The world-building and character development in this one is on point! I love a good retelling and the Cliffhanger at the end! Ugh! *Chef's Kiss*

I really enjoyed this book. The world building and characters were interesting and new. I don't think the King Arthur retelling is as big a deal as the publisher and many readers make it out to be. It's present but if you changed the names and removed the round table, I would never have made the connection. Overall, I really enjoyed this and will be promptly moving on to the next book in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Book Review 📚
Crown of Earth and Sky by Emberly Ash - 3.5/5 ⭐

Okay the problem is, we all, as a community held to much expectations against this book and it's not payed off well. What we see is a ACOTAR/Tog/Blood and Ash - you get the idea. And unfortunately this book was of no similarity at all.

I'm not by any means saying it's bad, it's actually very good! But because I went in with the above vibes instead of a freemind, I've let myself down. I did end up DNF the book, but I will try again at some point and I'll go in with an open mind next time!

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.

I really hate being the person who writes a less than raving review, because I know authors work so hard to tell their stories. I always try to be as positive as I can, so here goes. This book had SO much potential. It’s a retelling of King Arthur in the most badas* female way. Unfortunately it just didn’t land for me. The plot was great. I kept reading because I needed to know what was going to happen. The characters felt fully fleshed out, they dealt with trauma, and the love story was even sweet. I enjoyed the spicy scenes for the most part as well, and there were quite a few! BUT and this is a big but, to get through the story we had to hear about her ample curves, hips, and breasts a lot. We all love a curvy queen, but we don’t need to hear about it every other page. There were also an abundance of typos, I usually look past these fairly easy, there were just a lot. All in all I will continue to read the series because I need to know the ending. I just can’t see myself recommending this to anyone because it seemed to get on my nerves a lot.

Crown of Earth and Sky
by Emberly Ash
Publication Date: September 17, 2023

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the opportunity to receive this ARC in return for an honest review.

I ended 2023 and started 2024 with this book and absolutely loved it. This was my first King Arthur retelling and it was so good. This book was slow to start but the story and spice kicked off and I couldn't put it down. I finished at 3:00am and didn't even know the new year had already taken place! The ending was insane!

I loved the two different species of fae in this as well. I also liked the character and world building that took place.

I cried right at the beginning. That character death right off the bat was jarring. I feel like you really felt that she had no desire to rule and Arran's frustration with her was fantastic. The banter and spice was so good!

I would like to thank NetGalley for sending me an ebook copy of this to read and review. I would say I enjoyed this book very much. The world building, characters, dialogue, romance, and plot were enjoyable and fun the read about. I really enjoyed Vekya's journey from being a selfish princess to a formidable queen. I enjoyed her chemistry very much with Arran as well as the banter between them. I really liked how Arran helped Vekya through her grief and help her come out of her shell and become the queen she was meant to be. Also the cliffhanger at the end was lovely and I will be jumping into the second immediately.

At first, I was very skeptical when reading the first 25%… but after that, I couldn’t put it down. This book was excellent, and full of so much information and the story retelling of Excalibur/Arthur and the pendragon line was perfection. The sassy MFC did not disappoint, Veyka Pendragon had so much growth and her coming into her true self was flawlessly executed. The slow burn that occupied this book I really enjoyed considering I am not a fan. It is also a rating of 3 chilis 🌶️🌶️🌶️ depending on your preference of smut.

Wow, this book surprised me. I gave this book 4 stars. The retelling of king Arthur was amazing, Emberly Ash did an awesome job incorporating the subtle hints from King Arthur, such as the round table and the sword. It is also giving me a court of thorns and roses vibes. I love the fast-paced storyline and world-building. The slow-burn romance and enemies to lovers is chef’s kiss! The chemistry and the tension between Arran and Veyka is something to look out for, both with strong characters but they still manage to balance each other out in terms of their desires and beliefs. I cannot wait for what the second book holds. I have received this book from netgalley. Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for giving me this ARC and Thank you to the amazing author, Emberly Ash for writing this book for fantasy lovers like me.

This craftily created fae Arthur and the round table, was simply amazing.

The ending had me upset, disappointed and screeching at the way it ended.

Veyka very much does not want to be queen, despite how well suited she is for it.

Arran is stubborn, and guarded but he finds himself charmed by his soon to be queen.

One of the quotes from the book :
Arrans inner monologue
"She was every inch a queen, and I would enjoy worshiping her for the rest of my life".

I rate this 4 stars and if you're having a ACOTAR withdrawal I highly suggest you read this. This ended my void

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5

I thoroughly enjoyed this. I loved the secretive FMC, I love her character arc, from not absolutely abhorring her circumstances to really committing to become someone better.

Don't get me started on the MMC who could not, even if he tried, to stay away from the FMC. I loved their chemistry and their banter. I loved seeing them on paper. I can't wait for more of them in book 2.

The twist was predictable but still definitely welcome. I can't wait for book 2, can't wait for more Arran and Veyka. 💖💖🌟🌟

This was a fun and different take on the legend of Arthur. I found Veyka and Arran to be interesting and I loved watching their relationship develop.

However, I found myself rolling my eyes at the constant talk about generous hips, ample breasts, etc. I get Veyka is plus sized but I didn’t need to be reminded constantly. I felt like there was an overemphasis on that. Also, I wish there was more character development and a little less spice. There were times it felt like too much. Veyka and Arran were well developed but there were so many great secondary characters that I wish would have been developed way more because they were so interesting! I hope we get more from some of them in future books!

Thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing for an eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

A fun new take on Arthurian legend, that focuses on some of the other characters we know and love. This story spins from the legends of Nimue and centers on fae. The fae featured in this story are strong and courageous. Everything we would expect and more from heroes and villains of Arthurian legend.

While offering dark mythology and fantasy romance, I was that into the story. Overall, a solid start for fans of twisted retellings and high-steam fantasy.

The rollercoaster in this book IS REAL!

It took me a while to addapt to the writing. I thought I would have to DNF the book.. but I love when an author proves
me wrong so I kept reading and half away trough I was invested. Veyka changes so much along the book! I loved her
character development. And her relationship with Arran?! Fire.

Totally worthy for the second half.

Crown of Earth and Sky by Emberly Ash presents an enchanting blend of fantasy elements and intriguing characters. From the striking cover, adorned with intricate details of a gleaming sword, to the vividly depicted world-building, this book promises a captivating journey into the realm of the Elemental Fae.

The story follows Veyka Pendragon, unexpectedly crowned queen amidst betrayal and intrigue. As she navigates the treacherous waters of court politics, her quest for revenge against those who wronged her becomes compellingly intertwined with the arrival of her betrothed, the enigmatic Brutal Prince, Arran Earthborn. Their complex relationship, filled with undeniable chemistry and simmering tension, forms the heart of the narrative.

While I personally had to set the book aside at times due to my busy schedule, it was no fault of the book itself. Despite my interruptions, I found myself drawn back to the richly imagined world of the Elemental Fae whenever I had a moment to spare. The character development, particularly Veyka's battle with depression and her journey towards healing and redemption, was handled with sensitivity and depth. Each character, from the resilient Veyka to the enigmatic Arran, felt fully realized and multidimensional, adding layers of complexity to the story.

Themes of revenge, redemption, and character growth permeate the narrative, woven seamlessly into the fabric of the plot. Emberly Ash's adept handling of these themes, coupled with her immersive writing style, kept me engaged from start to finish.

Arran's cutting remark, "You are a shameful waste of the Crown that sits upon your head," and Veyka's defiant response, “For once, it seems we agree on something,” highlight the tension and conflict between the characters, setting the stage for the intricate dynamics that unfold throughout the story. Additionally, Arran's provocative statement, "When I come to your bed, it will be because you beg me for it, not because you are trying to distract me to get your way," adds an extra layer of intensity and complexity to their relationship, showcasing the power dynamics at play.

Overall, Emberly Ash has crafted a captivating fantasy romance that will appeal to fans of the genre. I eagerly anticipate continuing Veyka's journey in the next installment, especially after that cliffhanger that left me yearning for more.

God this book was like a roller coaster. I loved the way the author built the tension between Veyka and Arran but I wasn't 100% convinced on their relationship. There was a lot of lust then oop Arran loves her, make it make sense. The cliffhanger at the end obviously makes me want to read the next book but I'm not really sure where it's going to go

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the DRC!

𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 4.5
𝙎𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: 🌶🌶🌶🌶

I was completely sucked into this book from the dedication, and struggled to put it down.

I loved the way the way the book swapped from Veyka the FMC, to Arran the MMC, and how much steamy tension there was between them. One of my favourite parts, that had me grinning like a fool, was when they met, and then met again!

The trauma and healing journey that Veyka went on was remarkable, and it really resonated with me. I sobbed, then raged, then sobbed again while reading.

And can we talk about the huge cliffhanger this book ends on? I had to start reading book 2 straight away, because I needed to know what happened next!

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝑰 𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒐𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕: dark fantasy, steamy tension & romance, enemies to lovers, fated mates, dual POV, healing after trauma, she's a curvy bad*ss, he's a beastly warrior but a simp for her, diversity, mental health.


💢 𝙏𝙒𝙨: depression, suicidal ideation, death of a loved one, grief, violence, child abuse (including low detail memory of r*pe), consensual sexual scenes

☆I received an ARC of this book from the author. All thoughts are my own honest opinions.☆

A fantastic fairy story inspired by Arthurian legends, very creative and interesting.

To tell the truth, it was a reading that was a little difficult for me, it took me a long time to finish the book, although I thought the story was good, I felt like I couldn't connect with the characters. But I wanted to finish it and knowing what happened was a little confusing for me, I loved the world and the way the author played with the Arthurian legend and the magical world and fairies, but not the chemistry between the two protagonists.

That's if the spicy scenes were 10/10

Holy. Shit.
This is for sure something I would suggest anyone to read. I was reading up to 5 books, including this one, while I was reading this and could not put this one down. I think given the opportunity this could be a New York Times best seller. The plot was great, the characters were perfectly written, and the spice was just right.
10/10 would recommend. I can’t wait to start the next one honestly

3.75⭐️ This book was so much fun and such an interesting reimagining on the typical Arthurian legend inspired book.

Veyka and Arran have such a steamy romance and the whole time reading I just wanted them to admit their feelings for each other and stop playing around- a true enemies to lovers slowburn. *chefs kiss*

The only downfall for me was the political system, sometimes I found myself questioning who each person in the council was and what their role was. I also wished we got to spend more time with Gawayn or see him protect Veyka more so when he ultimately turns on her it hits that much harder.

After that ending I can not wait to pick up the second book and I know it’s going to be even better than this one