It has taken me a long time to get to this and there really is no excuse for it.

Monroe is the type of character I wish I could read more of, someone who is so dedicated to her family and their wellbeing that she will put her in the way of any potential danger to protect them and follow through. It gives Hunger Games vibes and I am here for it!

Following that lead, you have Cohen who values the same thing as Monroe, family. He is a good balance to Monroe.

The relationships and world building were done beautifully and believably and as always, I love the supporting characters. They are typically my favorite things about books because they tie everything up nicely and show differences in relationships.

This book does end on a cliffhanger but one that keeps you wanting more!

Of Cages and Crowns is an absolute gem! I was hooked from the start and couldn't put it down. The world-building is phenomenal—rich and immersive, with a dystopian society that feels both terrifying and captivating. The political intrigue and constant tension kept me on the edge of my seat, and the action sequences were intense and gripping.

The romance was an added bonus, adding a nice emotional layer to the already high-stakes plot. While there are clear comparisons to The Hunger Games and The Selection with its deadly competitions and oppressive societies, Crump manages to create something that feels fresh and unique. It’s intense, thrilling, and filled with twists that kept me guessing until the very end. If you love fast-paced, high-stakes YA with a strong dose of action and romance, this is definitely a book you won't want to miss!

I really enjoyed Of Cages of Crowns! It was plot heavy, with great character development, detail oriented and good world building. I was enthralled and captivated through the entire read. The cover is also GORGEOUS.

Thank you for the opportunity to read Of Cages and Crowns. The updated cover is gorgeous and captures the magic within. I really enjoyed the world building and pacing from start to finish.

not any old elevated wattpad. kinda hunger gamesy, not particularly thought-inducing but cool. 4 stars, tysm for the arc.

Wow, I was not ready for this book! While it’s often compared to The Hunger Games, Of Cages and Crowns stands on its own as an intense, action-packed story. Monroe, born with the power to summon fire from her fingertips, is thrust into the deadly Culling where ten goddess-touched girls battle …. And also battle for the future throne. From the moment she’s pulled into this brutal world, I couldn’t stop turning the pages. The development between Monroe and Cohen, the son of the queen, adds another layer of complexity, and their evolving relationship kept me hooked. Every twist and betrayal left me wanting more. This was a wild and thrilling ride, and I highly recommend it for fans of fast-paced, high-stakes fantasy!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

This book screamed Hunger Games from the very beginning and I’m so thankful that I finally took the plunge and read it! I’ve been missing the fantastic YA dystopian books I used to read and this brought it all back. Pacing was great. Storyline was amazing. I can’t wait to continue this series!

Of Cages and Crowns is the first book of a three-book series. The book begins with a bang right from the prologue. It hooks you from the start, making it impossible to put the book down.

It is all very happening and there is not a dull moment in the book. I loved how each girl was gifted with a special power that was equally deadly if not more. I do wish I could see more of their powers at work.

As much as I loved Monroe as the main character, I loved Queen Viera as a villain too. She makes a real deadly villain and gets full marks for her villainy. Although, it seems as if there is more to the evil queen than what meets the eye.

With complex characters, incredible world building and lovable supporting characters the book is an amazing YA fantasy with a little bit of everything-action, romance, politics and plot twists that you do not see coming.

The book is perfect for those who love fantasy and enjoyed reading Hunger Games.

I absolutely loved the book!! Looking forward to reading the next book.

I loved this book. At first I was a little apprehensive about reading it because the description and the cover didn’t totally appeal to me. However I was intrigued enough to apply to read it. I AM SO GLAD I DID! the plot was amazing, the world was amazing, the way clothing was described was also amazing. The clothing and modernization kind of gave the vibe of early 1940-60s, which was an interesting take for a high fantasy world. I love the magical system, I loved the trials and how they were explained. Also the demonstration of PTSD is chefs kiss. I genuinely adored Uriel. She will forever hold a special place in my heart. The pace was really well done, the way the FMC thought things through made sense, there were no information gaps, this book has it all. Thank you for the opportunity to read this. I look forward to second book. Also…. There were MANY plot twists that I did not see coming and I am someone who often gets bored of books due to foreseeable plots. I was kicking and giggling when things got twisted and I wanted to throw the book across the room many times. Impeccably done.

I LOVE THIS BOOK. This is what I wanted when I read Red Queen. A girl who now has to fight even when she doesn't want to. A girl who is destined to change the standard quo. It is also an easy and captivating read from page 1!

This was such an astounding book. Loved the fantasy and the plot. I’m so excited to read the next book in this series! It can’t come fast enough!

In Brianna Joy Crump's debut novel *Of Cages and Crowns*, readers are thrust into the captivating and perilous world of Erydia, where power and destiny collide in a deadly game for the throne.

The story revolves around Monroe Benson, born with the dangerous ability to summon fire—a power that marks her as one of ten goddess-touched girls chosen for the Culling. This brutal tradition, decreed by Queen Viera, demands that these girls battle to the death to claim the throne. Forced to leave behind her sheltered life, Monroe confronts a future she never desired, filled with rivalries and alliances that could mean life or death.

Opposite Monroe is Cohen, the reluctant prince bound by duty and tradition. As poison threatens his life and his sister disappears under mysterious circumstances, Cohen finds himself trapped within a system that dictates his every move, including whom he will marry and how he will rule. Amidst growing rebellion, both within and outside the palace walls, Cohen and Monroe must navigate treacherous waters of politics and power while grappling with their own burgeoning feelings for each other.

*Of Cages and Crowns* unfolds with richly developed characters and a gripping narrative that blends elements of fantasy, romance, and political intrigue. Crump deftly explores themes of identity, duty, and the consequences of power, painting a vivid portrait of a world where choices have far-reaching consequences.

The relationship between Monroe and Cohen serves as the emotional anchor of the story, offering a poignant exploration of love amidst adversity and the complexities of personal agency in a world dictated by tradition. Monroe's defiance and Cohen's internal struggle humanize them, making their journey relatable and compelling.

Crump's writing is immersive and evocative, transporting readers into a world where magic and monarchy collide. The pacing is swift, keeping the tension high as alliances shift and betrayals unfold. The novel's exploration of sacrifice and rebellion adds depth to its narrative, challenging traditional notions of fate and destiny.

In conclusion, *Of Cages and Crowns* is a thrilling debut that will appeal to fans of fantasy and romance alike. Brianna Joy Crump's skillful storytelling and nuanced character development make this novel a standout in the realm of YA fantasy, promising an unforgettable journey through intrigue, danger, and the power of love.

*Of Cages and Crowns* by Brianna Joy Crump is a spellbinding tale of courage, love, and destiny, set against a backdrop of political upheaval and magical intrigue. Crump's debut marks her as a talent to watch in the world of fantasy literature, delivering a gripping narrative that will leave readers eagerly anticipating what comes next.

I really like this story and I enjoyed Monroe as a main character, I think the romance was really sweet. However, I will say that the ending was a bit chaotic because it was a bit all over the place, but I did find myself enjoying the plot a lot. I liked how it was a nice hunger game-esque fight and I’m curious how thing will be in the sequel especially because her brothers are still so divided. I can’t wait to start reading the sequel because even though this one had a strong wrap up and it could’ve been a standalone, I do look forward to finding out what is going to happen in the second book.

This book was such an easy 5 stars! I loved all these characters and even the queen I liked her. She was delightfully wicked and her fierceness kind of scared me. To me she was the perfect villain in this book and It gave me so much joy so see what all went down! I can just keep going on and on about this!

I really enjoyed the aspect of this book. I also really love the new cover of both books. This follows a battle of these 10 girls, which one of them will marry the prince. It was really intriguing and interesting. Loved the female main character Monroe.

The prologue itself will have you on the edge of your seat. Top-notch world-building. The writing really brings the story to life. You would not see the plot twists coming. The pace is nice. Slows down a bit in the middle (still eventful) but picks up again quickly. The characters are complex but relatable. The chemistry is perfect. The end of book 1 brings so much chaos. The fighting, the action, the twists. It doesn't really end at a cliffhanger but you'd want to know what happens next.

You'd not find the "chosen one" trope here which was nice. Monroe is strong and confident in much more realer ways. She's scared but not a coward. But when it's time to be strong, she doesn't shy away and fights hard to stay alive. Her character development is good.

Cohen is kind and caring. Also, romantic. He's a good representation of the people who feel too much and face a lot of rejection in life. He stands up for the people he cares for and rebels against his mother, the queen(who's a bitch)

The side characters all have so much depth in them, they're really well developed and likeable. They soon become an integral part of the plot too.

Overall, this book is an amazing YA fantasy with incredible world-building, packed with action, rebellion, romance and politics. If you're the kind of person who gets heartbroken with a character's death and wants to avoid that, you'll want to avoid this book.

Thank you netgalley and Brianna for the e-arc!

Easy 5⭐️

Wow. What a ride. There was quite literally never a dull moment while reading this one!

The world building and writing style was so immersive, I didn’t want to stop reading! I was intrigued by the tense political and religious dynamics at play in Erydia and how they intertwined. The high stakes of the the culling kept me on the edge of my seat. A perfect read for fans of The Hunger Games and The Selection Series! This YA fantasy has some of the vibes of both, but with magical abilities🔥

The lines between right and wrong blur when you’re fighting for your life, and trying to protect the people you love. Brianna Joy Crump wrote the internal conflict her characters were feeling so well. You could feel the turmoil in so many scenes. Both main characters have interesting and challenging family dynamics, that added another layer of conflict to their stories. The side characters were memorable and stood out from one another well.

The romance between Monroe and Cohen was slow burn with lots of little touches, build up and longing. This was not an open door romance😘🚪

This book needs so much more hype! The Culled Crown series will be 3 books total, and luckily for us book 2 Of Princes And Poisons is already available!

**Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad Books for providing me an ARC to review! All opinions are my own**

Thank you so much Brianna Joy Crump and Wattpad for the eARC of Of Cages and Crowns. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I’m a sucker for a romantasy that features deadly trials. Obviously, when I learned that a major plot point in Of Cages and Crowns was a magical deadly trial between 10 goddess touched women, I knew I had to read it. I can now say with confidence that you’re going to want to add Of Cages and Crowns to your tbr!

Monroe Benson, the FMC, really blossomed emotionally throughout the story. She went from a girl that had all her choices made for her to a woman in control of her own destiny. I loved that she learned to stand up for herself and what she believed in rather than let others tell her how to live.

Another part of the book I really enjoyed was the strong female friendships Monroe made. One might assume that deadly trials pitting 10 girls against each other would lead to some mean girl like behaviors. This wasn’t the case! I thought it was so cool how some of these women came together to build each other up in a seemingly impossible situation.

Also, let’s chat about Prince Cohen 🔥! Talk about complicated family dynamics 👀. This poor Prince has been through it. He also had to make a ton of interesting choices that will have far reaching (and incredibly interesting) consequences for the next installment! Lucky for you, book 2 in the series, Of Princes and Potions is available now!

In the pages you will find:

⚔️Deadly magical trials
❤️Clean Romance (just kissing)
🤝Strong female friendships
👑Royality
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒Complicated family dynamics
👗Glittering ballrooms
🔥Magic abilities
📖An ending that will make you want to read the next installment!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

#ofcagesandcrowns #briannajoycrump #wattpad #romantasy #deadlytrials

THIS BOOK!!! By far a 5 star read for me and I cant wait to read the second book. This story is a mixture of The Hunger Games meets The Selection series but better!!
I absolutely devoured Of Cages & Crowns and I loved every single moment of it. I was drawn to this story from page one and it was a type of book you just cant put down. It is hard to even write a review for this book because I loved it so much. I loved Monroe and Cohen's characters. I pretty much loved all the characters in this one including some of the bad ones just because they also made the story. Their unique powers and the different trials were super exciting to read about and just picturing this story in your head as you think of what it could look like in real life.

Super excited like I said to read the next book in this series and I hope everyone else decides to read this book as well. 5 stars for sure.