If there is a book series that I think people are sleeping on, it is THIS ONE! I had the pleasure of being an ARC reader for the first book, Of Cages and Crowns, and was so excited when I saw that book 2 was coming out and needed readers.

This series is basically the Hunger Games meets the Bachelor with some Red Queen and Selection series thrown in as well. 10 girls in the kingdom are Goddess blessed with magical powers and have to participate in the Culling, a series of trials that take place when the prince comes of age in which only one girl survives and she will become the next queen and marries the heir. Monroe is the FMC and has fire power and is SUCH a baddie. Now throw in a rebellion, tentative friendships, and a few secrets and lies, and you get an exciting tale that keeps you hooked the whole time!

From here and below I’ll be talking about the plot of book 2, which will include spoilers of what happens in book 1, so don’t read unless you’ve finished!

Of Princes and Poisons starts pretty much right after the rebellion attack in book one, where we find Monroe is now in a prison cell in the rebellion camp because they are concerned with her powers and figuring out what to do with her. Right away we meet a new and quite interesting man, Callahan, who immediately spikes our interest. She’s let out soon enough and meets back up with the other goddess-touched girls who escaped during the fight, along with Princess Uri.

This book is a bit slower than book one, with the pace and plot being more about character development vs a lot of action (until the end). I think the slower pace is 100 percent needed and realistic for the growth that Monroe goes through. She experienced major trauma in book 1, is dealing with major events that happened and the feelings associated with those, she is still trying to learn about everything her power can do, and now she has a new environment and group of people to answer to. I appreciate that time was taken to deal more with the emotional and mental impacts she has and develop from there. Most of this book takes place in the rebel camp, with them making plans for how to fight the new threat they find in Larkin.

While there isn’t as much action, there is a lot of world building and detail that occurs in this book that is just as masterful. There is so much strategy put into the politics of fighting, and honestly it worked to have a book that was more about strategy and development than constant battle. I think it also really sets up the next book with a huge twist at the end!

We were introduced to some new characters in this book, mainly Callahan and all the rebel leaders. It is pretty obvious from the start that Callahan is a new love interest, and with this we saw Monroe going through processing her feelings for Cohen and whether she loved him or if the feelings had to do with the circumstances they were put into. I appreciated that there was a lot of development put into her feelings and how she processed them along with her trauma from the trials.

While I love Callahan and the introduction of his character, I do wish there was just a smidgen of time at the beginning where we meet him before she talks about being attracted to him, as it immediately makes the reader know Cohen is out and hes the new guy. I would have preferred to have maybe a few chapters of them working together and having their banter, while she is still pining for and waiting for Cohen, and then have her start noticing or mentioning things she finds attractive about Cal while she realizes Cohen isn’t for her. It worked fine, but I think would have packed a little more punch to have those couple lines about his voice or the burning in her belly to not be there until a little ways into having met him (as opposed to her talking about being attracted to him the first time we meet him). It was also a little bit of whiplash from her big moment with Cohen at the end of book 1 to be talking about another mans voice making her feel warm within a few pages. Other than that, I really liked how the “love triangle” developed.

There is a big twist at the end that I did predict, but it still packed a punch! I cannot wait to see where the story goes in book 3!

Read this book if you are a fan of upper YA fantasy, high stakes adventures, intriguing magical systems, found family, and alll the angst and trauma!

Of Princes and Poisons is book 2 in The Culled Crown by Brianna Joy Crump.
This was such a unique YA fantasy!
The world-building was done amazingly and our characters are well developed.
The writing I thought was excellent. I was engaged till the end.
Now I’m on the hunt for book one.

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

Fantastic! I want more from this author. I just really have enjoyed her writing and find her flow so easy and enjoyable.

Of Princes and Poisons was everything that I wanted it to be. The series, a mix of The Selection and Red Queen with a touch of Shatter Me, demonstrates what the core of YA is to me. It harkens back to the peak of YA (in my opinion) while giving a fresh, more modern take. The book has many of the tropes and themes we’ve come to love. At times it felt a little derivative of other works, but not in a distracting or problematic way. More of a comforting, this is YA tropes I love type of way. It’s very much its own story with its own world building.

The author does a great job of showing and not telling. The writing is excellent and paced well. The character arcs are interesting and mostly well paced and realistic. The tension of the story hinges on the mystery of the heart of the magic, in a sense. The way Brianna Joy Crump describes Monroe’s ability is superb. It was honestly one of the best descriptions of the internal feelings and how an ability manifests. I was really into that as I feel it often gets glossed over or not fleshed out. This was just really good. She also does a good job of showing how trauma and traumatic experiences can change a person, their wants, their needs, their goals, their character, all of it.

All in all, I’m very pleased with this sequel and can’t wait to see what she does next!

It took me a minute to get back into this series as I could not recall the first book other than I loved it. I fell for Kai and Monroe. Great adventures. Good love story. And of course a shocking reveal that sets up book 3.

So many second books are just place holders to get you to the good stuff in book three. That is not the case with this book. Yes, there are some tendencies you find in many second books, but I was engaged with the characters, plot, and drama from page one till the end. Kai is a fantastic character and adds in a new lovely dynamic with the characters we all ready know from the first book. I love how he was built up throughout the book. This book keeps the reader engaged and does such a lovely job of building up the plot where you will have to come back for the third one. This series is just lovely.
Thank you so much to Wattpad Webtoons Book Group and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

I really enjoyed this second book in this series! After reading book 1, I needed 2 book immediately! You got more world building and character growth and that's what I want in a sequel. This book was full of twists and turns and I loved it. While I may have guessed what was going to happen, it was still a fun ride of a book and I would recommend this series to friends.

This novel was an enjoyable read and a great sequel. There were some unexpected plot twists and new revelations. The story is told from Monroe’s point of view. She survived the Culling with a few other goddess touched girls, along with the prince and princess. However, She feels one prison was traded for another. Under the supervision of Kai, Monroe’s fire magic becomes more controllable, even though she does not realize what he is doing until much later, for Monroe is not a fan of Kai in the beginning, but he grows on her. Still, she has to figure out how she feels about Cohen, the crowned prince. Follow Monroe on her adventures in this novel, rediscovering herself, her abilities, and what she will do to end the Cullings. A very interesting and delightful read, an ending that was rather surprising, and wondering what path Monroe plans to take. I received this novel from net galley and the publisher as an ARC. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wattpad Books for a copy of this book.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series and was so excited when I saw the second one was out. I do wish that books came with a 'previously on... similar to what tv shows do because it's been a while since I read the first one, and it took me a few chapters to remember who everyone was and what had happened.

The first book had a lot of world building and definitely focused on the overall plot. This one was completely different, which I really enjoyed! This book focused a lot more on Monroe as a person and her coming to terms with the choices she made in book one and how it has impacted her life now. I loved getting to watch Monroe develop as a person as she comes to realisations about what's happened to her and her trying to take control of her life.

I loved Kai as a character. He has a lot of depth and added a lot to the story. I thought he was a great addition. I loved his relationship with Monroe.

The plot was a bit slower than the first, but I didn't mind that because I enjoyed focusing on Monroe's development and self-discovery. I feel like this book was a great continuation of this series, and I'm desperate for book 3 already!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Brianna Joy Crump is definitely becoming one of those authors that I will be reading everything they write. I read book one in The Culled Crown series a couple years ago and have been patiently waiting for book two to come out since then. I did find this one to have a little bit of a slow start and trying re-familiarize myself with the world and characters after waiting so long between books; however, once I got to a certain point, I had a hard time putting this book down. There were so many unexpected twists and turns throughout the book. And while I have fully switched over to which team I’m on, this was done very well. I look forward to continuing this series and reading more books by this author!

Omg I forgot how much I loved this series!!! I was very blessed to get an ARC of this book and it didn’t disappoint! I will be honest and say I didn’t remember everything from the last book but I was so easily reimbursed into the world. I am so happy about all the twist and turns that happened during the book. I thought the pacing was great.
Now while this is a five star for me they were a couple things I didn’t love that happened in this book. Some characters made choices I thought were odd and then they switch back into being how I remembered them.
This is such the perfect read for someone who needs something like the Hunger Games. I can’t wait for the next book!!!

This book has a lot packed into it that will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the whole book! The characters and the world building are wonderful. I'm a reader who wants to connect to the characters and for me I connected with a variety of characters and loved it. The worldbuilding is fantastic and I couldn't put this book down. I can't wait for the next book because that ending was just shocking and jaw dropping. I enjoyed so much about this book, from the writing to the characters, it was just a very well paced book. Would recommend if you like a good story!
My negative would be not realizing there was going to be another book, hence having to wait for the next one!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

This book succumbed to the middle book curse. I had such high hopes for this series and I definitely will continue to read this series as the ending picked up. I felt like nothing happened throughout this book. If I could sum up this story in 3 sentences I probably could.

Monroe finds herself in the thick of the rebellion with Cohen, Nadia and Heidi as they navigate their new life and the obstacles it holds.

Thank you Brianna Joy Crump, Netgalley and Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

3/5 stars due to how boring this book was, but I will continue with the series as it made me excited to read how this series end.

I didn’t quite love this one as much. What drew me into the first one was the competition and the trials. I also was so sad to see what happened with Cohen. It was a good story and the ending will probably keep me invested in picking up the next book!

It’s rare that I prefer the second book in a series over the first, but this is an exception. I experienced a roller coaster of emotions while reading this book. I fell out of love and I fell in love. I laughed, I cried, I grieved. The final part hit me like a gut punch. Book 3 cannot come soon enough! It will take me a couple of days to process everything that happened.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad books for providing this ARC.

I dnf’ed at 100 pages.

Honestly, as someone who really loved the first book, I was sorely disappointed here. Monroe had lost all depth as a character as well as the plot being about as interesting as watching paint dry.

I didn’t feel like Monroe cared at all about Cohen. Honestly, she seemed to be leaning more towards Callahan.

There is also the distinct problem that it’s been several years since I read the first book.

Absolutely loved the cover.

There are a lot of people talking about the first book, so I assume the expectations will remain super high for this book and the third.

It was an ok text. Really hard to connect with and there was A LOT of tangents causing me to dose off or have to spend a lot of energy to focus. I feel like the writer is trying to hard and really trying to meet a word count.

I am absolutely obsessed with this series!

While this one definitely had second book syndrome (slower and more plot building) it was still so good!! The ending had me on the edge of my seat and I may never recover from the loss of one of my favourite characters 😭

The twist in this was so good and I cannot wait for the next book!!!

4.5/5 ⭐️
Okay that is how you do a sequel. I will admit I was a little hesitant after ready the book’s description. Like a new potential love interest? I was hesitant for nothing, it was excellent. Not only did I love the new twists and turns the sequel added to this story, but it’s a lovely continuation of girls actually being friends. Like it’s not always about boys or pitting girls against each other. And also this authors amazing job at unpacking the trauma that would be expected not only from participating in a death trial, but using their abilities. She had her characters asked the question: just because they can, should they? The grief she tackled. The heartbreak she caused me. I’m devastated, but eager for the next book.
Thank you to NetGalley and WattPad Books for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.

Of Princes and Poisons by Brianna Joy Crump
3 stars ⭐️

𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐛
Of Princes and Poisons follows Monroe Benson as she escapes the Culling aka Death. Now living in a rebel camp, she struggles to build a normal life and convince others that she’s not a threat. However, as her past catches up to her, Monroe faces a critical choice: save herself or protect the people she loves.

𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
Okay! To start with, the first half was eventful. Monroe's struggle to live a regular life while dealing with the events related to her "fire ability" was captivating. There was this one scene where she used her abilities to the extreme, and I loved it!

“But as I stepped forward into the ash and wind and blistering heat of my own making, I knew that there was only one level of hell—and in that moment, I was queen of it.”

The representation of past trauma and the healing process, as the girls realized that they now have a choice beyond life-and-death situations, was beautifully done. It made their characters feel real and relatable..

At first, Cohen's actions were very strange compared to how he was in the first book, but that was mostly to divert attention from him as the main lead. However, the justification for making Cohen the bad guy was forced and unconvincing. And… Cohen DID. NOT. DESERVE. Whatever happened around him. 😔

The introduction of Callahan and the sudden shift in the love interest from Cohen was very abrupt, and the chemistry between the main characters felt off. While there was some attraction towards each other, the emotional connection was just not there, leaving me wanting more depth in their relationship.

Plus, there was an overload of INFO DUMP and plot-building conversations. As the second half started, the pacing was so slow and I found myself delaying my reading and skimming through many parts. While there was plenty of scheming and planning, there was just too little action and implementation.

“I knew I was little more than a twisted pile of regret and poor choices.”

Around 80%, my interest in the characters and the storyline diminished.. however, that’s when the plot took a sharp turn, becoming more eventful. The final part of the story was packed with unexpected twists, heartbreak, and sadness.

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧
Overall, I’m quite let down by this. It had the potential to be far better if certain events had unfolded differently. However, amidst its adventurous plot and a poignant portrayal of trauma, there were so many exciting events showing Monroe’s abilities in action.

It's common for the second book to act as a bridge between the first and third. So, I'll wait for book three to understand Callahan's actions better, and hopefully, Cohen gets a more compelling storyline than he’s had so far!

Thanks to NetGalley, Wattpad Books, and author Brianna Joy Crump for the e-copy in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published on 18th June 2024.

P.S. Scroll down for some additional thoughts (SPOILERS‼️)
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• The plot seemed like karma coming full circle for Monroe! In the first book, she betrays those around her, resulting in Cohen losing a lot. However, in this one, she experiences the same betrayal from someone she loved, losing people dear to her.. it’s really “𝐤𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤”.

• Furthermore, when Callahan convinced Monroe that “If Cohen wanted to do something about the Culling, he could have” it was the same thing that Callahan himself did to Monroe. 𝐈𝐟 𝐇𝐄 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨, he could have been honest with her instead of deceiving and betraying her trust.

• I feel so bad for COHEN because he's repeatedly losing his family members, despite none of it being his fault. Sure, The Culling was undoubtedly strange and unjust, but it wasn’t him who made this tradition. It’s heartbreaking to see Monroe's response when she says, "He didn't do anything to stop the Culling”, when he sacrificed his whole family, his identity to save her..

• And Uri... 😔 She deserved so much more. Out of all the characters in the second book, she was the only one I genuinely liked and felt deserved a happy ending.

• Throughout the book, we were told Larkin was the evil and dangerous villain, who needs to be defeated.. only for that event? that abrupt ending?