DNF. I cannot follow what is happening in this book. I actually had to check that I hadn't somehow skipped a chapter because I could not follow the beginning. This seems like a book that is best read in physical book or ebook fashion instead of an audiobook.

Im so happy I took a chance on this audiobook. I loved this story! As usual the third person pov always makes the story feel more magical. It can be hard to read sometimes but as an audiobook it never fails.
This was a beautiful story with beautiful meanings for those who look deeper. I loved the FMCs growth journey and I think we can all relate to her problems.
I also loved the romance and of course the MMCs brothers!

Very worth the read!

Cute fantasy book, though it felt very tame (action and character-wise) compared to some of the recent releases in the genre, but that isn’t a bad thing. Great audiobook with dual narrators.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an audiobook arc of this book. This was a great fantasy book with a blossoming romance through tribulations. The story has an almost Sleeping Beauty like quality to it, but in an opposite way, if that makes sense. There is some elemental magic and shape shifting throughout the story, adding to the magical quality of the story. The characters were interesting and likable. It has a good meaning behind it as mistakes can be made throughout history, but as long as we progress and learn from our mistakes, positive changes can come about. The audiobook was great, and I really enjoyed the dual narration. I will definitely be reading more from this author!

This was an interesting standalone with a unique magic system. I will be checking out other works by the author.

Very cute romantasy! It reads a bit like a classic fairy tale which I loved. The characters were well fleshed out and I couldn't help but fall in love with every one of them. The writing was great! It's a solid fantasy all around!

The audiobook was excellent! I love when we have dual narrators!

This is a wonderfully written cozy romantasy that was pleasing to read. It is a bit slow, which I have come to expect from the cozy genre so that doesn't really put me off but if you are looking for plot twists and lots of action, this may not be up your alley. The romance is very sweet and there is no spice, making this book great for many ages and genres. This book felt like a fairytale to me in a good way and I'm sure I'll want to reread this one in the future.

The audiobook narrators Nick Mondelli and Jess Moran do a great job with the voices.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Select | Shadow Mountain Publishing for access to the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Excellent romantasy read, I enjoyed it a lot! This cover is gorgeous too. The plot was so good in this book, it was intricate and immersive. The author did such a wonderful job, the book was so well written and is so much better than most romantasy books. The FMC Princess Aria is such a great character and she is so likable. I enjoyed how she was always striving to improve and was so very human and good. The MMC Baron also struggles to be his best self and the parallel journey these two characters go on is such an important one. Their dual points of view made it such an immersive read.

The audiobook was wonderful, I really enjoyed the narration. It was read by Jess Moran and Nick Mondelli. Each narrator did such a great job with their characters and the story really flowed and had me hooked.

🐦‍⬛ Blurb: Cursed by magic, bound by mistakes. Princess Aria finds her destiny hinges on the mysterious Baron Reeves. Will love be enough to break the curse?

👑 Forbidden Love
🐦‍⬛ Outlawed Magic
👑 Royalty
🐦‍⬛ Magical curse
👑 Sleeping beauty vibes
🐦‍⬛ Fantasy
👑 Clean romance

🐦‍⬛ Quotes:
"Every sword ever forged is dangerous. It's a matter of who's wielding it, and I trust you to wield...”

"Most importantly, I stand tall, because even if they don't know who I am, I do.”

“The difficult road forward is worth the journey.”

Thank you to the author Elizabeth Lowham, NetGalley for the audiobook copy of the book.

Inspired by The Twelve Dancing Princesses, Casters and Crowns is a brilliant standalone YA Romantasy that I could not put down. Princess Aria is terrified of making mistakes, yet with the weight of the monarchy on her shoulders, she cannot seem to do anything right. Seeking a peaceable solution to a brewing civil war, Aria becomes condemned by a blood curse with a terminal deadline and must search for an unlikely ally in her quest for a cure, leading her to the complicated and obviously very handsome magic-wielding Caster, Baron. I loved every chapter of this book with a slow burn romance, letters exchanged, brotherly banter, magic, love, and familial duty. There is a quality of double mirrors in the text: twin boys, two very important deaths before the book begins with grieving families, two youngest daughters without any say in their fates. All add complexity and depth to the story that I savored. My only regret is I wish to have seen more of Jenny's personality and background.
I switched between the audio and the ebook. The dual narrators were perfect for this dual POV narrative, both speaking slowly, which I love as I can speed up to my preferred listening tempo. Both were pleasant to listen to as well.
Reading this novel felt like eating dessert: fun, rich, and enticing. I'd absolutely read more by this author in the future. This is perfect for fans of Divine Rivals.
Thanks to NetGalley, Shadow Mountain Publishing, and Dreamscape Select for this ARC!