I loved A Feather So Black for its fairytale-like quality and the elements of Celtic lore, along with the mother/daughter/sister dynamics. While the first book technically left off on a light cliffhanger, it didn't give us any real clue of where the story would go next. I was so nervous going into this read because of this lack of information, but I am so happy to have enjoyed it as much as I did!

First - the key thing with this series is patience (and I say this with so much love!).. Patience to check the glossary if you don't know what something means. Patience that possibly this thing you think could be a flaw, is actually meant to be worked out later - maybe even in the next book (this happened to me several times, regarding things I didn't love from the first book!), and you’ll love that moment.

While these books are not super long, I think they're experienced best when you're taking your time. I don't consider that a flaw - sometimes you have to be able to tailor your reading experience to the book. I'm more of a mood reader so this was perfect for a slower, more immersive reading experience (as was A Feather So Black!), but if you lean towards fast paced storytelling this series overall may not be your cup of tea. The prose is lyrical and atmospheric and it goes perfectly with the pacing.

There is a huge amount of trust we owe an author when jumping into any book, but I believe that is even more true with this sequel - where A Feather So Black read almost like a fairytale, A Crown So Silver feels so much more grounded and emotional. There were things I didn't love as they were happening, like moments of blind stubbornness, fighting/bickering, ego and attitudes, etc that felt immature or at odds with the characters I loved in the first book. Since this genre is prone to unresolved issues and immature conflicts, it took me a minute to relax and trust that Lyra Selene would deliver an answer to them all. And she did - whatever I disliked in the moment stemmed from somewhere, and I loved that each moment had an answering scene that gave me resolution and made me believe in this romance and in the friendships.

That said - the arguments in the romantic relationship were a bit cyclical, but it was more so in the beginning where it felt like they were setting the stage for the dynamics we'd be seeing throughout the book.

A major question going into this book for me was: the relationship we get at the end of A Feather So Black was a bit rushed, how can it stay interesting over a whole trilogy? Turns out, that is a central conflict of book 2, and I couldn't be happier with that. I can't remember the last time I saw a "rushed" romance and lack of backstory/information about a love interest being used as a device in this way - to examine how easily passion can burn out, leaving major differences and disagreements, and how to work through them (if they can). I loved it, it added another element of high stakes for me, which is important with Romantasy where romance and the fantasy are more on equal standing. I felt so validated in my love for the first book when I realized this as well! The continuity and self-awareness was so satisfying, and gave me so much confidence in how their story would continue to develop going into Book 3.

Quick additional things that stood out to me: I loved the found family they're starting to build, considering the backstories of Fia and Irian. I loved Wayland. I was fascinated by the concept of the city and the way Fia's magic clashed with it. Also the concept of the servants and the way it felt innovative while still living within a high fantasy setting. the tournament pageantry, the lore around the island, everything. I also love how the sisterhood storyline is developing and how intensely their perspectives clash.

I do wish there was just a tad bit more weight to the Wayland / Fia / Irian storyline - considering how they mirror the story of The Oak King / The Year / The Holly King - but maybe that will play a bigger part in Book 3. I enjoyed that there was actually potential for a true love triangle after Wayland's (joking???) comment about his bed being big enough for three - and I loved the general teasing dynamic between the three of them.

All of that said - the only aspects of A Crown So Silver that actually pulled me away from a 5 star rating were:
1) the cyclical nature of the arguments
2) the fact that Fia does not actually have her brand new magic for a good portion of this book. While I completely understand the choice and how it fit within the world-building, it was a bit unsatisfying after everything she went through to get The Heart of the Forest, and for a portion of the book it undermined her perfectly reasonable desire to make her own choices and forge her own path (including her participation in the trials). I did not want to agree with Irian's POV on the situation - but I started to as her recklessness increased. But in the end I was satisfied with how it resolved and it didn't heavily detract from my enjoyment of the book - just a slight disappointment!

Overall I loved this read, I am so excited to see where Book 3 takes us. I rated this a 4.5/5 (rounded down to 4 for netgalley's system). Thank you so much to Orbit Books and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A Crown So Silver was an excellent sequel to A Feather So Black - one of my favorite reads of the last year. The writing has the same lush, dreamy quality, though this sequel does not have the same fairytale aspect that the first book had. I think this was natural, though. It felt much grittier and darker than book one, especially as Fia comes to grasp with her sister Eala's treachery and betrayal at the end of the last book. So many unanswered questions were addressed in this book, thank goodness. But Lyra Selene still has me questioning so much...

I was so happy that Fia and Irish went to the isle together because a lot of times, the main couple is separated for a big part at the beginning/middle of the second book. Their romance fell just the tiniest bit flat for me in this book though - there was a lot of petty arguing (which is natural) but it felt like going in circles again again and again. That said, their banter was excellent and considering how much of a strain their relationship was put through in this book, I shouldn't judge!

Initially I was uncertain how I felt about the change in setting, but I ended up loving the Silver Isle setting - the remote snow island was so captivating and beautifully described. Lyra Selene has the innate ability to entrance readers with her prose. Seriously, some of it reads like straight up poetry but in the best way possible. I definitely recommend this sequel, and for anyone that hasn't read A Feather So Black, go and pick it up!

Thank you so much to Orbit and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this ARC! 📚

This was a beautifully done sequel in this world, it had that element that I enjoyed from the first page and continued the story perfectly. I was invested in what happened with the characters and how everything worked in this story. It had that element that I enjoyed from Lyra Selene and was everything that I was looking for. I enjoyed getting back to this world and characters. It uses the trial element perfectly and left me wanting to read more from Lyra Selene and this series.

“We came together from a dark place. Does that mean it was not real?”

“A Crown So Silver,” by Lyra Selene

When I read the first book from the series last year it became one of my most favorite books of all time and I was so afraid the second book in the series would have second book syndrome; but I’m happy to say that it absolutely did not, it was so utterly perfect. Getting back in the head space with Fia and Irian but not with death trails and possible love triangle and old enemies. So many miscommunications and they need to start trusting each other so messes don’t get messier, ugh. I loved the change of scenery and location in this book, and it kept it fresh. I really can’t wait for book 3 and I have no doubts that it will be just as good as book 1 and 2. Anyways, I can’t give away too much without ruining big parts of the book. I wouldn’t change a single thing about this book, a perfect 5 out of 5 stars.

-Fae
-Death Trials

Thank you so much for the ARC, Netgalley.

“I was made of mountains and forests and burned-out stars. I was not made for an ending I hadn’t earned.”

“Things that have changed can never go back to the way they used to be- no matter how much we may wish it. And whether we like it or not, things are always changing. Change is how we know were alive. That doesn’t mean it does not hurt to leave parts of ourselves behind. Parts of ourselves we can never get back.”

“And looking forward with hope is better than looking backward with regret.”

“Maybe it’s better to be alone together… than alone apart.”

“But it can be far easier to hide behind the identities were given- the masks that make us most comfortable.”

“Why does every happy ending always seem to come at the cost of another person’s tragedy?”

“There are villains who do bad things for the right reasons. And there are villains who do good things for the wrong reasons.”


I will wait to publish my review on my social accounts on December 21st as the publishers request.