This was kind of amazing. Incredibly character driven with so much emotion and depth. I didn't expect so much soul searching... The arc and development are so fantastic.

The layers that drop to expose what Naomi missed are slow coming but worth it. I loved Nicholas and what was obvious in regards to him from almost the start.

The haze lifting as Naomi wrestled with her demons... The strength Nicholas gets when it comes to boundaries... This book handled it all really well!

I will say that I was apprehensive about the way they treated one another at first. I didn't really find their pranks all that funny, and it bothered me the way Naomi reacted to things in a very egoistic way. It made a lot more sense as the story progressed though.

I could barely put this down by about 20% in. Wonderful story!

Yes yes yes. I loved the cover of this book and cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy. Pretty! This is def going on my favorite bookshelf.

Features:
-YA competition dystopia in the vein of The Hunger Games and The Selection
-Political intrigue
-Sweet but complicated romance
-Interesting and action-packed twist

Competition dystopian books are back! This book blends the last man standing brutality of The Hunger Games series with the court intrigue of The Selection series and adds a little spice of its own. It shares a lot of the same DNA as its predecessors in this category and will definitely delight readers looking for a similar experience. This book definitely does its own thing however, I’m not sure if it’s different enough to call it an ‘evolution’ or completely fresh take on this type of story. So those who are looking for something that feels completely new or different might not enjoy this as much. The world building can be a little rough at times, but the characters more than make up for it and really carry the story. Overall, I had a great time with this book and look forward to seeing where it goes in the sequel!

Characters to Love and Characters to Hate

If a kingdom could be built on personality alone, it would be this one. Each member of this cast of characters has a strong presence that helps shape and drive the story forward. There is plenty of action and intrigue, but wanting to know what happens to all of these characters is what kept me truly invested. Because each of the characters have such strong personalities, it is definitely accurate to say that you will either love or hate them with little room in between. I don’t think I would call these characters traditionally complex, but the situations they find themselves in and the decisions they have to make introduce a little of the grayness that might otherwise be missing.

Though I wish she was given a little more agency sooner, Monroe grew on me as a main character. Prince Cohen is very endearing and the two have great chemistry on the page. The same can be said for the other characters that Monroe draws into her orbit, which makes some of the late developments of the book extremely impactful. The Queen is cool, calculated, and manipulative in a way that just screams evil from the very start. I love the way Crump shows how the Queen’s machinations have already infected the people around her even before Monroe is thrown into her web. She’s definitely a strong villain character you love to hate.

It’s All in the Details

There are many things I love about this book, but it still seems to lack the same impact that standout books of a similar type have. For me, I think a lot of that comes down to the finer details. The world has a great history to it and you can kind of see how that has influenced society. However, moment to moment, the world building feels kind of thrown together and is a bit muddled. Despite having strong personalities, some of the characters (Monroe included) seem to stagnate towards the middle of the story because of this same ‘big picture’ muddiness.

Special thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"Of Cages and Crowns" by Brianna Joy Crump is a spellbinding fantasy that seamlessly blends elements of Hunger Games, The Selection, and the Red Queen series. The plot immediately grabs your attention with its dynamic mix of world-building, character development, and a compelling main storyline. The pacing strikes a perfect balance between anticipation and action, with a dramatic conclusion that leaves readers hungry for more.

The characters, especially Monroe, embody powerful traits reminiscent of beloved protagonists from other fantasy tales. While Monroe's initial surprise at Cohen's interest may feel repetitive, their evolving relationship adds depth to the narrative. The story's intriguing dynamics extend to Monroe's trainers, leaving readers wanting to explore those relationships further.

4.5 stars - rounded to 5 for who star rating.

Wow. This book. THIS BOOK. Based off the description, I expected I was going to like it, but I didn’t expect to LOVE IT. This book is Hunger Games meets The Selection with a splash of the Red Queen series as well (all series of which I thoroughly enjoyed). This book has drama, intrigue, betrayal, and love. It was a really addicting read!

The plot of this book was fantastic. It began right out of the gate, giving us some world building and introducing our main character and then jumping pretty quickly into the main plot. The book had a great balance of build up and action, along with allowing us to learn more about the characters. This was a great plot for the start of a series and definitely got me hooked! The end of this book was pretty dramatic and a lot more intense than I was expecting! It doesn’t end on a cliff hanger, but ends with enough up in the air that you want to jump into the next book.

I loved the main characters as well, with Monroe reminding me a lot of powerful female characters in other stories. I would have liked to see her a little less surprised with Cohen’s interest in her (she did repeatedly act shocked even though he repeatedly told her of his interest). But other than that I liked him. I would have loved to see a bit more of her relationship with her trainers as well, as they were really interesting! Overall it was a great cast of characters and really fun!

I received a copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.25 rounded up to 5

🥀 Royalty
🥀 Competition to the Death - Culling
🥀 Arranged Marriage
🥀 First Love

Every generation 10 girls are born marked. Each with a special ability. These girls/goddesstouched are to compete in the Culling to the death. The last one standing gets to marry the next King and become Queen.

The current Queen has reigned with terror. She had no compassion for her people. The King chooses to ignore and just drink himself to oblivion.

Cohen, is a sweet naive prince. He is a hopeless romantic. He believes that he can make things better once he becomes King.

Monroe tries to escape her destiny to flee the county and the Culling. However she still finds herself in the Culling fighting for her life, but also making friends and finding love.

The story is fast paced and keeps you engaged. Gives Hunger Games type vibes.

I have read a lot of ARCs and this is honestly one of the best advanced copies I have ever read. I’m talking ACOTAR, touch of darkness, Gild, etc level. This is the next big book series. It captured my heart, my mind, and all of my time. I couldn’t stop reading it. It’s absolutely took over my life for the whole day it took to read. It wasn’t just the swoon worth characters, it was the amazing plot, all the tiny details and the flow. Everything was on point and so polished to perfection. Im so obsessed I want to create this card game and all the Easter egg items in real life and I feel empty without reading the second book. I have found a new favorite author and I think she’s going to give everyone here a run for their money

I didn't really have high hopes based on the cover, which isn't necessarily ugly or anything, it just didn't really get me terribly excited. In addition, the fact that this is a wattpad book had me a bit iffy.

I was underwhelmed by the prologue, which has a very different flavour than the rest of the book. I would have preferred if it was either not there, interspersed throughout a bit at a time, or incorporated into the story instead. It's a mega infodump and not really necessary to enjoy the story.

There were a few errors, but nothing egregious. The writing was done quite well. The story was interesting and engaging. There were some hunger games/the selection vibes for sure, but it held its own and didn't seem like a copy of either. There were some twists and turns I didn't see coming. I mean, it was a good read. I had a hard time putting it down. I moved on to book 2 immediately, and now I'm struggling to tease out which thoughts are about which book. Do recommend.

This book had me glued to the pages at the start, in the middle everything was drawn out, towards the end was great. The world building in the book is good as is the romance. The book seemed all too familiar. It's worth the read.

What. Ride!

I missed amazing dystopian books!

I love competitions in books. I don’t know why really, but ai just do. I couldn’t put this book down.

I would recommend this book to anyone else who loves a good dystopian competition.

The MC was easy to connect with. She was string, but still seemed real. She struggled with choices and directions.

I look forward to continuing this series. I’m really curious where this will

*Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Monroe has spent her whole life hiding the fact that she is goddess-touched, because of this when the Prince comes of age her and all the other goddess-touched girls will have to fight to the death to become queen. But Monroe doesn't want to be queen, she just wants to live.

This was a fun read, the comparison to both The Hunger Games and The Selection is completely right. If those two books had a baby this is what you would get. The side characters were wonderful and I really enjoyed reading about them. I hope the next book dives even deeper into their lives.

This was a quick and easy romantasy book. It was quite tropey with all the tropes I like, rebels and oppressive monarchs, murderous games, romance, and the best thing (for me) was that there was no smut. I do like a clean romance book.

The characters are likeable and the plot is pretty decent. I'm interested to see what more will happen with the war and how it will play out having a foreign power invested in what is a civil war. Cohen's and Uri's choices and their consequences will also be interesting to see.

I have already requested the next book because I'm definitely invested.

4/5

10 girls from around the country have either been born or throughout their childhood have gained a special power given to them by the ancient Goddesses. These 10 girls must now fight to the death to become Queen once the Crown Prince turned 18 in what’s known as the Culling. Unluckily for Monroe, she never wanted to join the culling and her and her family try everything to keep her safe. But when Monroe meets the handsome, mysterious prince, maybe it would be worth becoming Queen. Too bad 9 girls stand in her way.

Super solid YA novel featuring all of your favourite tropes. Think Hunger Games meets Bachelor meets Graceling.

This book took a while for me to really get into it, but by halfway I was hooked and ready for more. Brianna Joy Crump writes action scenes very well and I couldn’t put down the book when they came. The overall world building was so well thought out and well executed. I appreciated the prologue even though I was confused at first.

I’m verrrry excited to read the second instalment.

Wow! Five stars! This book is a rollercoaster of twists, turns, and spins that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. From the captivating friendships and alliances formed to the heartbreaking losses of beloved characters, every page is filled with emotion and excitement. The anticipation for the next part of Monroe's story is palpable, as the author expertly weaves a tale that leaves readers craving more. And let's not forget the villains – with at least four antagonists to contend with, you'll find yourself cheering when they finally get what's coming to them. In the realm of fantasy, this book is an absolute must-read.

Of Cages and Crowns by Brianna Joy Crump is a mesmerizing journey into a world where power, duty, and love collide in the most unexpected ways. From the very first page, Brianna weaves a gripping narrative that immerses readers into a richly imagined realm where magic, tradition, and political intrigue reign supreme.

At the heart of the story are two compelling protagonists: Monroe Benson and Cohen, each burdened by their respective destinies yet determined to carve their own paths. Monroe, born with the ability to summon fire, is thrust into the dangerous arena of the Culling, where goddess-touched girls vie for the crown in a deadly competition. Despite the odds stacked against her, Monroe refuses to be defined solely by her powers, displaying courage and resilience in the face of adversity.

Cohen, the son of the queen and the next in line for the throne grapples with his duty to uphold tradition even as he questions its morality. As he navigates palace intrigue and personal peril, Cohen emerges as a complex character torn between loyalty to his family and a desire for a better future.

What sets "Of Cages and Crowns" apart is its exploration of the evolving relationship between Monroe and Cohen. Theirs is a love story that defies expectations, transcending societal norms and challenging the constraints of their world. Crump deftly portrays their bond with nuance and depth, capturing the complexities of love amidst turmoil and uncertainty. Moreover, Brianna masterfully crafts a narrative filled with twists and turns, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. The pacing is impeccable, building tension with each chapter and culminating in a breathtaking climax that will leave readers clamoring for more. Beyond its thrilling plot and well-drawn characters, "Of Cages and Crowns" also grapples with themes of rebellion, identity, and the consequences of power. Brianna skillfully navigates these weighty topics with sensitivity and insight, prompting readers to ponder the nature of freedom and the price of sacrifice. In conclusion, "Of Cages and Crowns" is a must-read for fans of fantasy fiction. Brianna Joy Crump has crafted a captivating tale that will linger in the minds of readers long after they've turned the final page. With its unforgettable characters, intricate world-building, and poignant themes, this book is a true gem that deserves a place on every bookshelf.