I found this novel delightful and original. I found that, while Aria and Baron were not trusting of anyone, they both needed help, but didn't know whom to trust. It was a larger than life chess game with lives at stake. I really enjoyed the story and the outcome. I had a hard time putting the book down. I would definitely recommend, especially if you want something new.

Thank you for NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

Exciting magical romantic fantasy.
Feels like a fairy tale and has some similarities to Sleeping Beauty.

The title comes from a conflict between the Casters-those born with various magical abilities, and the Crowns-the royals. Princess Aria thinks she knows more than her dad (like many teenagers) but makes a huge mistake with serious consequences for herself, her family and ultimately her kingdom.

I liked it more than I thought I would and couldn’t put it down. I loved that Aria stands up for what’s right and wants to use the talents of everyone to make their community better. Themes of prejudice, mercy, and acceptance of others who are different and therefore seem scary. Thanks to Shadow Mountain Publishing for an ARC to use for my review.

This was my first book by this author but I have been seeing this pop up over and over again in my bookstagram feed. I really enjoyed this one, the world building/magic system was interesting and the characters were complex and well developed. The romance was done well and I loved the twins and I just couldn’t put this one down. I would definitely recommend it.

This book was a delightful surprise! Loved it! The characters were will flushed out and believable = well as much as a magical book can be! I loved the way the magic was handled and crafted throughout the book! Well done and the swooning was perfection! I really enjoyed this book! I will read another by the author again sooner than later!

Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain for the opportunity to read this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

What a feast for my imagination! I switched off between ARC and audiobook and anytime I couldn't be reading/listening, I was thinking about this book - in all the best ways! The world, curse, magic, politics, characters became such a real world in my head and I loved every bit of the adventure. I will be recommending this book to everyone - regardless of their book tastes because I think this book could suit just about anyone's fancy. The character arcs, love story, obstacles, twins (they were soooo fun!), and more were all so refreshing. I have read a lot of books this year, but few have caught and held my attention like this one. Hoping the author keeps writing masterpieces like this!

Not only did I have the book, but I grabbed the audio and listened to this one and wow–I was captivated and intrigued from the very start.

Aria is the crown princess and takes it upon herself to distance her country from the brink of war they’re facing–only to find herself cursed and things turn seemingly worse. I have a great appreciation for an author that can deliver something fresh and fun, with surprising twists and turns.

I really enjoyed all the characters and the roles they each played, and was fascinated to see the layers build and peel, revealing a delightful tale that left me in wonder. With magic, curses, and love, this romantasy is a winsome treat.

Elizabeth Lowham does a wonderful job of creating a story that I’m hoping will turn into at least a duology, if not more.

Content: mild violence; mild romance

Magical, historical, fantastical, and full of breathtaking world-building and twists and turns, "Casters and Crowns" is simply impossible to put down!

Firstly, this cover is so captivating!

Elizabeth Lowham's storytelling is incredible! From the first moment to the last, I was fully engrossed in this book, and felt myself swept away into a different land and time. I would so love for there to be more books set in this world, as it is truly gripping and like a fairy tale!

Princess Aria wants to help bring more peace to her father's kingdom, When she tries to come to an agreement with Widow Morton, whom is a Caster (those with magic), and things go wrong, Princess Aria is cursed, and soon finds herself working alongside Baron Reeves in order to stay alive and stop the curse. I don't want to say too much about the plot due to spoilers, but, I will say, this novel has so much in it; magic, spells, adventure, moments that will have you on the edge of your seat, fairy tale elements, romance, and so, so much more.

Aria and Baron truly bring out the best in one another, and both have such hearts of gold. They help one another grow, and their character development throughout is so powerful and poignant. I hope to see them again in future books!

I highly recommend this book, and I can't wait to read what Elizabeth Lowham writes next!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the e-ARC of this book, and to Shadow Mountain Publishing for sending me a beautiful physical ARC as well! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I LOVED this story! I wasn't so sure about it when I first started, because I haven't been on a magic kick for quite awhile now, but I am so glad I chose to read this book. The author does a wonderful job at world-building and bringing each of the characters to life. Definitely one that I had a hard time putting down.

"With you, I see the self I want to be."

This is the second book I’ve read from Lowham and it was just as amazing as BEAUTY REBORN. Lowham has created a unique magical world. With witch’s marks, spells, curses, banishment, shapeshifting, sleeping spells, secrets, and so much more.

I was impressed with the creative plot and enchanting characters. Aria and Baron and wonderfully done. Aria is brave, outspoken (mark!), and caring. As she tries to make things right with Countess Morton, things only get worse for her. I absolutely loved the turn of events and all that happens from this meeting.

Baron is a caster who has held the witch’s mark since he was six. He is patient while he deals with unfairness and prejudice. There are so many unpredictable twists and turns, and I loved every page. The development of Aria’s and Baron’s relationship is tender and I loved what takes place. Eliza is also wonderful and even those who the small roles are vital to this intriguing story.

Thank you to the publisher for the NetGalley approval. I also listened to some of the audio on Deseret Bookshelf. The narrators were perfect.

Oh my goodness, I was completely and totally enthralled with this book! This is the perfect example of a clean romantasy done right. I was hooked right from the get go, and didn’t want to stop once I had started.

The characters in this story were SO MUCH FUN, from the MMC and FMC down to even the smallest side characters. Everyone was important to the story, and I wanted to get more and more. The magic was so fascinating and easy to follow. Some fantasy magic gets too complicated for me, but this one was not that way at all. The Casters were really cool and I loved seeing them cast as both villains and heroes.

And don’t even get me started on our MMC and FMC. I was obsessed. They were perfect for each other. And I loved them both (which I’ll admit doesn’t happen very often that I love both haha). Baron is a dreamy dreamboat and I love him 😆😄 and the letters… *sigh. I have a sudden urge to start writing letters again. Lets bring this back haha

And I couldn’t finish without the twins. They are hilarious and I loved getting to see them throughout the story.


Thank you so much to the author and publisher and netgalley for an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

I'm going to start by saying that I did loved the book and the story but it was a bit much of a slow burn to me.. Which I understand but make me took some time to actually get into the story, I did liked Aria and Baron I think they were amazing characters and the magic system was great but I miss the wow in it

Thank you to Netgalley for giviing this ARC, and this doesn't influence my review. I had to DNF this book unfortunately. The tropes hooked me, but unfortunately I did not find myself interested in this book. This is by no means meant to deter anyone from reading.

Thank you to Netgalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the ARC copy of Casters and Crowns.

I adored this book. The magic system in Casters and Crowns is unique but not overly complicated which I loved.

The plot kept me intrigued until the end. I loved the characters in this book and I hope that the author might decided to write more books based on Aria and Baron as well as some of the side characters like the twins.

The fairytale aspect to this book was great.

I highly recommend that this book is added to your TBR.

Casters and Crowns is a slow-burn romantic fantasy.

At the center of the story are Aria and Baron. Both are facing futures they weren’t expecting, and it’s only when they learn to trust each other that they are able to turn things around.

In Casters and Crowns, Author Elizabeth Lowham has crafted a compelling plot and a complex, but accessible, magic system. Her main characters are well developed, and her supporting cast, though not as well considered, are interesting and help fill out the story.

Casters and Crowns is a standalone read that readers will find satisfying.

Casters and Crowns is an enchanting cosy fantasy that’s well written and plot driven. The world building and magic system is simple and easy to understand which is fantastic for readers who are new to the fantasy genre. The writing is beautiful and filled with vivid imagery which made the reading experience pleasant.

Our main characters Aria and Baron are adorable, and I loved watching their friendship blossom into a very sweet romance. Whilst there is a romance highlighted in the book, the author explores other themes which many younger readers can relate to.

Princess Aria is full of self doubt and often “tally’s” up her faults mentally. She is also facing the challenges of ruling a Kingdom and proving herself to her father the King, who does not trust Casters (people with magic).
Baron is a kind and loving soul with magical abilities. He wishes to unite the kingdom and let other casters live freely, without fear and treated as equals.

I thoroughly enjoyed this stand alone novel. It was a sweet, clean read with a fantastic cast of loveable characters.

Thank you so much Netgalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the e-arc.

👑 If you love cozy, unique & immersive Fantasy Tales that feel like a Fairy Tale then you need to put Casters & Crowns by Liz Lowham on your TBR!

✨ The plot is absolutely amazing, and the world building is literally out of this world incredible! I don’t want to give too many details away, just know that this book is a must read! The plot was fast faced and so intriguing, I couldn’t imagine how Aria could possibly get to her Happily Ever After! It was hard won, that’s all I can say!

👑 I loved how this unique story had a few details that nod at Sleeping Beauty & The 12 Dancing Princesses without it being a retelling! Liz has lovingly crafted her own masterpiece here which reads more like an epic fantasy with fairytale flair.

💖 I loved all of Liz’s character’s, but especially Princess Aria, the FMC! She’s a perfectionist with a heart of gold, and watching her grow up and gain more confidence in herself was inspiring! I also loved her relationship with her sister, more YA books should be like Liz’s, showing healthy, positive & loving familial relationships. Then there was Aria’s relationship with Baron! Their slow-burn romance was sweet, clean, and so endearing!! Baron was a wonderfully kind, sweet & compassionate cinnamon roll MMC! I especially loved his relationships with his brothers, and the way their antics lent some comic relief to the story! I loved the world building and the mystery in this story, but the relationships were my *favorite*  part of this read!

If you love stories with.. 

🪶📜 Beautiful Lyrical Prose
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦💕 Strong Familial Bonds
✨🌙 Mysterious Sleeping Curses
💖💙 Dual POV Slow Burn Romance
🍋🌿 Gorgeous, Intricately Detailed World Building

…Then you need this book for your shelf! As if the story itself wasn’t already amazing enough, the Hardcover version of this book has artwork underneath the Dust Jacket which is just breathtaking!!

✨ A Huge Thank You to Elizabeth Lowham & Shadow Mountain Publishing for the gorgeous gifted Hardcover & character art, and thank you Netgalley for the Ebook Arc!

I loved this YA Romantasy and would rate it:

🍋✨🍋✨🍋

…and highly recommend it to everyone who loves clean fairytales & epic fantasy!

I genuinely struggled to get through this book in the beginning but as the storyline progressed I found myself intrigued by the plot. I started to relate to Aria more and more and instantly fell in love with Baron. What a sweetie.

A sleeping curse, magic, crows, romance, adventure… this book had it all. It was a fun read for sure. I also LOVED the twins. They were hilarious.

The king drove me crazy. He was stubborn and selfish and I wanted to jump in the book several times to punch him in the nose lol. Regardless, I liked the book. The kissing scenes made the book for me 😍

As Crown Princess, Aria's aim is to bring peace to the kingdom. Unfortunately, those without magic (a majority) fear those who possess it - and sometimes with good reason. As a result, when the son of a powerful Caster is killed as a spy in the palace, she rebels against the king, calling all Casters to join her. And when Aria goes clandestinely to try to broker a peace, she finds herself cursed. An unexpected meeting with another Caster, Baron Reeves, seems to hold the potential to break the curse - but as she gets to know him, though they come no closer to success, a new viewpoint and true acceptance open before her. Baron is in a precarious position, as a feared Caster who only wants to protect those under his care, but his interactions with Aria lighten his days and show him a different picture of himself. But time is running short - can they break the curse before it's too late? And what will their failure or success mean for the kingdom?

This took me a while to get into, and for the first 10% or so of the book I could just as easily have put it down. But somehow, as I kept going, I became deeply invested in Aria's quest, her growing relationship with the Reeve family and her developing self-awareness - not to mention Baron's plight and that of his brothers. I loved both Aria and Baron as characters - flawed but good at heart, and better in seeing good in others than themselves. The twins were also entertaining, though I suspect they could be wearing to live with! The picture of how magic worked was hazy in some areas but overall seemed to hang together reasonably well. I'd be interested to see more from this author and this world - surely Aria must have another crisis sometime, or maybe one or both of the twins needs a turn as lead? All in all, an intriguing and touching read with very relatable characters, some humour, and a very satisfying and well managed ending. Looking forward to seeing what the author writes next.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

as pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. It wasn’t my usual genre but it really held my interest from start to end. I want sure how the author was going to end it in a satisfactory way but she did. It was well written and fun!
I thought the plot was unique and fantastical. I loved all the magic and the dashes of romance added in. This is a book an adult and a teen would enjoy reading.
I read the book and then got to listen to it on audio as well. The narrators were just amazing!
It was even better the second time “reading”it.
I can’t wait for more from this author- I’m hoping there will be more books for some of the side characters.

This is such a great fantasy! It has fairytale vibes, which I loved, and the writing sweeps the reader away and transports them into the story.

The character development in this book is so well written! I loved seeing Aria and Baron grow, and it was beautiful to see their romance blossom. I adore letters in books, so their letters to each other made me really happy!

This book has many familiar fantasy aspects, which made it feel comforting to read, but it also has many twists and turns, which make it feel very original as well. I’m not sure quite how to explain it, but it made me feel nostalgic for fantasy books I’ve read in the past, while also making me want to keep reading to find out what would happen next.

The romance is so sweet, the side characters are well written (I loved the twins!), the story is compelling, and I really enjoyed reading it! I happily recommend it to people who enjoy reading clean fantasy books, and I am looking forward to reading more books by Elizabeth Lowham!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.