Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this early copy to read and review. All thoughts are my own.

I was very intrigued with this book when I requested it because I love retellings and I haven’t read many to do with Snow White and the Evil Queen.

I do feel like I was let down just a tad. I don’t really see the link between this story and Evil Queen until the very, very end. Nothing really eventful happened until the last 100 pages and even then I don’t feel like anything really happened, it just sort of picked up. I also felt like the characters were just there. I didn’t really form any like or relation to any of them, except Nettle but that’s because I like cats.

I don’t think the book was necessarily bad but it just wasn’t what I was really looking for. I wish it had more world building and more exciting plot. I feel like there were a bunch of loose ends that needed tied and they just weren’t.

3 stars.

In a world of fairytale retellings, The Crimson Crown barely classifies in my opinion. We see the easter eggs of the classic of Snow White scattered throughout this book, but at its core it’s a new original story almost entirely removed from the original. I believe if I didn’t know this was a retelling for the “Evil Queen” in Snow White, (along with the multitude of hints in worldbuilding), I’d have never guessed what this story was.

That’s not a bad thing, by the way. At no point was I certain where this story was going, because other than knowing our main character was to become a “villain” at the end - everything building up to that pivotal moment was brand new. This story hooks itself into you and takes you along for the ride, until you too are rooting for the villain in this tale. A sincere part of me wishes for a sequel to explore this newfound narrative, and to see if the story continues closer to how we know it - or if we will continue to root for the Evil Queen until the end.

I loved Malice and Misrule, and The Crimson Crown has a very similar vibe to it - by the end, you are wishing for the destruction of everything around the main character so she can take her (well deserved) revenge.

The one thing I found a bit difficult to get into was the romance scattered throughout, between Ayleth and Jacquetta. Much of their romance was built upon a history we were not there to see, so I found it hard to care or relate. That’s not to say that they didn’t have moments, and that I didn’t root for them to succeed against all costs - just that I find it hard to get into “established” romances in storytelling.

If you love villain origin stories, where you get to follow along with our main character as they fall deeper and deeper into a darkness they cannot escape from - until eventually they embrace this part of themselves - then this is the novel for you. Even “knowing the ending,” as it were, there were many twists and turns and I was never certain how our Ayleth became the Evil Queen we know until it finally happened.

Thank you to the author, Netgalley, and Random House Ballantine/Del Rey for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Crimson Crown weaves a spellbinding tale that reimagines the infamous villain from Snow White as a complex and compelling heroine in her own right. Ayleth, a young witch struggling to prove herself amidst a brutal war on magic, embarks on a daring journey to the opulent White Palace. There, amidst political intrigue and personal vendettas, she confronts her past and unearths dark secrets that threaten not only her coven but also her own identity. As Ayleth navigates treacherous waters of power and love, author, Heather Walter skillfully crafts a narrative rich in atmosphere and depth. With its captivating blend of magic, romance, and political intrigue, "The Crimson Crown" offers a fresh perspective on a classic tale, showcasing Ayleth's journey from uncertainty to becoming the formidable witch she was destined to be.


Thank you to the author, Netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this in exchange for an honest review.

thank you netgalley and delrey for this arc!

the crimson crown follows the journey of a young witch named ayleth, the witch who would go on to become snow white’s evil queen. this is a dark twist on a fantasy coming of age story, with sapphic romance and a strong undercurrent of female rage.

retellings typically feel a bit corny to me, they too often rely on easter eggs to keep the reader engaged. however, heather walter’s use of the fairytale feels more like a vehicle for ayleth’s jouney rather than just an addition to a preexisting story. all references to the original felt like they actually had a purpose in this new narrative. i honestly think if walter dropped the retelling aspect entirely and altered a few details, this would have felt like a completely original novel.

i was hooked from the beginning, but the ending is what bumped this up to a four star read. i will be stuck on the edge of my seat until heather walter graces us with book 2. (which will be the true snow white retelling!)

I really enjoyed Malice and I was very eager to read the start of a new sapphic fantasy retelling. Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC! I will agree with the others I've seen but there is so much dialogue and I felt it almost info dumpy. Other than that, I have incredibly positive feelings for this book and I'm looking forward to the second! The angst was *chef's kiss* and it was a spooky read perfect for fall!

We all remember the wicked witch in Snow White and the seven dwarfs. Have you ever wondered how she became the most wicked of all? Here’s your chance to find out.

Well, this was a good read, once I finally got into it, it has so much dialogue that it’s hard to follow for a while. Hold out and hang on because it gets better and it’s worth it in the end.

A fantastic retelling of the beloved Evil Queen, before her heart was turned wicked. Though one could say the darkness always sought after her, just waiting for Ayleth to choose it too.

While reading, I found myself lost in the story. First-person novels often cause that effect, as if I'm experiencing it all myself. Heather Walter's books are no exception and are always amazingly written, leading you to be absorbed into the story. "The Crimson Crown" had me entranced, not putting it down all morning as I read.

The story shows strength and hard truths, the actions we must do when things around us force our hand. And the dangers of love, past and present advances. As other reviewers have mentioned, I almost forgot it was a retelling of The Evil Queen. She is usually seen as the one to manipulate the situation, not the other way around. Ayleth quickly became one of my favorite characters, and my view of her changed as the story went on. At first, I had envisioned her as a frail thing. Something scared of everything that came her way. But then it shaped into someone determined. And then at the end, a powerful woman, keen on making things right. Nettle was also a favorite for her cunning nature and actions of defiance.

The mystery surrounding the magic and power in their world was interesting to uncover, or rather, watch the characters uncover. To see Ayleth face the reality of her situation and come to accept it was satisfying. Throughout the book, I hoped she would come into her power, and realize the strength she had even while everyone around her denied it or tried to steer her away.

A commonality in Heather Walter's stories that I enjoy is when the main character stops being afraid of themselves and welcomes what they once feared, lending them a greater ally than they could have had before.

I'm grateful to have been able to read an ARC of this book, and can't wait for everyone to get a chance to read it. It's a truly magical story, one I'll reread many times over.

a fantasy retelling? say no more! ٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و ♡

the darkness of this book was beautiful, gloomy with intrigue and drama. i really enjoyed my journey with ayleth and her growth as time went by. however, this book did not need to be as long as it stands and a quicker pace would’ve been more fitting to the storyline. i usually read retellings of princesses, so this was a nice time different from the status quo.

thank you heather walter and netgalley for the ARC!

E-Arc Review!

I quite enjoyed this book! Who wouldn't like a good doomed sapphic romance? This story outlines Ayleth's evil origin story; how the evil queen in Snow White became evil in the first place. The book is immersive to the point where I had a difficult time trying to put it away. I am highly biased when it comes to fairy tales whether it be retellings or originals, but I love a dark narrative when it is well-written and well-executed. With that ending, I too would do what Ayleth did. I support women's wrongs even though she had great reason to do it!

I loved the relationship between Blodwyn and Ayleth, but knowing how the original tale goes they were doomed since their first meeting. Since this is a Snow White retelling, I so desperately want to see Blodwyn's perspective in the next book and her story being reimagined. Possibly taking revenge against Ayleth or maybe (highly unlikely) siding with her.

Overll, I would give this story a 4.5/5. I docked .5 points because there was a lot of repetition with the voice in Ayleth's head and the way it was written irked me. That and her left bone rib vibrating every chapter got annoying lol. Otherwise, this was a wonderful dark tale.

Honestly, I went into this book blind, having forgotten what the synopsis had said, and didn’t realize it was a retelling of the Evil Queen from Snow White’s story until the end.

I thoroughly enjoyed this unique and original story of Ayleth, a witch who has not come into her powers, but does what she thinks she must to help save the world from the Veil unraveling. Along the way, you get enemies to lovers (twice), political intrigue, a sapphic love story, magic, great world building, and an enjoyable and fun storyline. At the end you find out why she has become the evil queen, but as I said, until then I didn’t even realize I was reading a retelling of her story.

Overall, I liked this book, and look forward to reading the second book in this duology.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for sending an advanced copy for me to read and provide an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book once I gave myself time to get into it! At first I was struggling a bit and felt it was slow but then it really got interesting and picked up. The characters and story is unique and I would recommend for sure.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I'm going to be totally transparent with yall: immediately after receiving this ARC, I slipped into my annual reading slump that usually starts about late spring into early summer (No seriously, check my monthly tags if you don't believe me). That being said, the first 40ish percent of this was agony. I was forcing myself to read to try and break out of my slump (bad idea) and ended up resenting the book. I paused it and went onto to read some shorter books, and came back to this one once I felt my slump was sufficiently broken, and Oh my goodness this book was so fun. I read the back half of this book in a day, devoured it, I tell you! I loved the story and the worldbuilding and the characters. Sooooo good.

I do want to note that I went in completely blind to the concept of this book, only looking at the cover when I requested the eARC, and I think that will afford you the best reading experience, overall.

3.8 rounded up

I’m all for a villain arc, and I was immediately intrigued by the “mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the most villainous of them all?” This is the my first book I’ve read by Heather Walter and I throughly enjoyed it and her writing. It did take me a little to get into the story, mostly because in my head I think I was expecting a villain right away and also the Snow White aspect isn’t immediately there, but of course we see who Aylethe is and who she becomes. I loved the reimagining, the magic, the queer romance. I will be checking out the other works by Heather Walter.
Special thanks to Del Ray and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ok, it took me a while to start because I was in a hardcore reading slump, this is the book that FINALLY took me out of it. I went into this blind as I loved the author's previous books so I had faith in them with this one, overall I enjoyed the story so my faith was well placed. The book sucks you in right away with strong world-building and relatable characters. Ayleth wants her sister back, the only person she felt believed in her and didn't hold her to unrealistic standards while also struggling through grief and finding her place in the world.
I will say you never know what is coming in this book, I thought I had a pretty good idea of how the story would go several times throughout the book and was always blindsided by the events that unfolded instead. I also loved how dynamic each character is no one is "good" and everyone has their flaws some more than others. By the end of the story, I found myself rooting for the "villain" and hoping they succeed.
The only thing that kept me from giving this 5 stars is that the build-up throughout the book was fantastic and gave you just enough to keep you interested but still guessing what could happen next. There were a few times when problems arose that I felt were swept over with little issues, personally, I feel this also happened with the big reveal and I wish that the whole encounter was more of a struggle. With that said, I still loved the story and would highly recommend it to any of my friends or other readers.
I would love to continue Ayleth's story, the ending was incredibly intense and leaves you wanting more. I am a sucker for a gothic fantasy, even more so when we get some feminine rage mixed in.

Overall, this was fine. Fast paced, straightforward, high stakes, and fun characters. I think would have enjoyed this much more as an audiobook because there is so much dialogue throughout, my brain started to have a hard time imagining all the characters voices in the first 10 chapters or so. With this much dialogue, it often felt unnatural, like the characters were breaking the fourth wall to deliver info to the reader. I expect deeper themes and more nuance in adult books, so this felt very YA to me, but I imagine this book will find a wide audience of fans. If you liked Malice, you will probably enjoy Crimson Crown as well.

3.5

Heather Walter's "The Crimson Crown" takes a bold leap from its traditional fairy tale origins, reimagining "Snow White" with a twist that delves deep into the realm of villainy and redemption. This dark fantasy novel not only captivates with its unique take on a classic tale but also showcases Walter's prowess in crafting compelling morally grey villain origins.

Walter's strength lies in her ability to flesh out characters, particularly villains, with depth and nuance. She paints a vivid picture of Ayleth's descent into darkness, weaving a tale that is both tragic and compelling.

However, while Walter excels in her portrayal of villainy, I noticed that her writing occasionally falters in its reliance on the trope of attraction. The romantic elements, though initially intriguing, can veer towards predictability and cliché, detracting Ayleth's motivations, and feels muddled by her love for Jacquette. The goal to reach Rhea serves as a primary motivator, adding an interesting layer to the story but also posing questions about the depth of character development beyond romantic entanglements.

Additionally, it seems as if the main plot progression was rushed, where since there was a good portion of personal happenings, the main issue felt more like a side story. However, I liked the twist. The ending felt iconic and surprising. It leaves a bit of questions unanswered from the time in between where we assume Ayleth as the Evil Queen gains the throne and prior to the "start " of snow white

Overall, "The Crimson Crown" is a commendable reimagining of "Snow White" that shines in its exploration of villainy and redemption.

I really wanted to love this book after the Malice duology, but it just never hooked me. It wasn’t terrible, but also not incredible. There was very little in the way of romance, and I had a hard time connecting with and/or rooting for the main character, Ayleth. Perhaps she wasn’t meant to be likable, considering she grows up to be the evil queen in Snow White, but I’d at least have like to better understand and empathize with where she ended up.

Beautiful and dark retelling of Snow White, which version!! It was dark and fun! All of the things you would want from this author.

I had to sit with this one for a moment before I wrote a review. The ending is honestly mind blowing. The entire book is very well written. The middle gets a little slow for me and I couldn't see where we could be going, however, clearly the author had a plan in mind. The relationships feel very authentic and the way the characters interact and how their stories unfold really got me to feel. incredibly invested in where each of them ends up. The last third of the book was shocking in the best way. I can't wait to see where this story goes in the next book!

The Crimson Crown may be the most interesting fairytale retelling I’ve come across. It isn’t exactly Snow White retold. Instead, it is the witch’s story.

The Crimson Crown gives life to the evil queen and her origin. Ayleth was not always evil. She lived a life being forced into molds that she never quite fit into. After so much pushing, pulling, and prying a tether is bound to snap.

It took a while for me to get into the story and understand its connection to Snow White. I had been looking forward to reading The Crimson Crown since it was announced! I’ve read and enjoyed other Snow White retellings and this one seemed striking. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite grab me right away.

Overall, The Crimson Crown was not that bad. It was heartfelt and dark rolled into one. It just wasn’t that exciting until it was pretty much over. I kept thinking that there must be a second book, it must be another duology, there is no way it could conclude. The whole book seemed like this enormous buildup for it to, in fact, conclude in the last 10% of the book. It was a good conclusion! It just took a really long time to get there.