Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

This book. This book has my whole heart. I absolutely adored this! From the incredible characters, to the plot, to falling in love with everything so quickly- I couldn’t put this down. I highly recommend this! It really just sucks you in and makes you never want to leave. In my opinion, those are the best books and I couldn't get enough. I am obsessed with Heather and I would read anything she writes. She could write the phone book and I'd read it. I need more, ASAP.

4.5 stars.

Mirror, mirror on the wall.

Ayleth is a witch who lives with her coven in the forest on the outskirts of the White Kingdom. The coven must practice in secret, hidden from the White King as Order Sisters, lest they be persecuted for their magic. She is the descendent of a powerful line of witches and soon to be second in command to her mother, but her powers have yet to manifest themselves.

When things go wrong at her ascension ceremony, she runs. Determined to prove herself, she heads to the very heart of the problem, and hopefully the solution - the White Palace. Within the palace walls, Ayleth finds darkness around every corner, and maybe within herself. As she searches for the truth, she must remember that things are not always as they seem.

Read if you like:
- women’s wrongs
- witches
- villain origin stories

This was a great retelling/origin story of the Evil Queen from Snow White. I found myself intrigued by the history of the covens, the bonds of sisterhood, and I rooted hard for Ayleth to get the happy ending she deserved, no matter what it was. I also LOVED the duality of light vs dark, life vs death. But, hot dang! — after that ending I am so glad that this is a duology because I can’t wait to find out how the rest of Ayleth’s story unfolds.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Ballentine / Del Rey for a free digital copy of this book. This is my honest review. Publication date: August 27, 2024.

I realize it's post-release but I had a very hard time getting into this book and ended up DNFing around 20%.

I didn't really care for any of the characters, the plot, or the writing style. Which is totally just a me thing and I feel like with the right person, this would be a huge hit!

Best of luck to the author, I hope this book finds the right audience!

I'll have to say that in the end I enjoyed this far more than I thought I might. In the beginning the main character feels like such a pushover, she lets her mother, coven members, and even the woman she supposedly loves walk all over her and push her around. That said, there's some great character development and by the end I was totally rooting for her and I'm just like "hell yeah, get mad!"

The tie-ins throughout with Snow White I found to be really interesting. It didn't make it feel like too much of a retelling, but there were some nice subtle nods to the fairytale.

I also think the author did a really good job keeping me guessing and wonder who the "big bad" was. I'd start to think it was one person and then think maybe this other person was in on it, just to turn the page and realize they had nothing to do with it. Overall I really enjoyed it and can't wait to see what happens in the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!!

A fairytale retelling of Snow White from the pov of the Evil Queen, but make it sapphic!! This story follows Ayleth, a witch whose gifts haven't manifested yet forced into a position of power she isn't prepared to handle. The death of her older sister at the hands of the Hunt years ago spelled the end of life as she knew it, suddenly expected to fill the void of second and grappling with layers of guilt and imposter syndrome, Ayleth is anything but prepared.

When a chance to both prove herself and possibly revive her sister appears, she takes the leap. Suddenly grappling with a different form of courtly intrigue than the more insular coven politics she's used to, Ayleth must decide who she can trust and to what extent. The reappearance of the young woman she almost ran off with years ago—Jacquetta—certainly doesn't help things... or does it? No longer stiffled under the expectations of her deceased sister and her mother's thumb, Ayleth has the chance to make her own decisions.

In pursuit of honesty, while I love fairytale retellings and stories where we follow villainous characters, I didn't really enjoy reading from Ayleth's POV. Having a character who constantly second guesses herself and feels deep levels of self-loathing is totally understandable with her upbringing and properly explained in text, yet I've never really enjoyed this particular archetype. The story was intriguing and I enjoyed learning about the world, but this did put a bit of a damper on my good time.

I will note that I'm not sure this story could have been told with a different sort of character, which is why I made sure to continue on. I was banking on the eventual villainy payoff going the distance. And damn did that final act payoff!!!!

I do also wish we had more time fleshing out the rest of the cast, as no one really feels as grounded in the story's reality as Ayleth does. The initial section set at the coven stronghold could have been tightened up a bit, as it started to feel like a bit of a slog by the time Ayleth was finally partaking in her ascension ritual. Dont let that stop you though, if the premise of the story entices, as the rest of the novel zooms by! Don't expect the courtly intrigue to go beyond vibes and surface level machinations however.

I do intend on reading book 2 whenever it drops, as it's good to be bad and Ayleth is ready to play dirty

Snow White meets Anne Boleyn in the very best way! I absolutely devoured The Crimson Crown and found myself on the edge of my seat throughout. The magic was fascinating, the dwarvish friendship was heartwarming, and everything in between kept this book impossible to put down. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy.

I liked this book so much after receiving this ARC I went out and bought a copy. Heather Walter is extremely gifted in the re-telling of fairy tales and the darkness surrounding them. I look forward to the completion of the duology.

I liked the premise and I like queer retellings of fairy tales, but felt myself not wanting to keep reading.

**A special thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for gifting me an arc in exchange for an honest review.**

I am a Heather Walter stan. I absolutely loved Malice and Misrule by her, and let me tell you think book did not disappoint. Walter once again nails how villains are made, not born. Ayleth was a wonderfully flawed character, who wears her heart on her sleeve. It was a delight to see her embrace her darkness and step into her role of the evil queen. One of my favorite aspects is that Walter’s villains are not made by a single incident, but rather a build up of different aspects of life breaking the tough exterior of her main characters. This book was filled with betrayal, heart warming animals and a view into broken family dynamics.

Also, friends to lovers to enemies to lovers to…. Enemies??? PLEASE READ IT!

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine | Del Rey for this ARC Copy! 4.5 Stars rounded up.

I was such a fan of Malice and Misrule so I have been looking forward to this book for so long, and I was definitely not disappointed.
I went in thinking that this is a retelling of Snow White but it is so much more. Its an origin story that completely sucks you in.

It started a little slow but once I got into the story I absolutely could not put it down. I really enjoyed the characters and even though their relationship drove me crazy at times (in a good way) I was so invested in their story.

3.75/4 stars

I really wanted to like this book as it's got all the qualities that make it good: a neglected FMC, star-crossed lovers to enemies and back around again, magic, mystery, good and evil that turns to a grey hue. And don't get me wrong, I did indeed like this book, it was just slower than expected. The pacing created lulls in which it felt that nothing was happening, which made it harder for me to pick this one back up. However, when there was action, it easily sucked me in. I'm not quite sure how Walter will lead into the sequel of this book as it didn't really leave me on a cliffhanger (maybe, sorta, but only kinda) and I'm not sure how the next book will move forward as our FMC becomes more morally grey. Definitely worth a read to see the retelling from the villain's point of view!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing, and Heather Walter for allowing me access to an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

DNF at 60%

How is a book this long and NOTHING happens. Literally nothing. I feel like I read one string of consciousness, and I just couldn’t take it anymore.

I finished *The Crimson Crown* by Heather Walter in one sitting. It’s a dark, captivating fantasy that will stick with you long after the final page. This book masterfully weaves together themes of power, betrayal, and love to create this villain’s origin story . 🍎🪞🍎

Alyce's journey through this twisted fairy tale is both haunting and empowering. Walter has a way of making you feel every bit of Alyce’s struggle, as she fights against a world that has her kind labeled as a villain. The story is rich with complex characters, moral ambiguity, and unexpected twists. Even down to the minor details like the relationship Walter’s characters have fostered with animals, pulled me deeper towards the main characters. 🐦‍⬛🐾🏰

If you're into dark fantasy with strong, female characters and a plot that keeps you guessing, *The Crimson Crown* is a must-read. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and, the author for a copy of this ARC for my honest review.

I think I had a right book, wrong time situation here. The entire time I was reading this, I could see why people would love it. This story perfectly weaves in elements of Snow White and pulls in new components with the witches and queer romance.

I just never got into it. I don't have any specific critique, so I think I just wasn't int he right headspace for the book when I was able to pick it up. I'll definitely still recommend it to folks who love retellings! Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I loved Heather Walter's Malice duology, which was a dark villain-based Sleeping Beauty inspired story, so I was thrilled when The Crimson Crown–a dark Snow White villain story–was announced. If anyone has proven that they know how to write a villain origin story, it's Heather Walter, and this The Crimson Crown did not disappoint me in the slightest in that regard.

We begin our story with Ayleth, a witch who lives with her coven in the forest, where the coven as a hole has to hide their magic from the White King who crusades against witchcraft. To stay hidden, the coven disguises themselves as Order Sisters from the King's new rule in order to maintain their safety. Although a witch herself and a direct heir of a powerful witch, Ayleth's own magic has not manifested its powers, and she struggles to feel ready to take on a higher role in the coven where her magic will be utilized and tested. After an unpredictable series of events, Ayleth ends up traveling to the lair of the witch's enemies, the White Palace itself, where she undertakes a quest that made end with grave consequences.

Heather Walter truly excels with her villain stories and I thoroughly enjoying diving deep into Ayleth's mind as we followed along her journey that is full of deceit, betrayal, and discovery. Villains stories and stories of characters descending into darkness are my favorite, and I really loved these aspects of The Crimson Crown, particularly with watching how Ayleth is affected by everything that happens around her and builds her own versions of strength to deal with everything. Ayleth is an incredibly complex character and I though Walter did a great job capturing the many different elements of her personality and also showcased their constant evolution throughout the story.

It's a testament to Walter's writing and her ability to portray such complex and multi-faceted characters that my feelings about Jacquetta-a witch from Ayleth's past who once held her heart, broke it, and who once again plays a rather tempestuous role in Ayleth's life-were continuously wavering. In the beginning, I was steadfast about hating her, but then Walter introduced some aspects about Jacquetta that made me more curious about her and less hateful, and then more things happened that changed that... and then even more things happened that changed that. Suffice to say, Walter deftly crafts characters that are so real and human that you can't help but start to feel some connections with them, or at the very least can better understand their motivations and complex feelings and actions that they have.

There's also plenty of political intrigue at play in the White Palace, and watching Ayleth navigate the variety of characters that inhabit the Court was both intriguing and, quite frankly, a bit amusing at times as well. Ayleth is not someone who has spent a lot of time around mortals, and similarly does not have much experience with courtly politics and how to act around them, so this added some interesting dynamics to her interactions with others that was enjoyable to read. It would also be remiss of me not to mention Nettle, Ayleth's cat, who follows her on her journey and acts as the best companion one could ask for when she's around, as well as the young princess whom Ayleth befriends and earned a quick place in my heart.

With regards to world-building, we learn a good deal about this world and the magic that exists, including things such as the Veil that holds back Malum, a tide of dark entities that could wreak havoc upon the realm if it is not upheld (and which naturally poses a large threat to this story). However, since we largely stay in a two main areas, I would say that not all that much of the physical world is explored in this story, so it didn't feel quite as explored or explained as I might prefer. Despite this, I didn't feel lost within the world and I still really enjoyed everything that we do learn about this world, and I can only hope we'll learn even more and have more expansion in the next book.

Overall, I've given The Crimson Crown four stars! I'm not sure that I enjoyed this one quite as much as Malice, but it's hard to compare to something that I loved as much as I did Malice, and I think The Crimson Crown is still an exceptional fantasy that will surely delight readers of dark retellings, as well as general fantasy fans alike.

An interesting twist on the classic tale.

A good chunk of the middle felt draggy to me, but the ending really amps things up.

Ayleth is a witch in Stonehaven Coven who are pretending to be Order Sisters since the White King edict that declared war on all witches. After Ayleth sister dies in a witch hunt she has to step up as the next Second. She does not want to and her mother is forcing her. Ayleth sets out on a quest to bring her sister back. While trying to do so she encounters Jaquetta- a past lover who betrayed her and broke her heart.


“And I will tell you something more– a lesson it took me years to learn. If you ever find yourself with the opportunity to strike, do so. But do not miss.”


Interesting story of the wickest witch of them all, Snow White’s wicked stepmother. Why and how does she become so wicked? I enjoyed the plot but could not fully get invested in Ayleth side of the story. I think I did not enjoy knowing she was going to eventually turn evil. And I did not like Jaquetta or Alyeth’s mom at all. Felt like too many villains.

This is a Snow White retelling from the queen's perspective. This book had a lot of elements I love - witches, fairytale retelling, a villain's story retold, sapphic love story. For whatever reason, I couldn't fully get immersed in the story. That might be my own problem, sometimes you just have to be in the mood for certain stories to hit just right. I would still recommend this book to anyone who likes the elements I described above and it's a great pick for fall thanks to the spooky, witchy elements.

DNF @ 28%
Oh gosh on paper this book is everything that I love! It's a sapphic fractured fairytale with complex characters and difficult family dynamics. That checks all my boxes. Normally that complexity would be what I love but right now it's hitting too close to home and I think I'll have to put it down and come back to it later when real life is less difficult.

Funny, the blurb tells us this is the story of the evil queen before Snow White, but as I read I forgot that completely. The magic mirror was the only clue. I was totally engaged in Ayleth’s story of not quite fitting into her witchy world and her attempts to reach her dead sister by bringing the bloodstones back to her coven. Although the setting was the ancient fairy tale world and the main character was a witch, today’s teenagers will easily relate to the young witch as she tries to navigate her way through the expectations of her family and community while feeling that she doesn’t quite measure up. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.