necromancy magic and well-balanced language in The Gilded Crown ensnared me from the start, though I lost some interested as the story veered into romantasy territory.

Hellevir is able to walk in Death, which is both a blessing and a curse. Although magic seems to be a known part of her religion, there is little indication of a fuller magic system; Hellevir’s mentor is the only other character who seems to possess magic, so it isn’t clear if there are other types of magic out there. Since magic is so heavily deplored by practitioners of her mother’s religion, I would have liked to see this conflict expanded beyond the parameters of Hellevir’s family and acquaintances. That said, I loved the physicality of Death, how it was a landscape as much as a person, and I thoroughly enjoyed following Hellevir as she tested the boundaries of her ability.

At first, I thought I might find Hellevir too passive as a protagonist, but her steadfastness endeared me to her. Hellevir’s childhood innocence grows into a young woman’s strong sense or morality and justice, which puts her in a fraught position between the nobles and commonfolk vying for her aid. To make the story feel more solidly Adult and not YA, I wished Hellevir had engaged more in the political intrigue besides her halfhearted attempt to root out the princess’s assassin. She seemed too content to play her part even as it disrupted her life and altered her family’s dynamics—especially her brother’s romantic relationship with a young nobleman.

The support of Hellevir’s father and older brother tempered the solemnity creeping in from all other sides, though I struggled to believe they spent an entire decade apart, no matter the fervor of her mother’s wishes. I also hated Hellevir and Sullivain as a potential couple. I appreciated the complexity of Sullivain’s role as a princess hardened by her mother but (maybe?) capable of kindness, but I did not agree with her and Hellevir’s entanglement. I thought Hellevir showed much more chemistry with Death.

The ending left me with mixed feelings. I liked that Hellevir finally shed some of her meekness and actively tried to change her circumstances. However, the couple of perspective switches in the final chapters seemed convenient rather than necessary and contributed to an overall rushed wrap-up.

I’m still interested in reading the sequel, but I hope the characters and the plot will mature to match the strength of the writing.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

The Gilded Crown follows Hellevir, a girl who can visit Death and pay to save people's lives.

I definitely thought this was going to have more romantasy vibes, and while it didn't, I'm not necessarily mad. I though Hellevir was an incredibly interesting character and I did overall enjoy the journey she went on in this book. I think the first half, with all the setup and introductions to the world and characters, was incredibly solid. The back half of the book, however, ended up feeling kind of meandering and less compelling to me. Things felt like they were just being made to happen to keep the book going, rather than occurring as organic developments of the plot. I do think I'll be picking up the next book -- my curiosity is piqued -- and I'm sure this book will easily find a committed audience.

The Gilded Crown by Marianne Gordon was a very captivating debut!
A wonderfully written novel, full of rich imagery, and complex characters.
The plot and pacing of this book is great. The magic system was just amazing.
Overall this stands out as a fun and engaging read.

Thank You NetGalley and Harper Voyager for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Hellevir can raise the dead. She has always known it must be kept secret.
When the princess dies and Hellevir is asked by the Queen to save her, the secret is safe no longer.
All Hellevir ever wanted was to stay in her country village and be left alone. Now she must travel to the Palace to be at the Crown's beck and call.

Every time she enters death, she loses a piece of herself. The Queen could care less. For what is her life worth compared to that of a princess?

I liked this, but I don't think it's very memorable. It was decent. I really liked Hellevir and her family, with the exception of her mother. I especially liked the raven.

This novel did not take the path I predicted it would and I loved that! From the family disconnect, to her connection with death, to the crown playing a role I only half expected, and the internal thoughts Hellevir processes just consumed me during reading. You get multiple smaller plot points that all round out into the bigger picture beautifully. You have the pathway that Hellevir navigates with her connection to death and her gift to raise the dead. Another pathway is Helleivir's bond to the princess that is created from bringing her back from death and how things get twisted and complicated. Hellevir also has to deal with her family, while her father and brother don't hate her for her gifts her mother is cold as ice. All of this, plus a little more (can't reveal it without spoiling some), wrapped up amazingly at the end and left me wanting book 2 immediately.

The Gilded Crown is a unique work of fantasy as it involves necromancy magic and explores the consequences of such abilities. The story follows Hellevir and the ability to raise the dead, an ability that she learned of as a child. When the queen requires Hellevir to summon from the dead and accompany Princess Sullivan for her safety, Hellevir begins to learn the sacrifice of such a power.

This type of fantasy was new to me as I have never read a story that focused on the ability of necromancy. I thought I would find it intriguing and I did, however I struggled to connect to the story and the main characters. I enjoyed the writing and pacing of the story but this just wasn't my forte. Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this noel.

Special Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the chance to read this ARC.

This was a super interesting read! I always love darker fantasy, and the concept of dealing with death is one that can be hard to make original. Hellevir's story is heartbreaking as it is fascinating, from her childhood to her relationship with Sullivain. I absolutely adored the affection her father and brother had for her, but was so gut wrenched at how her family left her behind as a result of her abilities, and how she evolved as a result. Her character gives a lovely callback to Odin and his myth, especially with her raven companion.

While I love a sapphic main couple, I must say I didn't love Sullivain as a character, and I think Hellevir deserves better -- but perhaps that is the point! Ultimately, Hellevir is being used for her abilities to serve Sullivain's interests. This isn't a true love built on equal ground. I enjoy a story that showcases imperfect love, and even love that doesn't work out for the best.

This is definitely a fantasy first, romance second book, which I appreciate.

Overall, 3.5/5 for The Gilded Crown

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this eARC.

I thought this was a nice debut novel. I enjoyed the underlying concept of what happens to people when they give and give and give (at least that’s how I interpreted it), as well as the magic system. It kept me interested and I think the series as a whole has potential. I’m very curious to see what the next part of Hellevir’s journey will look like, and to learn more about Death. Enjoyable read!

Well this was an underwhelming read for me as it had some elements I really enjoyed but I ultimately never connected to the story. I loved the death world and when our main character was there bargaining, this to me was the strongest part of this book and the parts that drew me to keep reading. Where the story got a bit lost for me was in the small romance and in the introduction to Sullivain who was the worst character and I just never could understand the MC's want to help her. It also got a bit slow and repetitive in the middle and I was bored for a lot of this book waiting for the raising the dead part again. Overall this is an interesting world and the magic our MC has is intriguing but I did not connect with the plot enough to want to continue this series.

Thanks to Netgalley and Haper Voyager for granting me access in exchange for an honest review.

The Gilded Crown follows Hellevir, who has the ability to raise the dead. I thought that the magic system was really cool, and am excited to hopefully learn more about the figure in the afterlife in the next book.

After Hellevir brings Princess Sullivain back from the dead, she is forced to move to the capital and be the princess's personal resurrectionist Each time Hellevir is forced to resurrect Sullivain, they become more bound to each other, gaining the ability to sense each other's emotions when they touch. Hellevir starts to fall in love with Sullivain, which is confusing to me, becasue Sullivain is often cruel and frequently threatens Hellevir and her family. Sure, Hellevir occasionally feels the princess's guilt/shame when they touch, but I don't think that negates all the harm she's caused. I'm not sure if Hellevir is just mistaking their soul connection from the resurrections with love, or if she would feel the same without that connection. Me, personally, I don't think I could fall in love with someone who did some of the things Sullivain has done

I am definitely excited to read the next book in the series, I'm just more interested in the Death plotline then I am in the romance with Sullivain

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with an ARC.

I was given the opportunity to read an eARC copy of this book for free in return for an honest review via NetGalley.

I wanted to like this book and there were some parts in which I did.

Our heroine is essentially able to travel between the world's of life and death, she can also bring people back from the dead with her. With this strange power she is ostracized to some extent within her community and even by her own mother. Through her life she brings back various individuals from death and the Queen becomes aware of her talents, eventually.

Once the Queen knows of her talent, she demands her help in bringing back her granddaughter, the sole heir. Our heroine does so but essentially at the coat of her freedom when she is later demanded to be at the royal city to be the Princess' resurrection specialist, but called an herbalist instead not to draw attention.

The majority of the book is about her time in the royal city, resurrecting the Princess a further two times, reconnecting with her family, avoiding the politics and religious issues at play, and figuring out how to live life...which she is not necessarily great at.

So, it was an interesting book and LGBTQ+ friendly...but it was not the most wonderful book there is. I felt like I had to drag myself through it, my attention wasn't caught and I didn't devour it like I wanted to. Overall decent, just not necessarily my favorite.

Overall rating: 4 out of 5

*review contains spoilers*
Wow… I just finished this amazing story and have the urge to reread, no, relive this story again. Hellevir is one seriously bad*ss character with the power to resurrect the dead. Throw in the personification of Death with his allusive and tricky ways, a rich world building, religious terror and a threat to the Crown and you have yourself an EPIC fantasy book. I was gripped from beginning to end, gasped, cried and even tossed my phone (I read the ebook) out pure rage and frustration. This one had it all. The only reason I am not giving this one a full five stars is the “romance” between Sullivain and Hellevir. I wouldn’t even call it romance more like Sullivain gaslighting Hellevir and Hellevir experiencing Stockholm syndrome. I felt no romantic connection between them that felt substantial enough to warrant their kisses and everything just felt toxic and fake. I’m glad Hellevir chose to follow Death’s riddles and would rather focus on their “relationship” (doesn’t mean I see them in a romantic light but I’m interested in their further interactions and how that can build into a possible friendship or something) rather than whatever was going on with the Princess. Regardless I loved this book and hope there is a continuation to this mysterious tale. Give this one a read yall. It’ll really stick with you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing the ARC.

As someone who really enjoyed The Foxglove King, I really wanted to enjoy this book. However, it didn't quite grab me in the way that I wanted, and overall, felt a little lackluster.

I had a hard time getting into it, initially. The prose and the plot very much for older teens/young adults in a way that I didn't like, even though this book is being touted as adult fiction. I had a hard time connecting to any characters and mostly I just felt bored with the exposition. And for a book about necromancy, that was a bitter pill to swallow, if only because the magic system is actually very clever and interesting. But I digress.

The plot of the book both makes sense and doesn't make sense at the same time. There are parts that work well together and parts that seem nonsensical when compared to the story being told. As a result it made things hard to follow and a but confusing.

A decent debut, but nothing too outlandish.

Unfortunately not for me I got a few chapters in and put it down. Hopefully I can pick it back up in the future but for now, doesn’t feel like it’s for me.