Member Reviews

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.

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

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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!

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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!

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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**

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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

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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.

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Wow, just wow!! Absolutely amazing book, can’t recommend this one enough!! It was so good. This book is about our heroine Monroe who is blessed with the ability to control fire. She is forced to complete against 9 other magically gifted girls for a Prince and a Crown! Last one living gets it all. Total Hunger Game energy and I was so there for it! Just pick it up and read it, you won’t regret it.

These quotes from our main girl Monroe are too good!! 😍

"I wasn't the girl who ended up with the prince. I was the girl who burned it all down or died trying."

"I'm a damsel that has to fight a dragon all alone in the middle of an arena. And, if I win ... If I win, there's a possibility that I might become a dragon myself."

“Girls like me had two choices: kill or be killed. Die or be queen... No one had ever escaped it...Until now."

The book was so well written, I felt like I was there and the author did such a good job of world building! The characters had so much personality and the chemistry was there between Monroe and the Prince!

This book has it all and you should definitely see for yourself, until then here is a small list:
👑 Die or become Queen
🙌 High Stakes
🃏 Hunger Games energy
🦸‍♀️ Supernatural abilities
🪩 Glittering ballrooms & bloody arenas
👯‍♀️ Female friendships
🦴 Shadow and Bone vibes
❤️ First love
🧜‍♀️ Young adult fantasy

Thank you to the author Brianna Joy Crump and NetGalley for the electronic advanced copy of the book

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DON’T SLEEP ON THIS BOOK!!

Wowow. This is the kind of book that will have you up late at night and reading into the wee hours of the morning; I did not want to put this down. It was so addicting; Ms. BJC, you have written a masterpiece!
It gave major Hunger Games vibes but with powers. Basically 10 girls across the land are gods blessed and have a power and they all differ. They are expected to battle against each other in The Culling, and the winner becomes Queen, with the prince her King. No one but the winner survives.
Monroe takes a liking to the Prince, Cohen, and vice versa. He wants her to win and be his queen. Problem is she would have to kill the other 9 to get there, and Monroe isn’t that type of person. But a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do.
This one had two surprising antagonists to me, which become more prevalent as the uprising takes center stage. The way the book ends makes me want to immediately dive into the next book.

Thank you Wattpad Books for this INCREDIBLE read!! Definitely one of my top favorites for the year.

We are currently reading this one for a pop up book club with the author herself and in partnership with Wattpad Books and having so much fun!!!

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Of Cages and Crowns is book one in The Culled Crown series by Brianna Joy Crump.
This fantastic YA fantasy was so well written.
The world building was unbelievably fun. The way the book is written is so amazing.
The story was fast-paced, held me captive the entire time, and wrapped up nicely.
The characters are truly captivating.
This was such a fun story and I’m so excited for the next one.

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

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