I love a good retelling, but one from a villian's P.O.V with a Sapphic twist? I had high hopes for this book and Heather Walter exceeded my expectations with this story!

While this story focuses on Ayleth, (Snow White's witch) it also has immersive world building which draws you into the story and helps to keep you there.

I really enjoyed Ayleth's character though I did occasionally find myself wanted to scream at her for some of the choices she made.

Overall, if your looking for gothic witchy vibes to add to your TBR this fall, I definitely recommend picking up this book! But be warned, your going to wish the second book was out already!
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for giving me a chance to review book!

The Crimson Crown by Heather Walter is the most interesting evil queen from snow white origin story ever!
This was a great sapphic reimagining.
A gripping tale which builds up to an epic ending.
A spellbinding take that captured my full attention and I didn’t stop till I was finished.

I love retellings, especially when the author really makes the story their own.

Heather Walter is truly gifted in both retelling fairy tales from the villains POV and for giving her books explosive endings. (If you haven't read Malice by this author yet, please do yourself a favor. I enjoyed the entire book but the ending was blow your mind amazing.)

Ayleth was bold and brave, but she was terribly lost without her sister. She suffered from intrusive thoughts that went unchecked and often lead to reckless decisions (good for readers, not so good for Ayleth).

Another aspect I appreciate so much is when the MC's sidekick/partner in crime is a mischievous animal. Nettle was loyal, sassy and unstoppable. I swear my Jace could fill pages with his shenanigans and he would like to audition for her next book 😹😹.

There was background not only on witch history, but the dwarves too (not the 7 dwarves, but dwarves in general who disappeared when the witches were attacked).

This book was well crafted and entertaining. I can't wait for the rest of this Duology!

Thank you NetGalley, Heather Walter and Penguin Random House for the ARC. Review: goodreads.com/kval01, IG: books_beaches_and_tea
To follow on Amazon/Barnes & Noble

I really enjoyed reading The Crimson Crown, from beginning to end. The short review is, if you enjoy fairytale retellings and/or villain origin stories, read this. This book is also perfect for the fall season- it’s witchy and has a cozy vibe. Heads up, this book does get somewhat gory, especially in part 5.

This story dives into the evil witch from Snow White’s (Ayleth) backstory, and it’s full of drama, magic, and intrigue. The novel is also has some mystery and a sapphic love story that felt refreshing for the (booming) genre.

Ayleth, our main character, is a perfect mix of strength and vulnerability. She’s meant to be in her twenties (I think), but her portrayal feels a bit more like a late teenager, which can be a bit distracting at times. However, the book’s rich world-building and the twists and turns in the plot make up for this, and it doesn’t take away from the story.

The ending was perfect- I’m already looking forward to the next book. If you enjoy a mix of witchy magic, some fairytale style mystery, and a bit of romance, The Crimson Crown is definitely worth a read!

Thank you to Del Rey for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a sapphic reimagining of Snow White following the Evil Queen before her rise to villainy, back when she was merely a young witch named Ayleth who would do anything for her sister.

This was… fine. It was a pretty solid fantasy, but I never developed any strong feelings towards the plot or characters. The story felt like it wanted to lean more into coven and court politics, but never made the effort to truly dive into them. Everything was merely surface level and very meandering. I never felt the stakes. Even when Ayleth’s life was in danger, I never felt gripped by the story. The book was simply a little too long without proper direction to really sell it.

The character relationships were also lackluster. Ayleth’s rocky relationship with her mother is the prime motivator behind the plot, and yet their issues come across as a little juvenile. I wasn’t completely sold on their strife being a major cause behind Ayleth choosing the path she did. I also wish we saw more malicious actions committed by the White King. He spends most of the book staring intensely at Ayleth or looking bored. Everything to fear from him is known mainly by reputation rather than actual actions occurring. I feel like Jacquetta wasn’t used to her fullest potential as a love interest. She seemed to just float in and out of the story and I wish they had more conversations with actual weight.

One thing Heather Walter knows how to do is write an ending though. As with Malice, while 99% of this book has a slow simmering atmosphere the last 1% explodes with pent up anger. It definitely hooks you into wanting to pick up the sequel. I simply wish that intensity was found throughout the book to help capture your heart and attention. Again, I think this is a solid book. I just did not care for it as much as I hoped.

✨Summary✨
This is a Snow White villain backstory/retelling.
Ayleth was never supposed to be her mother’s second in line. It was always supposed to be her sister, Rhea. But then the King outlawed witchcraft and witches. Their coven was discovered and Rhea died. That was seven years ago and Ayleth has never gotten over the fact that she was never meant to stand as her mother’s second, as their coven’s heads. Neither has her mother. Not to mention, Ayleth doesn’t seem to have a fraction of the amount of power her sister Rhea. To top it all off, she is still healing from a betrayal she suffered from a girl she thought she loved and was going to leave her coven for, Jacquetta.
When Ayleth attempts to go through an accent ritual, securing her place as her mother’s second, she sees something impossible; her sister. The only way to anchor herself fully, so she can be sure what she saw in the fire was really Rhea, Ayleth must go to the King’s castle and use the bloodstones stored there. Along the way, she runs into the next to last person she expects: Jacquetta. Together, they are allowed access into the castle, which is exactly what Ayleth needs. Little does Ayleth realize, getting into the castle may prove to be the easiest part. She must contend with the wild princess and the lecherous king, all while searching for the bloodstones.

👩🏻My Recommendation👩🏻
This was a great witchy, gothic fantasy feel novel just in time for the start of fall/autumn. The writing was excellent and sucked me in immediately. The romance between Ayleth and Jacquetta was emotionally charged. I love a good villain backstory and this did not disappoint. I cannot wait for the next book in this duology!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing the ARC and the opportunity to review this book.

This book sounded intriguing from the moment I read the synopsis. A witchy, sapphic retelling of the evil queen’s origin story from Snow White?! Sign me up 🫡

I’ll be honest though, the first half of the book was a bit slow for me. Some classic world building, which was interesting enough but not enough action/build up/tension and it was hard for me to keep going at times, but I’m glad I did!

The second half really picked up, the slow burn began to get interesting, we were introduced to many interesting and intriguing side characters and the plot really started to get tangled in mysteries and “what ifs”. I thought the ending was really fleshed out and well done, with the very last chapter leaving me with goosebumps!

I wish the romance was a more dominant part of the plot, because I am who I am 😏 but the story still kept me on my toes and I couldn’t wait to see what would happen in the end!

I usually am one that enjoys a happy ending, but this one was deliciously evil and I loved it 😈

Some tropes & things you’ll find:

🐦‍⬛ Witchy lore
🐦‍⬛ Lovers to enemies to lovers again?
🐦‍⬛ Hidden identities
🐦‍⬛ Secret missions
🐦‍⬛ Monsters from beyond the veil
🐦‍⬛ Unlikely alliances
🐦‍⬛ Slow burn romance
🐦‍⬛ Sapphic romance
🐦‍⬛ Evil origin story
🐦‍⬛ Fairytale retelling
🐦‍⬛ Court politics

This one was VERY slow to ramp up - not in a way that felt clever or careful or deliberate, just slow. We weren't building the world, we were listening to Ayleth complain. Before leaving her coven-centric world behind, we should have gotten to know each type of magic and what it means plus maybe a bit more about their disguise / what being Sisters really entails. Instead Ayleth whined about not being good enough and people holding her accountable for her mistakes and lack of responsibility.

I really liked Malice because of Alice's distinct voice and the very clear role she played. But here, Ayleth just feels like any old YA protagonist in a rather nebuloys/unclear world. Maybe I'll revisit on audiobook so I can zoom through the very slow opening, but with the ebook, I couldn't even pretend to be curious about where the plot was going.

The Crimson Crown is the enthralling tale of Ayleth, a witch in hiding. Though she is supposed to be her mother’s Heir, Ayleth lacks the power she needs. Ayleth sets out on a quest to seek answers at the dangerous White Palace. While there, she sees Jacquetta- the witch who she loved before a heartbreaking betrayal. As Ayleth and Jacquetta form an uneasy alliance, strange magical happenings begin to occur at court. Can Ayleth and Jacquetta accomplish their goals before being swallowed up by the treacherous court?

The Crimson Crown is an incredible fantasy retelling that is difficult to put down. I love the story of the Evil Queen and it’s very hard not to empathize with Ayleth. Heather Walter does an impeccable job of creatively re-imagining villains. There are also echoes of Anne Boleyn’s story which are skillfully woven in. Ayleth deals with complex grief for her sister, her relationship with her mother, and Jacquetta’s betrayal. Their sapphic romance is bittersweet and I'm curious to see where it goes.

I was relieved to see that this is a duology! The ending left me eager for the story to continue, as Ayleth begins to seek revenge for all the wrongs done to her. Also Ayleth’s pet cat Nettle was the cutest! Readers who enjoy clever retellings, sapphic romance, and wickedly good fantasy will love The Crimson Crown.

Thank you to Heather Walter, Del Rey, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc.

Thank you so much to Del Rey for letting me read this early!


Hey hi hello friends,

can i interest you in a Snow White Esque/ Anne Bolyn retelling? BECAUSE HERE YA GO. this book was such a slow burn but in a good way, think of a steak that need to marinate for it to taste fantastic and let me tell you i am so glad it was.

We follow Ayleth as she tries to navigate trying to be her mothers perfect daughter after she makes a horrible mistake and so we follow her as she tries to right it this horrible thing she did because it cost her someone she loves and you see her struggle through guilt and her own sense of right and wrong as the story progresses and without getting to spoilery. the ending had me screaming and crying.

I loved everything about this and cannot WAIT for the sequel.

Mirror Mirror on the wall. Whose the fairest of them all?

The Crimson Crown is the first in a Duology by Heather Walter. This is a retelling of Snow White told from the evil queen's Pov. Ayleth is a young witch who lives in the forest with her coven. They have to practise magic in secret in fear of being discovered by the Royal Huntsman. Ayleth goes on a journey to find the Bloodstones in the hopes of bringing her sister back from beyond the veil. She gets caught up in the charismatic White King's web and even finds someone from her past that had betrayed her. Ayleth has to find the strength to transform into someone she never thought she could be.

I have to say that I enjoyed the writing and world that the author wrote. Ayleth was such a complex character to get to know. The book has little nods to Snow White sprinkled through out. To be honest I don't think this needs to be a retelling of Snow White. The story and characters are intriguing enough on their own to stand as a new story.

The relationships I fear is the weakest part of the book. In the beginning they are fine. I like the one between Ayleth and her mother but I also would have liked to see more between Ayleth and her sister Rhea. I am not a super fan of large time jumps especially when things happen in that time that we as readers need to know. I would have liked the relationship between Jacquetta, an ex of Auleth's who betrayed her in that missing time. I feel nothing for the relationship between these two because Jacquetta doesn't feel like a fully realized character. I would also like to see more between Ayleth and Rhea. We only get a little bit of their relationship so I don't really feel the loss of her sister for Ayleth.

I also feel like the book could have been a little shorter. There are some spots that seemed to drag on longer than they should.

I do look forward to the next book to see how Ayleth is as the witch Queen.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random house for an e ARC of The Crimson Crown by Heather Walter.

One of my favorite reads of the summer. The emotion built into this story is so raw and real it left me breathless and sobbing. In this rearranged rendering of a classic fairytale, we learn the villain origin story of Snow White's dark queen. Once just Ayleth, her journey is built brick by brick on a castle of lies, deceit, heartbreak, betrayal, loss and grief from all those around her. What starts as a noble journey to save her realm from the evil forces at work across the veil and bring her sister back, ends in a growing darkness within her that will not be satiated until everyone and everything that her coven once stood for has been destroyed. An absolute 5/5 would recommend to any fantasy and romance reader I know!

A fascinating take on Snow White. I’ll be honest, by the time my request for this was granted and I started reading it, I had forgotten that this was billed as a Snow White retelling. I wish everyone could go into it blind because that last chapter!! What an absolutely shocking ending if you didn’t realize the inspiration (frankly, even if you did). Wholly unique.

We follow Ayleth, a young witch who has never quite fit in to her coven. Second best to a beloved sister, persecuted by those outside the coven, burdened by the weight of expectations, Ayleth wants so badly to do the right thing. Yet at every turn she is betrayed by everyone she loves and trusts. Her slow descent into the final culmination of this book made so much sense and yet was heartbreaking to read.

The Crimson Crown by Heather Walter was not my usual choice of literature. Unfortunately, I found it difficult to become engaged with the storyline and ultimately did not complete the book.

so the idea of this story was super intriguing BUT i just could not get into it. it was super drawn out and long that i was just so bored the whole time. like my favorite part was the end 🙃 but if you’re a fan of the origin story of snow whites dark queen, you will love this!! i just could not get into it, it was not for me

4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine, Del Rey, and Random House Publishing Group for this advanced copy! You can pick up The Crimson Crown on August 27, 2024.

What a phenomenal fairytale retelling. I absolutely love the world Heather Walter created and how she infused the bones of the original Snow White tale into her story. I was immediately sucked in from the moment we meet the covens and learn of Ayleth's role in her family. The bonds of sisterhood and how lonely one can be even among loved ones was spectacularly depicted. We truly see Ayleth evolve from a young woman who doesn't see her worth to a queen willing to risk everything for her future.

The second-chance romance and sapphic enemies to lovers in this book was absolutely delicious. I felt so conflicted about Jacquetta, just like Ayleth, never knowing if we could truly trust her and her intentions. While some parts of the ending didn't surprise me, the final climactic moment 100% did and I LOVED the turn the story took.

I will be anxiously awaiting the conclusion to this duology and can't wait to scream about this book to everyone I know. If you're in the mood for a gothic fairytale retelling/villian origin story with sapphic romance and witches, this is your book!

Huge thanks to @netgalley and Random House Publishing (Ballantine) for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I haven’t read a book that hooked me and dragged me into its world that fully in quite some time. What a gorgeous creation intertwining classic high fantasy, fairy tale elements, and a bit of Anne Boleyn/historic fiction into the mix. The world building was gorgeous but beyond that, I truly loved the character development of Ayleth, feeling both realistic and plausible. Sometimes villain backstories feel rushed and forced but this one got me and felt, dare I say it, relatable. Oh and the sapphic romance didn’t hurt things either.

But you know my favorite part? Is that I know this is book one of a duology, but it’s managed to leave me both eager to read book two but also very satisfied with the ending. Rare you get that level of feeling sated and also eager to continue. I was truly dreading a cliffhanger but this was a great way to leave one book and prepare for a second.

Holy Smokes, I'm speechless. The Crimson Crown is an AMAZING read! This story is everything, never have I ever read a book where the story works for the narrator. Ayleth is my new champion, she is every womans soul and gives us the power to be ourselves.

*A huge thank you to NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this ARC, and my gratitude to the author for bringing this story to life.*

Coming August 27th, you don't want to miss the journey of young witch Ayleth, future "wicked" queen of Snow White legend reimagined. An intense, heart-rending, and deeply relatable story of a young woman's struggle with belonging, purpose, loss, and reckless passion that had me unable and unwilling to set the story down for long. I was constantly reflecting on the nature of history (particularly the notion that it belongs to the victors), compassion despite adversity, and what it means to be a villain (or to root for one).

I applaud the author's ability to drive forward this fantastic plot without slogging through world-building and instead weaving it deftly throughout the story. It was constantly moving forward, introducing fully fleshed characters, and creating a world I both hate to see draw to a conclusion and can't wait to finish. In the meantime, I will be picking up Heather Walter's Malice and Misrule and shouting from the rooftops about The Crimson Crown.

#TheCrimsonCrown #NetGalley

I really loved Heather Walter’s first duology and I was so excited when I saw we were getting another sapphic, retelling. I didn’t love this one quite as much as Malice, but I really enjoyed it so much.

The world was fun, the characters were great and I love where the plot is going.