-- 5/5 Stars -- ★★★★★

Trigger Warnings for Crown of Earth and Sky: Rape, sexual assault, human trafficking, undead, blood, gore, death

Crown of Earth and Sky is Emberly Ash's first novel in the Secrets of the Faerie Crown series. This novel alternates perspective between Veyka, our unwitting heroin, and Arran, the Brutal Prince. Throughout the book we experience their growth and journey to find out what they need to do for Annwyn and for themselves.

Color me impressed. I am totally invested in Veyka and Arran's story. I came in skeptical as this is my first romantasy series other than one written by Sarah J. Maas, but Emberly Ash does not disappoint. The spice was there, the romance, and the character development. In particular, I loved the descriptions of Veyka's body, which wasn't simply rail-thin.

Overall, I would highly recommend Crown of Earth and Sky for any romantasy lover. I clawed through this book in less than three days and I wouldn't be shocked if others can do it even quicker. Special thanks to NetGalley, Emberly Ash, and Cara Maxwell Romance Publishing for access to a digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was JUST what I needed to get out of a book slump, I am soooo excited for the rest of the series.

First off, I loved having multiple points of view. I love having a male perspective in previous books I have enjoyed and this was so well done.

There are some dark themes that definitely should be considered if you have triggers, the author puts those in the beginning.
As someone who has dealt with loss and trauma, I felt this was portrayed so well and Veyka’s written with so much thought and detail, I really was pulled in to her story. The world is developed and the characters are so well laid out, I felt like I could picture this as a movie while reading. I love the writing style and then I got to the SPICEEEE.

This is a book I bookmarked and handed over to my husband! I thought it was so gooooood.

There is spice, hot faes, mystery and secrets and brilliant minds. If you need a new series, this is it.
I could not put this book down!

Thank you Netgalley for giving me an ARC to start this series!

An intriguing retelling based on the of the story of King Arthur mixed with romance, fantasy, and fae. The characters are well developed and interesting. Could not put this book down. Can't wait to continue on this series!

I LOVED THIS BOOK! I cannot wait for others to read!! The Arthurian legend was new to me, so I definitely took notes and highlighted a ton.
It was fast paced, engrossing, and I instantly fell in love with the characters and their world. An absolutely beautiful story that I could not put down. This book checks ALL the boxes for me!! Thank you so much for the read!!

Crown of Earth and Sky is book 1 in the Secrets of the Faerie Crown series by Emberly Ash.
This is an entertaining retelling of the Arthurian legend.
The world-building in this story is freaking amazing and the character development is phenomenal.
I inhaled it! It's beautifully written and utterly compelling.

Thank You NetGalley and Cara Maxwell Romance for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

“Crown of Earth and Sky” is an enthralling retelling of the Arthurian legend, filled with intrigue and a unique magic system. Emberly Ash weaves a tale of vengeance and secrets that will captivate fans of fantasy and romance alike. It’s a thrilling read that’s hard to put down!

In this first installment of the Secrets of the Faerie Crown series, we follow Veyka Pendragon, the new Queen of the Elemental Fae, as she navigates a court rife with betrayal and plots her revenge against the humans who wronged her. The arrival of her betrothed, the Brutal Prince Arran Earthborn, adds layers of complexity to her quest, as she must guard a dangerous secret that could unravel the peace her ancestors fought for. With its high-stakes drama and steamy romance, this book promises to be an unforgettable journey.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🌶️🌶️🌶️

What a spicy ride of a King Arthur retelling!
and...
Oh my gosh! That cliff! I think I just fell off of it. WHAT?!

I love how from the very first chapters, you are just thrown into the storyline and are introduced to the characters in their grieving states.
Especially following Veyka and who she has become just 6 months after devastation rocks Annwyn completely.

I had to literally check my chapter numbers because I could not believe the bomb drop of chapter 2! This story is definitely fast paced, but in a good way!

There are secrets, lies and plenty of good 😏 times in these pages. This book is not missing ANY of the spice and I am here for every second of it!

Veyka is a breath of fresh air as far as stabby FMCs go. She has layers and secrets that unfold as you read. Not to mention she's also not your typical stick skinny bombshell that you usually see! Very body positive in all aspects!

Arran is just a complete beastly smoke show. I love his commanding personality and how well he fits with Veyka. They complement each other perfectly.

The cliffhanger though... Wow. I mean, can I please just catch my breath? The tease!
I can't wait to dive into book two.
This story is heating up in more ways than one! 🔥

I was lucky enough to get my hands on an ARC of Crown of Earth and Sky through Netgalley and I devoured the story in about two days. A fresh, new take on the legend of King Arthur, this story focuses on a new character, Veyka, Arthur's twin sister. When Arthur tragically dies before he has a chance to become the legendary ruler we all know, his unwitting twin is thrust into a role she does not want and is not prepared for.

This story is rife with the perils and politics of a royal family with the intrigue and deliciousness of fated mates, revenge, and just what can happen when you trust the wrong person. Emberly Ash manages to intricately weave the Arthurian legend into a completely new story without falling into the pitfalls of simply rehashing the existing narrative. Veyka is a compelling character that you can instantly relate to; there is trauma in her past and is so completely focused on finding out who is responsible for her brother's death that she unknowingly puts her faith in people who do not necessarily have her best interests at heart.

We also meet Arran Earthborn, Veyka's betrothed, who is quite simply the morally grey, tortured fae that you just cannot help but fall in love with. Everything he does is out of duty to his kingdom at first but we soon learn that his story is very similar to that of Veyka. His secrets are his own until they are not. His protective, "touch her and you die" manner even though at first he "hates" Veyka for what he thinks she stands for is delectable.

The world-building in this story is wonderful and the character development is inspiring. From the first page, you are drawn into a world and people that you just want to know more about. If I am completely honest, this would make a great TV series and I am seriously hoping that this gets picked up for one. I cannot wait to read the next two books in the series.

If you love morally grey characters with an incredible story and a bit of spice, this fantasy fae, fated mates story will be right up your alley.

What an exciting start to a series!! I LOVED this twist on the legendary stories of King Arthur, Excalibur and the Knights of the Round Table, and adding the magical and fae elements was very fun creatively.

The writing was really well done and it was effortless to read.
Parts of the story I felt the internal dialogue or descriptions were a little long and I craved a bit more action personally. But slow burn, enemies to lovers is one of my most favourite tropes and Veyka and Arran were the chefs kiss! Don’t worry though there is TONS of sexy / smutty/ spicy scenes. Overall a fantastic start to what I’m sure will be a really fun series and I can’t wait to read more about the world of Annwyn.

Thanks so much to the author Emberly Ash, Cara Maxwell Romance, and NetGalley for the gifted copy to read. All thoughts are mine and not impacted by receiving a copy.

3.75 stars

TW: grief, child abuse, rape, imprisonment, death of a sibling

I first chose to request this book simply because the cover caught my eye with it's prettiness, I always do this! Plus a King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table re-imagining with fae...bring it on!

Veyka is out for revenge for the murder of her brother Arthur, she knows it wasn't just some random humans who came to kill him. There is foul play within the Royal Council and she will uncover it and make the perpetrators pay. She never wanted to be Queen, she's the spare, a twin sister who was never supposed to be. She was imprisoned as a child by her mother and tortured daily to try to instill magical power within her but she never produced any. She is set to join with the Terrestial fae heir so that their may be peace in throughout the kingdom once more. But Arran and Veyka are anything but a happy engaged couple.

The chemistry between Veyka and Arran was decent but there is literally SOOOO much focus on Veyka's body, her breasts specifically it just kinda distracted me and took me out of the reading experience. I couldn't really believe the love between them when they just wanted to fuck each other's brains out all day and then go back to hating each other. Plus, there was this weird dynamic between Veyka and Parys in the beginning that was just thrown out there with no build up...I don't know I just found the romance in this book weird and stunted.

The secondary characters probably saved me from DNFing this book after all the weird romance. Gwen, Lyrena, and the handmaiden sisters were fantastic. I loved all of their dynamics and personalities. Gwen especially, since she was promised something else and stepped up anyway, she showed such courage in the face of such personal tragedy.

There is a pretty big cliff hanger at the end and you're just left kind of floundering in the wind after such a build up! In the end, it was an okay romantasy read. I will probably not continue the series. I just don't vibe with the romance. You might like it if you prefer the darker romance reads, it's a bit nitty and gritty that I think would fit that genre better. Thank you so much to Cara Maxwell Romance for providing me with an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Oh my, this book took me for a ride. I was expecting a nice fantasy read and this was so much more.
I was immediately immersed into this world and couldn't put this down, it was high stakes from the beginning and each page had me wanting more and to know what was coming next.
Our FMC Veyka is so badass, she's strong and cunning but realistic, her pain and trauma aren't just looked over they are who she is, a part of her that shapes her to be the character she is. I loved the depth to her character and how she acted throughout the book, it felt so truthful.
Arran our MMC also had me hooked throughout the whole book, I want to know every part of his story and how he came to be the Brutal Prince. His power is so interesting and I can't wait to see more of it.
Our characters together
ooft the slow burn enemies to
friends to lovers?? Who knows where this is going but l'll eat it up no matter what.
The plot twists and scheming had me on the edge of my seat and while at some points I thought I knew where the story was heading I was thrown a curve ball and surprised by where it went.
This is a new favourite, definitely one of my favourite starts to a series. The plot was strong, the pacing was solid, the dark romance elements and the smut scenes were a perfect blend against the fantasy and world building while also keeping the story easy to follow and giving our characters the depth I crave in a good series!
I can't wait to read the rest of the trilogy!

Overall thoughts:
5⭐️
3 🌶️
484 pages (kindle edition) 📖

‘She looked like the queen of hell herself.’

‘There was the little ring of fire around the pupil - the one I’d come to think of as mine. A flame that burned just for me.’

‘So bloodthirsty, Brutal Prince.’

Tropes: Fae, Magic, Witches, Dual POV, Forced Proximity, Touch Her You 💀, Shifters, Badass FMC, Slow Burn, Nickname, He Falls First

A high fantasy retelling of the Arthur Legend, focusing on Queen Veyka becoming the ruler she was born to be. Fae, politics, secrets, betrayal & trials. This story has it ALL!

I LOVED this book, I was enthralled throughout! The writing style was great, really competent and well written. It made the world building easy to understand & interesting.
The pacing was spot on. This book just hits every note!

The characters & their development I loved. The development of their relationships had me so invested! Queen Veyka’s sass & sexuality is really empowering, I love to see that plus size girlie rep. The banter between her & Aaron is hilarious too!

If you loved ACOTAR & Game of Thrones, you’ll love this book!

*Cliffhanger Ending Warning*

The only thing I wish we got a little more of was Aaron truly being The Brutal Prince 🐺 - but maybe that’ll be in the next book 👀

I’ll be starting book two straight away!!

Thank you to Emberly Ash & NetGalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Crown of Earth and Sky is a stunning, action-packed, tension-filled fantasy romance. Veyka is the reigning queen of Annywyn after a tragedy occurs to the previous ruler. There is a tradition of joining heirs of elemental and terrestrial fae, and Veyka must take on a new husband and this is the male main character Arran.

I love a strong-willed heroine and Veyka does not disappoint. Though many see her as weak and replaceable, she proves she doesn't care about what they think, and she is stronger than their disparaging comments and negative opinions. I enjoyed how as the story unravels through the characters such as Arran's temper or possessiveness and Veyka's masking of her emotions,

Veyka struggles against her feelings for Arran and both of them continue to butt heads as Arran deems her "selfish" but eventually the tension pulls taut and their love story builds from the foundation of emotional intimacy as well as physical desire. Their misconceptions of one another slowly clear up as Arran finds out the reasons why Veyka does what she does, with her royal position, how she needed to numb herself from feelings by using other people as outlets. As Veyka and Arran work together to find out who is working against the crown, time is of the essence because they are becoming targets too.

Overall the book is a thrilling adventure that takes the reader on the journey with Veyka and Arran, until the end of the first book which leaves the story in suspense making way for the second book in the series. I look forward to reading more of the lore and stories in the series.

This book was amazing! If you are looking for an enemies to lovers story inspired by Arthurian legends. The banter and the tension was so good! I fell in love with this book!

3/5

This book was seriously good! The cover is awesome, and the writing hooked me from the start. I had a blast reading it, and now I'm pumped to see where the next books in the series will take me!

WHAT TO EXPECT:
👑 King Arthur Retelling but make it Fae
👑 Arranged Marriage
👑 3/5 🌶️
👑 Court Politics and Intrigue
👑 Plus-sized FMC Rep
👑 Morally Grey MMC
👑 Enemies-to-Lovers (Fated Mates)

Alright, quick summary time! So, imagine this: Veyka Pendragon, the new Elemental Fae Queen, isn't exactly having a royal tea party. Betrayal? Check. Revenge? Definitely. And just when she thought things couldn't get crazier, in comes Arran Earthborn, aka the Brutal Prince, stirring up even more chaos. With secrets to guard and a kingdom to protect, Veyka's got her hands full. But hey, who said being queen was easy? Crown of Earth and Sky is like a twisted remix of the Arthur legend, with plenty of fantasy, steamy romance, and dark twists.

Oh man, let me tell you about this book! The synopsis had me hooked right off the bat, and don't even get me started on that stunning cover! As soon as I dove in, the first line had me like, "Wait, what?" and I was all in.

I'm a sucker for Arthurian retellings, and this one didn't disappoint, especially with the added twist of fae. The writing, by Emberly Ash, is just *chef's kiss*. It grabs you from the get-go and doesn't let up. But, okay, I gotta admit, the first 60% was a bit of a marathon. We had a ton of world-building (which ended up being worth it, but still, could've been trimmed down a bit), and I had so many questions flying around that it felt like a maze sometimes. But hey, I powered through, and man, oh man, the last 40%? Absolute fire! Now I'm itching to get my hands on the next book in the series.

Oh, and that cliffhanger at the end? Whew, talk about leaving me hanging! I need the sequel like, yesterday. My jaw? On the floor. 🤯

Now, I'd still only give it a good 3 stars, mainly because of the characters. I struggled to really connect with any of them. Veyka's got this boss babe vibe going on, which I dig, and she even has her sweet moments, but overall, she left me feeling kinda meh. I mean, she's not terrible or anything, but she didn't exactly leave a lasting impression.

Now, let's talk about Arran, the MMC. Ugh, didn't like him at all. He spent like 80% of the book just sexualizing Veyka, and it was just...icky. Like, why? Plus, he was super rude and dismissive, and I get it, he's supposed to be morally grey and all, but his reasons for acting like a jerk just fell flat for me. He was frustrating as heck, always blaming Veyka for everything. Weirdo.

But hey, despite all that, the book was actually really good. I enjoyed it, and I'm definitely down for checking out the next books in the series. Can't wait to see how everything unfolds and changes plot-wise in the sequels!

*Thank you NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and the author for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.*

In book one of the Secrets of the Faerie Crown series, King Arthur is murdered in cold blood, and the throne is now passed down to his twin sister, Veyka Pendragon. As her betrothed arrives, Arran Earthborn (A.K.A. The Brutal Prince), she must not only prepare to marry someone she despises, but also try to discover who was responsible for her brother's murder. There are traitors in her court, and she has no idea who they are. With the need for revenge overwhelming her, she will soon have to make a decision - avenge her brother and settle the score, or protect the crown & her people. And how will she manage to do either without revealing the secret she has been hiding her entire life?

This book was amazing. I thought the author did an excellent job with world-building on this. I love the incorporation of the fae element into the Arthurian legend. Arthur himself played a very small role in the book, since he was murdered almost immediately, so almost the entire book was about his twin sister Veyka. She was headstrong, obstinate, but also loyal to those she loved. I couldn't stand Arran at the beginning, but he was definitely growing on me by the end of the book. I am looking forward to seeing where the story will go from here, because the ending of this book sets up the plot for the next book quite nicely! There is a paragraph at the beginning of the book letting the reader know about trigger warnings. I will say there are a lot of graphic sex scenes, so if that is a turn-off for you, just be prepared. If you are a fan of fantasy fiction, then I definitely think you should check this series out.

I enjoyed this story. It was a fun read from the beginning. The world building and character development was very good. I liked the murder mystery aspect of the book and found it well combined with the enemies to lovers MC’s.

3 1/2 STARS!!!
Crown of Earth and Sky was an interesting paranormal story, and the ending left me excited to read the next book in the series. Veyka and Arthur are twins but only one was meant to survive. They were raised in very different ways, but they loved and supported each other, and Arthur was determined to protect his sister. She deserved nothing less after everything their mother Ingraine put her through. Arthur is a just and fair King, and Veyka wants nothing more besides his happiness. However, one fateful evening changes their lives forever. Veyka has no desire to rule. but her mate and King Aarran expects more from his Queen. Once he realizes what she does and how she rules, he demands more. Her heart can be filled with rage, and she can get her revenge, but she will be the Queen Annnwyn needs. Veyka learns that only wanting revenge and caring about nothing else comes at a cost. Power plays are made, lives are lost, betrayal is in fully swing, and enemies are where you least expect them. This story is full of characters you will love and hate, suspense, revenge, betrayal, loss, lies, friends, enemies, romance, regrets, secrets, battles, steamy scenes and more. The story ends with a cliffhanger and I'm looking forward to reading what will happen next with Veyka, Aarran, Gwen Lyrena, Parys and Cyara.

Title: Crown of Earth and Sky by Emberly Ash
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars

Secrets of the Faerie Crown, Book 1

The story is a twisted retelling of the Arthurian legend, blending elements of fantasy, romance, and dark themes.

A fantasy novel centered around Veyka Pendragon, the Queen of the Elemental Fae, seeking revenge against humans who betrayed her. Amidst court intrigue and the arrival of her betrothed, Arran Earthborn, she faces a choice between maintaining her kingdom’s peace or pursuing vengeance.

"Crown of Earth and Sky" by Emberly Ash takes readers on a rollercoaster ride of complexity and intrigue. While the story itself may take a moment to sink into, the chemistry between Veyka and Arran is absolutely captivating. The gradual unfolding of Annwyn's history and character backstories adds a deliciously tortuous layer to the narrative. Spicy scenes between Veyka and Arran are both steamy and exquisitely crafted.

Overall, I found this book to be a thoroughly enjoyable read from start to finish. The world-building and character development are top-notch, and I particularly appreciated the murder mystery element woven seamlessly with the enemies-to-lovers main characters.

"Crown of Earth and Sky" is a page-turner, and I am so lucky to be able to dive into book 2 now!

Thank you to The Publisher Cara Maxwell Romance, The Author Emberly Ash & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

Veyka never wanted to be queen, however, a cruel twist of fate made her the unwilling heir. The Queen of Secrets.
Set in a fae land divided in two between the elemental and the terrestrial faes, "Crown of Earth and Sky" is a retelling of the Arthur legend with a twist. We follow Veyka Pendragon as she navigates through the scheming royal council, her bethrothed, known as the Brutal Prince, and the secrets he brings with him. All of this while she's crippled by grief, a position she never wanted, the past that still haunts her, and her plan for vengeance that's the only thing that motivates her.
This is a romantasy with an enemies-to-lovers plot which, gave all the satisfaction that it promised. It's quite steamy, which is an added bonus for me, however, being the first book of the series there wasn't as much romanticism. However, Veyka and Arran seem promising in that regard. I really enjoy it when politics are woven into a fantastical plot. The inner machinations of the Elemental Court and this new world and magic system as well were really fascinating and easy to follow for me. I honestly enjoyed every minute of this story. The two MCs were rounded and complex, there was more than met the eyes of both of them, and getting to know them as they unraveled each other's secrets was a pleasure. The story was also action-packed and it proved time and time again how Veyka is a plus-sized, knife-wive queen. No matter what she thinks.
That unforeseeable cliffhanger was just cruelly delicious enough that I can't wait to get my hands on the rest of the series.

In this book you'll find: enemies to lovers, arranged marriage, faes, magic, action and intrigue, plus size representation, knife-wife. (check TW before reading)