What a fun story of fantasy, magic, showing that the is good and bad on each side, some loveable but troublemaking twins, a curse, some love letters, and a romance that is so cute!

This story is light fantasy (not too complicated) with fairytale vibes!

Really liked this book. Such a different approach to magic and royalty. Really liked the characters and settings. Had interesting twists and turns. Highly recommend.

Such a great book. It’s a great YA fantasy romance but it had depth and richness at the same time. The writing I thought was excellent and flowed well, and I loved the main characters of Aria and Baron. I so enjoyed the peripheral characters as well - I find quite often good supporting characters that are given adequate page time make the story so much richer, and this had it in spades.

The story line took on a great focus of friendship, seeing that differences make us better, and learning to accept that our mistakes make us human and help us learn and have compassion. It did well at contrasting shame and failure, prejudice and revenge and pride, and what all that does to your soul and to those around you when not held in check, versus the effect of mercy, courage, perseverance and love.

Just so many good nuggets along with great characters and writing. Well done.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.

“With you, I can be myself. No, it is more than that — with you, I see the self I want to be.”

“Funny that a man could be so insightful regarding others and so blind concerning himself.”

* Oooh
* Loving the sleeping beauty vibes
* Ah I love the twins!
* The letters!
* Aww, Baron
* No he didn’t!
* Oh, I love love love them
* Ahh I knew it would be a kiss!
* Oh wow! That’s now how I thought that would go!

Awww I really loved this one! Aria and Baron are so good! I looove Baron. He’s so sweet and kind and tender. And I loved the letters they wrote back and forth. Aria was strong and I loved her growth in regards to making mistakes and then being okay with that.

All the characters were just so good. Leone and Corvin and Eliza and Silas and just everyone were so delightful! They all made me laugh.

The magic system was interesting and I also enjoyed the political/kingdom aspect of it all as well. The story was so fun and I enjoyed it immensely!

Thanks to NetGalley for the early copy. All opinions are my own.

This book is so good! I'll admit the cover and name caught my eye but the story itself really lived up to expectations.

Casters and Crowns follows the story of crown princess Aria who has always lived to the strict code of rulership outlined by her father the King . His word was the law and it was always right , so much so that Aria has spent her life keeping a mental record of every mistake she's made. She is heir to a country that is prejudiced and divided into those that have magic and those that do not , however this book flips the narrative where magic-wielders are the people who are oppressed. Then a tragedy shakes the court and sparks a revolution by a magic wielder called Widow Morton who takes revenge by cursing Aria and her family line. At the same time the story introduces Baron a caster who has recently lost his father and has to petition the king to allow him a 'magic-user' to hold his title at court in order to protect his brothers. When their worlds collide they both discover that they have much to learn from each other and they have to find a way to save Aria and the entire country from the threatening war.

Reading this book was so much of fun. The world was reminiscent of the regency era and the magic system was so unique, but what I loved is that the reader got adventure and world-building but also humor and emotion. Both the main characters had such strong bonds with their siblings , it was heart warming. I adored the twins and their dialogues *chef's kiss*. I also liked the fact that the author gave brief descriptions of the settings of a scene rather than spending paragraphs describing every detail which I know alot of fantasy books do. The romance as well wasn't overwhelming and the characters got to know each other and developed their feelings through their adversities. Baron wasn't the usual type of MMC either, he was reserved and guilt-ridden and second guessed alot of his choices making him more realistic. Aria was flawed and learning and she allowed us to see all the characters in both a positive and negative light so there was no clear cut villain, she was fiercely loyal and stood up for her beliefs to the very end. The book also left no loose ends or cliffhangers which was a relief. But again the magic system set up was so incredibly unique that I hope the author continues to write in this fictional world.


***Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review.***

This charming, short yet adventure-packed book comes in at 4.25/5 stars for me. I thoroughly enjoyed this YA read that packed in all the fantasy elements we’ve grown to love: an intriguing magic system, a tense faction, endearing main characters, and a sweet romance to boot.

I really enjoyed following the character growth of Aria and Baron who through the book struggle to accept what they feel are their own mistakes. It was beautiful to read how they complemented one another as they both realized and grew from adventures and others throughout this book. The book holds themes of pride, redemption, self-compassion, and growth and manages to explore these themes in really approachable ways.

I would have loved to have more depth to some of the peripheral characters to enhance the story just a bit for me, but overall I had a great time reading this and would absolutely recommend for a quick, adventurous read.

Thank you NetGalley, Shadow Mountain Publishing, and Elizabeth Lowham for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC from NetGalley.

Overall I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It's a solid YA fantasy that does a lot of things right. Told from interchanging POVs of the two main characters, Baron and Aria, the book dives into a world of those without magic, i.e. the ones in power, and those with magic, i.e. the ones persecuted. The book does a good job of building out this world, at least as far as the magic system works. There's two main groups: stone casters, or those who can control solid material, and then fluid casters, those who can control fluids (including blood). But there's also other types, including shapeshifters, which are viewed with even more animosity by those without magic. This is a pretty common trope in YA fantasy (using magic as a stand-in for race, sex, etc.), and while it never really delves into the complexities of how such discriminations actually work, it does at least avoid treating the topic too casually, I thought.

I also really enjoyed the growing romance between Baron and Aria. No instalove here! There's initial attraction, but it's clear it starts as just that and deeper feelings come after a believable developing relationship. And Baron truly came off as a believably good guy - I loved how he often responded to rude characters.

I did have some issues. The book got off to a slow start, and honestly I don't think the curse ever really made sense. Also, this is a VERY Anglo-influenced world setting. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing (although certainly overdone), but the author did seem to rely on this instead of providing details of what the physical world was like. I would have liked more description to help me picture what it was like.

But mostly I enjoyed it, especially once Aria and Baron actually started communicating with each other more.

I received a copy through NetGalley for review.


Casters and Crowns is a delightfully fresh, fantasy novel. It's light on romance, and most of their courtship is in written letters. Which was extra sweet.

Aria is the crown princess, she's lived her entire life trying to be her overbearing father's - perfect heir. And failing at every turn. Her father lives with the belief that one can never go back on a decision and that the crown is always right. Failure is not an option.

Magic and the people that perform it- Casters are treated as second class citizens, branded at the age of 12, and treated with general distain by the non magic class.
Baron Reeves is a Caster, a Fluid Caster- that meaning that he can transform any liquid into poison if he wishes, but wouldn't. His father has passed and as the eldest should receive his father's title of Lord, and be a member of court.

In the middle of all this a Caster has been killed by the direction of the King for spying, a young boy of just 15 years old. Setting off an ultimatum with the Caster Faction, lead by an angry, grieving mother.

And really it's about living under extreme pressure, and learning how to navigate yourself, how these characters handle the pressure. One that feels the crushing weight, one that is so torn down they curse a kingdom, and another who knows their father would want them to be better even with all the obstacles. It's about the imperfections of family and how they try to protect each other, even when it's wrong.

Aria and Baron's genuine connection really make this story something special, even with their differences, Baron's wild twin younger brothers constantly brawling with each other, Aria's impending curse with a countdown, they support and rally one another, and overcome their personal roadblocks to meet in the middle, and that it turns out they had the means to heal the kingdom all along.

First of all, this cover is stunning. I love all the details. Second, Aria and Baron are the best. I loved watching their understanding of each other grow. The letters! And Baron’s brothers were great side characters. This is a lower angst fantasy that would be great for newbie fantasy readers. I do think there could have been more world building. More about the country and the magic, so the curse and the reasons for the rebellion would have been better explained. A little more buildup to what was happening. Overall, a sweet love story that I really enjoyed.

I adored this book! A light but captivating fantasy, with easy to follow world building and magic system. All of the characters were fun and engaging. I thought the main characters growth and  development as both individuals and together was so enjoyable to read. I love this world and hope there will be a sequel to explore other characters and their stories!

Would definitely recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy, all thoughts are my own!

This enchanting fantasy novel is a breath of fresh air, offering a cozy, immersive experience that captivates from start to finish. The dual perspectives of Aria and Baron are particularly engaging, with each character's struggle to live up to their father's legacy providing a rich narrative foundation. Their parallel journeys of growth and self-discovery are exquisitely portrayed, underscoring a poignant theme of self-compassion and the acceptance of the essential nature of mistakes in the learning process.

This novel's world-building and magic systems are refreshingly simple yet effective, creating a story that is easy to follow without sacrificing depth. This makes it an ideal read for those seeking a more accessible entry point into the fantasy genre. The expertly balanced pacing ensures the story unfolds naturally while keeping the reader thoroughly engaged.

Romance is woven lightly yet effectively into the narrative, adding just the right amount of warmth without overpowering the plot. Princess Aria's quest to break a deadly curse, coupled with Baron Reeves' internal struggle to unite a kingdom, creates a compelling storyline that grips the reader's attention.

Should Lowham choose to explore this universe further, it will undoubtedly be met with anticipation. This novel is a true gem for anyone seeking a well-crafted, standalone fantasy that resonates long after the final page.

Thank you to Elizabeth Lowham, Shadow Mountain Publishing, and the NetGalley team for providing me with this e-ARC!

This book was a very difficult book to read and understand. She’s cursed to not be able to sleep, but several times she falls asleep. There’s so little description that I’m confused about who the characters are and how they develop the way they do. It’s lacking any emotion or excitement.

#CastersandCrowns #NetGalley

Princess Aria has kept marks of all of her mistakes. When she goes against her father's wishes and meets with Widow Morgan, who is a caster, she finds herself in the middle of a curse. At night, everyone in the castle falls asleep, and nothing can wake them. Princess Aria wishes she could sleep, but the curse keeps her awake at night, and she gets snatches of sleep during the day. Aria sees no choice but to go to another castor for help. Baron Reeves is the one she turns to for help. If only she could break the curse and find peace for all. This book was so good.