This is a fairy tale retelling that gives the origin story of the wicked queen in snow white.
I picked this up a few times and would put it down again because the story is a bit slow in the beginning, (and again a little past the midway point) and I struggled to connect with Ayleth's character because she is so unsure of herself and what she wants to do. Ayleth is on a journey to discover who she really is and clearly has forces that are influencing that, wanting to find out how she reaches the end goal is what kept me returning despite the slow parts. I like the FMC mostly and look forward to finding out how the story continues in the second book. Overall, this is a pretty good start for a duology.

If you like villain origin stories for your classic fairy tales, a queer FMC that is on a mission to save what she loves, and a kingdom full of secrets to be discovered then this one is for you.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this work in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up because I definitely want to read the second book

I have read Walter's Malice Duology and really loved it, especially the first book. So, I was very excited when I saw this as a sapphic retelling of Snow White from the "evil" queen's point of view. This book did not hit me the same way as Malice, but it definitely angered me FOR Ayleth, who had never felt comfortable at home, and was forced into a role when her sister, the only one who ever took the time to understand her, was killed by the King's Hunt. What did not surprise me was that while the King's contingent was awful (they shared many similarities with what I would classify as a rigid, misogynistic religious fundamentalist organization), Ayleth's own upbringing was in a coven that were just as closeminded in many ways. Heather Walter is very much into creating morally grey characters, so while Ayleth was trying to do the right thing, she was not necessarily doing it for all the right reasons, nor in a way that was true to herself.

Like Misrule (second book in the previous duology), I felt that this took a long time to get going, and at 500+ pages, you have to want to keep going. The ending was full of revelations and action that made it worth my while, but I do wish that the intensity had been sustained throughout the book. I think with further editing, I would have felt more invested in Ayleth and Jaquetta's attraction to each other, I would have felt the danger of the court more, and I would generally have felt more invested in some of the other side characters (Blodwyn being one who should play a bigger role in the second book).

The other thing that left me wanting more was the concept of Malum. Obviously, it is left to the reader to decide who or what he is, and whether the evil that he represents is as both the witches and the Eye of Meira have presented him--an entity that both have claimed to have held back from the world. I think this is by design, so that we read the second book to find out. Is he a creature of darkness? Maybe? Does that make him evil? Hmm....

Overall, this reading took more perseverance on my part than I was expecting, but the ending resolved just enough and left me wanting more so that I will be reading the next book.

I received an advance review copy for free from Netgalley and the publisher, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I originally did a covered the author with her Malice duology, and was excited to find out she would continue with her sapphic retellings! Very much enjoyed this story, the world building and complex characters were wonderful.

**Review of *The Crimson Crown* by Heather Walker**

Heather Walker’s *The Crimson Crown* is an epic tale of ambition, betrayal, and power that captures the intricate dance between duty and desire. Set in a vividly imagined kingdom on the brink of war, the novel centers on Princess Elira, a strong-willed heroine forced to navigate a treacherous path to claim the throne while protecting her people from an encroaching darkness.

Walker’s world-building is immersive, filled with lush descriptions of royal courts, battlefields, and ancient magic that lingers at the edges of the narrative. The political intrigue is layered and compelling, with unexpected alliances and shocking betrayals that keep readers on edge. Elira is a dynamic protagonist, her struggles with trust and loyalty making her both relatable and inspiring.

The novel’s pacing is well-balanced, with action-packed sequences interspersed with quieter moments of character development. The relationships—whether romantic, platonic, or adversarial—are thoughtfully explored, adding emotional depth to the sweeping narrative. However, some side characters feel underdeveloped, leaving readers wanting more insight into their motivations.

*The Crimson Crown* is a captivating read that will appeal to fans of fantasy with strong heroines and high stakes. Walker’s intricate storytelling and emotional resonance make this book a standout in the genre.

Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel I enjoyed the books Walter wrote retelling the Maleficent story so I had to try this one to find more about the Evil Queen from Snow White. This book did start extremely slowly for me and I admit to skimming a ton in the first half. The action did finally start to pick up at the halfway point and I did really enjoy the twists near the end and how we got to our "mirror mirror on the wall" line that had to be said. If there is more to this tale, which I am guessing there will be, I will be interested to see where it goes. Even with the very slow beginning, I will give this 3 stars for the well-done ending.

The first book in a sapphic fantasy duology reimagining the origin of the Wick Witch from Snow White. Ayleth is a young witch who lives in the forest with her coven and her beloved sister, hiding their magic from the White King and his war against witchh craft. Yet when Ayleth's sister dies and she blames herself.... Ayleth's life is changed, but when she reaches into the Veil and touches her sister, she knows she'll do anything to get her back, even run away from her coven to infiltrate the White Palace and steal gemstones that could help her reach her sister. What Ayleth doesn't expect on her quest is to run into her ex, Jacquetta, a witch who betrayed her and left her behind. Jacquetta is also hiding in the castle working on her own plans... but now both girls must find a way to face off against the sinister forces haunting the castle while dealing with their complicated relationship. Yet the closer Ayleth gets to her goal the more things get complicated and soon... she'll have to pick what and who she wants to follow. This is definitely a whole new interesting take and I didn't expect any of this story. It feels so new and does make an interesting backstory for a classic character. I will say though, I just never really connected to any of the characters or the romantic relationship between Ayleth and Jacquetta. Despite everything that happened between them, it just never really felt like the romance was fully fleshed out and I just didn't really care all that much. Overall, if you're looking for a witchy sapphic reimagining of a classic villain story, I'd say give it a go!

Release Date: August 27,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Rey for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

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.

Heavy is the Crown 3.5 Stars



As a fan of fairytale retellings and villain origin stories, The Crimson Crown naturally caught my attention, and I’m glad I gave it a chance. While it has its flaws, there’s plenty to appreciate in this intriguing take on how the Evil Queen came to be.

One of the standout elements of this book is its premise. The worldbuilding and the imaginative twists on familiar tropes are captivating. Walter weaves a story that feels both fresh and rooted in the dark, magical atmosphere one expects from a tale of villainy. However, the execution didn’t always deliver. At times, the narrative wandered, losing focus amid its ambitious scope.

A notable drawback is the repetition. Certain phrases, like Ayleth’s “force behind her ribs,” appeared so frequently that they became a distraction, detracting from the intensity of key moments and breaking immersion.

The character dynamics, on the other hand, are a highlight. Blodwyn, with her fierce loyalty and sharp wit, quickly became a favorite, while Joan and Roland brought a sense of camaraderie to the cast. Although Ayleth is complex and layered, her interactions with Jacquetta sometimes felt repetitive and unresolved, leaving a sense of frustration.

The book's ending is its saving grace. While the story builds slowly, the climax is a thrilling, unforgettable conclusion. Walter's ability to deliver such a breathtaking finale made the journey worthwhile and left me eager for what comes next.

Interestingly, I own Malice by Heather Walter but haven’t read it yet. After finishing this book, I’m more intrigued to explore how her storytelling evolves across different works.

Overall, The Crimson Crown is an enjoyable read that shines in its high points but stumbles in its execution. If you can get past the repetition, it’s worth a read for the compelling characters and a truly spectacular ending.

WOW! The perfect blend of witchy intrigue and the many types of love that govern human lives. This one is a MUST READ!

Can't wait for Book 2!

***Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book to review.***

First of all, I received this as an e-ARC so thank you NetGalley, Del Ray, and Heather Walter.

This book was so good! It gave me all the same feelings I had when I read One Dark Window. It has an amazing protagonist that you root for but also constant frustration at their lack of smart choices (but in a fun way). It can be difficult to create a character with whom it is fun to be frustrated.

The storyline was very creative and unpredictable. I had no idea what was going to happen next and I loved it! One of the best parts was that it did not end how I thought it would. I loved the ending and would not have changed a thing. Books don’t always need to end perfectly wrapped in a bow. Some endings need to be messy or dark or both! I really did enjoy this books and will absolutely recommend it to my followers! Well done Heather Walter!

As a huge fan of the Malice duology, I was really excited to read Heather Walter's newest origin story/retelling of the Evil Queen from Snow White.

Retelling, however, is an extremely loose description of Walter's first book in this new duology. Ayleth is a witch who harbors a secret that she is without power despite being next in line to lead her family's coven. She is mourning the loss of her sister and believes that finding the lost Bloodstones that were stolen from their covens during a purge of witches will not only bring her sister back, but solidify the Veil that has been failing and holding back the Darkness. Her personality for 95% of the book seems antithetical to the iconic Evil Queen that we all know from the fairytale and with few references to mirrors, a princess who loves animals, and a dwarf, I think this story would have been better marketed as an original fairytale rather than a retelling.

At nearly 500 pages, the pacing of the book is very slow until the last 10% where I felt a sense of whiplash at the speed at which Walters attempts to throw in more Snow White references and bring her character into a more evil destiny. Basically, I had a hard time swallowing the character development and/or change. The sapphic love story for me was also a bit of a disappointment in that I felt Ayleth and Jacquetta lacked chemistry and there was only one mildly spicy scene between the two of them. Plotlines of court intrigue and politicking were teased, but also never fully developed and seemed to be dropped as soon as things were looking interesting.

This was still a solid romantasy read, however and I hope that the second installment evens out its pacing a bit and focuses more on Ayleth's descent into Darkness if it is going to continue marketing itself as a retelling rather than its own thing that is a loose homage to Snow White.

For fans of dark sapphic fantasies with mild spice.

Thank you to NetGalley, Heather Walter, and Del Rey for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

Another amazing fairytale retelling by Heather Walter!!! This time, it's Snow White with a twist.

I've never been a fan of the Disney version, but I'm fascinated with all the dark retellings of this story and this is no exception.

Ayleth's journey to save magic and the veil and maybe even long lost loves is well worth reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for allowing me to read this ARC!

Content Warning: murder, death, violence, sexual harassment/assault.

Ayleth lives with her coven, safe and secluded from the White King and his tyrannical rule -- and his brutal campaign against witches. But living under her mother's thumb is so oppressive that Ayleth dreams of a world where she can venture out and become the woman she's destined to be. Unlike her elder sister, who was tragically killed by the King's Huntsmen -- an act that Ayleth blames herself for -- Ayleth's gifts have yet to reveal themselves and, as her mother's second, the pressure is mounting the longer it takes for them to manifest. When Ayleth experiences a touch from across the veil of the living and the dead, she is propelled onto a journey that she could never have envisioned, one that will take her into the heart of the White Palace itself. Forced to make an alliance with a witch from her past she hoped never to see again -- the beautiful, rebellious Jacquetta -- Ayleth tries to dodge the deceit and drama of court life, all while hoping to uncover sacred objects from the long, bloody history of her ancestors... and discovers that her own gifts are not what they seem in the process.

Hi, guys! Firstly, let me apologize for how long it's been since I've updated or actually written a review. Life has been absolutely beyond crazy for me the last few months, and it's been a struggle just to keep up with my everyday life, let alone maintain this blog as well as keep on track with my reading. I'm determined to get back into the saddle, though, so here's a review that's been a long time coming! I was very enthused when I saw that Walter was writing The Crimson Crown, inspired by Snow White and elaborating on an origin story for the wicked queen who terrorizes the world of that fairytale. I'm afraid, however, that it did not quite live up to my expectations, and for me, this was a droll read that felt more like a dud than a success.

Previously, I've enjoyed her Malice duology, although its sequel, Misrule, suffered from many of the problems and setbacks that plague The Crimson Crown. Like Malice, this is a sort of feminist, lesbian take on a traditional fairytale, and I think Snow White was a particularly interesting choice: it's one that's always fascinated me, and I felt it was rife with potential for an adaptation like this. The problem is, The Crimson Crown would have been far more enjoyable had it been marketed as its own original story. The elements from Snow White are extremely scarce; there are dwarves, witches, and lots of apple motifs, but beyond that, none of it feels joined together in a way that makes sense for a retelling. Perhaps this will be remedied in the next instalment, but it'll have to pay off in a big way to make up for the lack of it in the entirety of this (rather big) first book.

My next problem, and one that is unfortunately quite a hindrance to my enjoyment of this book, is our heroine (antiheroine?). Ayleth is, to put it simply, boring. She has a very limited range of emotions, and it seems as though she's constantly just going through a loop of experiencing the same ones over and over again. She has little personality of her own, and I felt that I could have inserted any other character into her place and it would have made little difference. She comes off rather shallow, without much development, and while she does finally begin to become a little more interesting in the very last half of the book, it isn't enough to save her. I found myself rolling my eyes at her more often than not, and her assessments of situations feel painfully naive -- and while I understand that she is young and a little sheltered, her supposed smarts don't seem to come into play much. She's in her early-to-mid twenties, and yet I had to constantly remind myself that she was not a girl of fifteen or sixteen.

Jacquetta, her love interest, is far more interesting and strikes me as full of hidden complexities, but in all honesty, we get very little of her. Most of the side characters are one-dimensional, acting as little more than scene dressing for Ayleth to get from one plot point to the next. My other disappointment is perhaps more to do with my own expectations than anything, but I'll just say that I expected the romance to be between Ayleth and Snow White, and for there to be some deep intrigue there. What we're given instead was quite the disappointment to me. Yet again, this could merely be my fault for having the wrong impression. I must also say, and it pains me to do so, that the writing is painfully juvenile and comes off rather amateurish; it did not feel as though I were reading a book by someone who has written two other successful novels.

All in all, I was not the biggest fan of The Crimson Crown. I know there are lots who love it; you need merely go to its Goodreads page to see that. For me, it just didn't work, and I thought that Ayleth was far too simple for the complex villain she is later intended to become. I might give the next one a shot, but as it stands now, it won't be something I actively seek out. Walter is, again, a successful author, and I very much enjoyed Malice, but for some reason I haven't been meshing with some of her more recent books.

Recommended, however, for those who love fairytales and glittering courts that hide darkness beneath their glamour--that part was very fun to read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing me with a digital ARC of this novel!

I've been interested in reading Heather Walter's Malice duology for awhile, but have yet to get around to it, so when I saw she had another sapphic fairy tale reimagining coming out - this one about the Evil Queen in Snow White - I was excited to give it a try. Fairy tale retellings can be hit or miss for me, but luckily this one is only loosely based on the Snow White story; there are some pretty obvious references throughout the book, but it's also its own story with unique twists and turns. The novel follows Ayleth, a 23 year-old witch who is set to become the second in line to lead her coven in a land where witches are hunted. Ayleth is still recovering from the loss of her sister and from being abandoned by the girl she loved. On top of that, her magic powers have yet to develop as they should. Desperate to find belonging, Ayleth starts off on her own quest in hopes of proving herself to her coven and potentially bringing back her sister. However, to complete the quest, she'll need to survive in the White King's palace, where she's met with all sorts of challenges and secrets.

I really liked this story! I read it over a couple of evenings while I was sick, and it was the perfect book to take my mind off of how bad I was feeling. It's a fairly simple story, but it has a rich, gothic atmosphere and a creeping darkness that you can feel slowly seeping through the pages. It took a few chapters to grab my attention, but once I saw the direction in which Ayleth's journey was headed, I was invested! I'm not sure I would have liked it so much had I not been in the mood for an easy read, but it was perfect for when I was needing something captivating, but also not overly complicated.

The strongest part of this novel is definitely its atmosphere. Heather Walter describes the world, and particularly the palace, with such haunting beauty. The apple imagery is heavy throughout the book; I felt like I was right there with Ayleth as she went from room to room observing the ornate apple tree architecture that was ever present. There's also this dark magic that is starting to pop up in their world, and it appears to be concentrated in the palace. So, a sinister feeling lingers around every corner - Ayleth hears nails tapping through the halls, catches shadows moving around her, feels followed by crows, and more. It's really well done. The closer I got to the end, the more I found myself feeling sad, because I wanted to stay immersed in the world for as long as possible. And the book is almost 550 pages in length, so that's impressive!

The other big strength of this novel is the characters. Although this is a villain origin story, Ayleth is a compelling main character. She deals with so many letdowns - her family fails her, her coven views her as an outcast, and even the girl she loves has hurt her. She doesn't always make the best decisions, but she's pretty young, so it's easy to root for her as she ultimately just tries to find some belonging. I found her character growth to be interesting throughout the story. There are also a bunch of side characters who are fun, including a dwarf, a cat, and a dog. At times, I felt like I was almost reading a cozy fantasy book, because there were so many wholesome characters. Don't get me wrong - there are plenty of villains and mysterious characters with unknown motives, too. I enjoyed reading about each character, though, and trying to discern who Ayleth could trust.

The only character I had a problem with was the love interest, Jacquetta. She's one of the least developed characters in the story, so she comes off as kind of bland. I also didn't see her chemistry with Ayleth at all. It would have been helpful to have some flashbacks to when they knew each other as teenagers, so I could have seen why they originally cared for one another. I didn't hate Jacquetta's character, but I probably wouldn't recommend this book if the only thing you're looking for is a sapphic fantasy romance, because the romance is one of the weaker parts.

There are a couple of other issues I have with the book, which is why I'm not sure I would have liked it as much if I hadn't been in the right mood to read it. Primarily, there is a lot of repetition that really drags down the story. I actually have no problem with the pace or length of the book - it moves slowly but steadily, and each scene matters to the overall plot. However, there are a plethora of words, phrases, and details repeated by Ayleth. It gets old super quickly. I'm hoping some of these repeated words were removed before publication, but there are some bigger plot elements (like the fact that Ayleth gets pain behind her ribs whenever she's around the king) that are important and yet are still mentioned way too frequently. I think there could have been a more clever way to show some of the plot points that would have been more interesting than repeating the same things again and again. For example, maybe the rib thing could have been developed into something that affected Ayleth even more strongly the more she interacted with the king.

There's also too much telling and not enough showing in this book. The writing is good, except for the parts where it over explains everything. It got to the point where every single time I made an observation about the plot, Ayleth would repeat my thought back at me three sentences later. Sometimes less is more, and you have to let readers come to their own conclusions. I liked how every detail throughout the story mattered; certain small breadcrumbs would come back into play 300 pages later. However, Ayleth spent so much time overthinking all of those details that she basically telegraphed it all long before it happened. The first person, present tense narration didn't help, either.

Nonetheless, though, I still had a really enjoyable time reading The Crimson Crown. It's so fun to read about female villains, and Ayleth's story is fascinating (with a fantastic ending!). The ending sets up the second book in the duology well, while also tying up most of the loose ends from the story. I'm excited to read the second book, but since I got most of my questions answered, I feel satisfied and okay with waiting until next year for the story's conclusion. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a simple, yet highly atmospheric villain backstory set in a gothic and witchy fantasy world. This would also be good for those who are interested in dipping their toes into fantasy, because it does a good job of explaining everything as it goes.

4 out of 5 stars.

I really, really enjoy reading Heather Walter's writing. I've been enraptured since I read MALICE, and this novel provided the same beautiful language. It wasn't too flowery or overly poetic, but it was still beautifully written. I always and forever will appreciate and enjoy a villain origin story, and this delivered just that. We got to see how the Evil Queen came to be who we know from the fairy tale, and we even got to meet Snow White as a child. And, of course, we got to see Ayleth jaded by love and rejection from her coven as being what pushed her to become what she was. I will admit that some parts of this felt a little slow and dragged out, and there were times in the middle where I was questioning whether or not this needed to be over 500 pages. But overall, I enjoyed this, and I'll absolutely be looking forward to more from this author in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for the e-arc!
So excited for Walter's adult debut! I enjoy Malice so when I saw she was releasing another sapphic fairytale retelling I just knew I was going to eat it up. A snow white retelling from the dark queen's perspective?? Sign me up immediately. This book blends all of my favorite aspects of Malice and brings a ton of new elements that I wanted to see. This book brought the same complex and devastating character work that I loved about her first book and managed to take such a classic story and put a good spin on it. It never felt too predictable which I appreciate.

Magical, sapphic, dark reimagining of Snow White. If you are looking for witch hunts with life or death stakes for the FMC all in a fairytale look no further.

# The Crimson Crown
# 12/2/2024 ~ 12/4/2024
# 5.0 / 5.0

Sapphic, Villain origin story. Have I caught your attention? Good. Because you need to read this book! This is not a fairytale. This is not a romance. This is a story about how the driving force in someone’s life can ultimately create a monster within.

Ayleth is our FMC who struggles deeply with the death of a loved one. The never ending pressure of being the woman her mother pushes her to be. Finally, the heartache of a lover shattering your heart. The characters are complex. The story is familiar, yet unique. It’s captivating and spellbinding.

I praise how Heather Walter has written these characters. It’s a world much unlike our own, but the same all at once.

heather walter is giving the world the sapphic dark fairy tales, with a reclaiming villain povs. malice was one of my favorite reads the year it came out, and i just couldn’t wait to read something else by this author, after obsessing over that duology!

this is a reimagining of snow white, from the “evil” queen’s perspective. we follow a twenty-three year old witch heir, named ayleth, who is the descendant of one of the five ancient covens. In this world, there are five houses, all with five heroes, who come together once a year during an ascension, where you give blood and make an offering to one of the five. ten years ago, her sister’s ascension ended in tragedy, so now that ayleth’s is approaching, she goes on a quest for the coven to try to unlock some mystery, once of which being some information about five bloodstones that were stolen.

the thing is, magic had been abolished ten years ago as well. and now she finds herself at a court filled with secrets, while carrying her own secrets, while trying to figure out what are actual truth, especially involving magic. and… there is the cutest little princess in this story and ahhh i just loved it all.

i think one of the best and wildest parts of this is that i kept forgetting it was a reimagining and then something snow white-y would happen and i would be like “oh yeah!” but this really does stand all on its own. i love a quest story, and i always love exploring a castle. this also has a very good kind of enemies to lovers in it, that really did have me screaming. And the ending was very close to perfection. though, i did sadly feel like this was just a little too long and did drag at parts. but overall, i can’t wait for the next book and just to read all the powerful stories that healthier writes!

trigger + content warnings: a lot of talk of loss of a loved one, blood, abandonment, grief, self harm to get blood, talk of animal death in past, unwanted touching (arm grab), a very brief mention of loss of a pregnancy, death, funeral, anxiety, vomit, hurt pet (by another animal), animal death (magical evil wolf), homophobia (obv in a negative light), illness / poison, and just a lot of really bad parents

Another villains origin story?? I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book. After reading Walter’s Malice duology I knew I’d love her next retelling and of course she hit it out of the park. Witchy AND sapphic? Yes please. I loved seeing Ayleth grow out of her sister’s shadow and become strong in her own way. I can’t wait to see how her story evolves and how she continues to grow into the strong witch we all know her to be.