I thought that was a good follow up to the first book. The ending of this book had me wishing that the third book was already out. I need to read the third book now. I have enjoyed seeing these characters and the plot of this book series grow.

Thank you Netgalley for an arc.

Alright, I gave a fair shot at the sequel, but I just don't think this series is for me. I'm not entirely sure what's not clicking. If anything, I suspect that this series is spread too thin. There are too many places and people to keep track of, and Blair asks us to ping pong back and forth between them rapidly to even things out. I got whiplash from chapter to chapter. It's the sort of thing that's the result of a disjointed outline. Like, you're trying to fit everything in your outline so you write stuff down on postcards and shuffle them around until they all fit. It's up to God at that point to make the chapters gel together. And here, idk, it just didn't work for me.

(For hashtag aspiring authors, if you're struggling with an issue like this, the solution comes from the creators of South Park, shocking I know. They say to connect each story element with either a "therefore" or a "but" to maintain the cause and effect momentum of your story. Of course, this isn't going to be a catch all solution to your issue, but thinking of your story in terms of cause and effect and trying to connect all the chapters this way will definitely cause you to approach your story from a different angle that could alleviate many of your issues. It's not a hard and fast rule, but a perspective you can borrow).

This entire book was very much giving second act. I'm a little unconventional and actually love a good second act, it's my favorite when done right. This just felt... not that engaging. It felt like very much a continuation and a rehash of the first book and only started developing its own identity around the midway point. There were some things we learned here that we definitely should've learned in the first book. If you're going to have a trilogy span into three books, that first book has to be really character and exposition-heavy, so that you can really start doing the interesting work in the sequel. This series spread that exposition and character work out between two books, which was some crazyyy drag. It was hard for me to stay invested. Opening this book to "you gotta get the Elverin to trust you" when that was also basically the plot of the first book was giving shawty's like a melody in my head that I can't keep out, got me singing like​ na-na-na-na, every day it's like my iPod stuck on replay, replay-ay-ay-ay.

Idk who's gonna read this and be like "oh but the character should go through an arc in each book so like author just had to set them back and give them obstacles to overcome" yeah okay great I know how storytelling works, but did the obstacles have to be so same-same? The best thing this book was center quite a bit of its conversations about grief and I think if that had been more of a focus since the beginning, it would have been a lot more cohesive and compelling. I'm sure that was Blair's intent, but unfortunately, like I said, the book was spread too thin.

For example, there king sets a deadline in this book, like, "if you don't figure this out within xyz I'm gonna go beserk". And you think that'd be a throughline of tension throughout the book, but it's... not? The main character, Keera's, focus is completely on whatever she is doing at any given time with little reminder of how the issues overlap. Some of these chapters are like whiplash because each consecutive chapter will have a different goal in a different place doing a different thing and they all feel distinct and different. It's like when I was watching Avatar: Way of the Water and the entire second act was a coming of age movie where these teenagers get bullied and learn to ride weird sea creatures and after an forty minutes of that you go "hey, wasn't there a main antagonist in this movie? isn't this movie supposed to be about, like, colonialism? where'd the evil white guy go?" but then you have to wait another 20 minutes before you get to see him again.

I like Keera fine. She's cool. I don't have any strong feelings about her. I understand that some people probably have connected with her and look up to her which is fine. I'm not knocking that. It was just really hard for me to connect to her. The entire appeal of the book is based on that connection with the main character. The focus of this book isn't political intrigue or the fantasy world, it's Keera. The book is about Keera. If you can't connect with her or find her strife compelling, that's gonna be the dealbreaker. If you like this sort of fantasy heroine, the jaded but empathetic and traumatized extremely skilled warrior out for revenge, then you'll like it.

Idk why I couldn't connect. Usually, I'd try to deconstruct this and really reflect on the book, but I'm going to be so honest with you, it was so hard for me to finish this. I'm in a reading slump and found it to be incredibly repetitive and uninteresting and could not connect to the characters and I really had to trudge through it to get my arc review up. I know a lot of that is up to subjectivity.

As for the prose, I think Blair is on the better end of things. Not great, but not bad. The world did not feel real to me, but it was clear. She's so close to being great, she just needs a little oomf. I don't know what that would be exactly, but I'm sure she'll get there with practice. If anything, she needs a better editor. I noticed some repetition and confusing or janky sentences. Chapter 37 was riddled with typos, which I hope will be corrected by the final copy of the book.

I promised myself I'd keep this one short because I'm so tired but wow look at me go.

3.5/5 stars. A Shadow Crown immediately dives back into where book #1 leaves you. I did enjoy A Broken Blade more than this one and I will tell you why. This book suffered a bit from the second book syndrome and felt a bit like a filler. I had a difficult time staying interested, especially in the beginning. The pace was slow and not a lot was happening. In book #1 the romance felt forced and this time around it was almost nonexistent. Also, that possible love triangle? Not sure what was happening there. One of my favorite things about this book was getting to know the characters on a more intimate level. I do adore each and every one of them. As someone who also comes from an indigenous background, I appreciate that the author contributes some very interesting cultural elements into the story. The last 20-30 percent was more fast paced and action-packed, which almost made up for the slower start. The twists and ending left me needing more, so once the final book releases I will be picking it up ASAP.

Thank you to Netgalley and Union Square & Co. for an ARC!

A big thanks to NetGalley and Union Square & Co for providing an eARC of one my most anticipated releases of 2023 in exchange for an honest review.

This book. This book right here. Almost got thrown at a wall. In the most polite way, I assure you. And I blame it all on THAT ending.

A Shadow Crown by Melissa Blair is a new adult fantasy that follows the events of the previous title in the series, A Broken Blade. By day, Keera is the King's most skilled assassin. But by night she works with Prince Killian and may or may be falling for his lovely Shadow, Riven. But she finds peace in the land of the fae, until a traitor is suspected amongst their crowd and Keera is the number one suspect.

*Disgruntled screaming* just read this series, please. It's really really good. And not completely mentally and emotionally scarring.

In the second installment of the Halfling Saga, we follow Keera as she continues her double life. Working as the assassin for the King and a double agent for the rebellion, she finds herself walking a fine line. The world building and plot are well written. From the suspenseful and mysterious plot to the diversity in characters, the author has created a sequel to rival the first book. I am looking forward to reading the next in the series. This would be a great book for fans of Throne of Glass. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5 Stars

I ended up DNFing because it wasn't holding my interest :( I wanted to enjoy this more than I did and I'll probably give it a second chance later, but sadly it wasn't doing it for me.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A Shadow Crown by Melissa Blair is an incredible follow up to A Broken Blade. This one definitely feels like a building block into the next one that is primarily centered on development. Development of the world building, the characters, and their dynamics and intentions with each other. I could see the story so vividly as I read along, making this an incredible read.

A pleasant aspect was the parallels to Indigenous people/culture/customs. I’m not sure the average reader would be able to pinpoint everything because it is so woven into the story seamlessly, but those who are Indigenous can read this and decipher it. To know that although this story is built as a fantasy, it has ties to us and our communities. This is especially prominent with the emphasis on the leadership and guidance of elders, and the respect others have for them. And there is a subtle discussion of blood quantum, and the way it can impact someone’s connectivity despite their lived experiences/ties to their communities or lack thereof. It was presented in a wonderful contrast between two characters that unfolded so beautifully. As a reconnecting Native I could feel that yearning described by the characters of wanting to belong.

My reason for not giving this book five stars was the confusion I felt while reading and the twinge of disappointment I felt at the ending. This book is on the slower side (not an issue for me), dealing more with character development rather than plot, and therefore digging into the past of characters. But I felt the amount of characters was just so expansive that I was lost.

We see Keera bouncing around from person to person, who have all these different backgrounds and experiences. Some who are new, others who return from the previous novel, and although I came to remember the characters, it took me out of the story with the effort it took to remember. And with a book so heavy on character development, there were still so many characters we were being exposed to that any depth and layers we get are easily covered up as she moves along to the next person, because there are just too many that I didn’t feel I knew very well. There is a particular scene that comes towards the end, and I felt nothing that I think the book was wanting me to feel. And I suspect that is because of how massive this list of characters is. There are lots of moving parts and people Keera cares for, and I find that wonderful, but for me it just sullies any impact. A cut down character list or maybe less time going from one to the other and back again then to another would have made it easier and allowed more time to really know everyone.

That being said, although I have some criticism about the book, I do think that can be a matter of preference. It depends on how invested you are in the characters and your capacity to care for each. At the end of the day, I think the book still allowed so much time to further develop more central characters like Syrra, Nikolai, Riven, Killian, Keera, and so on. There was so much action in the first that this slowed down pace and time for development will only serve to make the following book even more incredible.

Thank you to NetGalley and Union Square & Co for this earc

First, can we all acknowledge the fact that if Keera swore an oath to the Elverin and told them the truth right away we wouldn’t need this whole book? Okay! I’m glad we agreed.

Now, let’s take it apart. I’m gonna start with, I take “mates” trop very seriously. Once you tell me the mail love interests are mate that’s it. So why on earth would you write scenes where Keera is interested or almost kissing Killian??? For WHAT? Why make up an unnecessary love triangle with two BROTHERS no less??? Cmon. And the scene when Keera tells Riven that there’s a chance there are only together because of their bond? Seriously. I can stop right here. That would be enough for me to stop reading.

For the rest of it, there were scenes with the found family that were interesting but we didn’t need a whole second book for it.

Also, I said it before and I’ll say it again and again. I DONT do books with more than two people in a relationship even if it’s only mentioned in the background. Not my thing. Will NEVER be okay with it.

The whole ending felt super rushed and scene felt very cut off. Like Keera almost died saving Nikolai’s mom but when she wakes up her and Riven almost have sex???? Made no sense.
They finally find a way to kill the king just to find him dead after Damion was trying to kill him for a decade???? And of course he was behind everything all along.

Overall, I couldn’t for the life of me understand where the plot, if you can call it that, was going. With all the history we learned in this book, just to learn that the light fae is never coming back?

This book just felt like rushed and unfinished work which made me very said. I think it would made a much better duopoly.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an e-ARC of this book! After reading A Broken Blade and loving it, I had extremely high expectations coming into A Shadow Crown. And guess what: I LOVED IT. I have always been a huge fan of plot-heavy storylines and complex character developments, and the fact that A Shadow Crown is able to balance both factors at the same time is a challenging feat, but one that the author pulled off successfully and beautifully. The best part of this book was definitely getting to know more of the characters — in addition to Keera — and their relationships with one another. That heartfelt session between Keera and Syrra was so touching, and really shows a more humane side to both of them outside their cold and merciless exteriors. And the relationship between Keera and Killian? Although I knew it was coming in some way or another, but I did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did. And although I knew that Keera and Riven were definitely going to stay together, I almost hoped for more from her relationship with Killian (because I could REALLY see the chemistry between the two). Overall, the fact that the author gave time to develop all of the characters and provide more backstories make readers care so much more deeply about each of them, and I spent a lot of my time while reading crossing my fingers hoping that nothing bad will happen to them.

In addition to the intriguing and fast-paced main storyline about their rebellion against the king, I loved the way that the story also delved into Keera’s origin story and when she finds out that she’s a Light Fae herself… OMG I was so surprised. I did hope that the Light Fae would, in fact, still have survived, but perhaps that would make them too overpowered, so I understand the decision that they made with the race. Besides Keera, I also loved how they characterized King Aemon and Damien. Absolutely cruel. Absolutely evil. YES. I’m living for it, and as much as I despise them, I kind of want to see more of them (hope that I’ll get to see a lot more of Damien in the third book!!!)

The only small thing I wished the book had more of was Riven. I felt like his presence as the Shadow was so intriguing and intimidating in the first book. And although the idea of the Shadow continues to loom in A Shadow Crown, it seems like the Shadow himself has disappeared, and Riven’s character, too, has gone to the background. I expected him to maybe use his title as the Shadow to help the team further their plan, or just a bigger role in the book in general. However, other than that, I LOVED the second book as much as the first one, and I loved the amount of depth place to each of the characters and their relationships to one another. Highly recommend this book for all romance fantasy lovers, and I cannot wait for the third book!

“The ghosts of your past are not omens to predict your future,”

Wow this was much better than book 2. I flew through this!

The world-building and history was amazing The plot progressed perfectly, and some parts really get you in the feels. A few times my heart broke and I found myself falling more for these characters.

So much tension again and finally a pay off! Their romance is definitely not as important to me regardless of how amazing the tension is. I really fell in love with the plot. I cannot wait to see what happens next. The final chapter I was shocked. I did not see it coming. At all. Couldn't even have predicted it. So good!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Union Square & Co. - A subsidiary of Sterling Publishing, Union Square & Co. for providing me this arc in exchange for an honest review*

I really love the second installment to The Halfling Saga. It was I was expected it to be. Beloved characters returned in this excellent world building. I really loved it although some scenes were a little too similar to SJM's books,hence the 4.5 stars but other than that it was a great book.

I DNF'd at 15% only because, when I requested this novel, I had not yet read the first book. Having read the first book since however, I just don't think this series is one I will enjoy. I'm not a fan of the storyline and the writing and I'll be honest the FMC, Keera, needs to be smarter. Her character should be way smarter than she's written.

Anyway, DNF at 15%.

5 stars!

“The ghosts of your past are not omens to predict your future.”

I absolutely LOVED this book. I read A Broken Blade a few months back and loved it. This is that book but 100 times better. The amount of character growth and development in this is insane. I laughed, I cried I just felt everything.

All the characters in this are so well written and their relationships are no complex. This story and world is just so beautifully crafted.

I cannot wait for the 3rd book to come out!

A Shadow Crown-3.25⭐️ 3🌶️

To the kingdom, Keera is the king’s Blade, his most feared and trusted spy and assassin. But in the shadows, she works with Prince Killian and his Shadow—the dark, brooding Fae, Riven, who sets her blood on fire. Together, they plot to topple the crown that sits upon the king’s head.

A secret can only survive as long as its conspirators, and when nothing is as it seems, all are in danger. Keera swore she would never open her heart again after a loss she barely survived. But she will soon find she has more to lose than she ever imagined . . .


✨My Opinion✨

I’m enjoying this series!

There are nods to the authors indigenous background, a LOT of inter world diversity that makes the cultures and magic systems very interesting and compelling.

The writing seemed a bit more disjointed than the last book. I often found gaps mid-chapter where I needed to go back and try to reconfigure my mind’s picture of what was going on. But over all, I am really enjoying the series!

With this the second book, there was a huge betrayal and the MC’s were separated. I’m hoping that we get more of the reason behind all of that and get back to the romance!


Found family
One bed
Fated mates
Betrayal
Bi rep
Assassin
Shadow magic
Grief
Political intrigue



Thank you Union Square & Co, Sterling Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed the first book, especially the unique and fierce main character Keera. Sadly I didn't like the second book as much. I feel like the story became like all the other romantasy ones with the stereotypical tropes ... and I didn't even like the relationship between Keera and Riven that much. I was a bit disappointed and lost motivation to continue reading the book, but maybe I will continue sometime...

Melissa Blair might as well just take my entire pay check. I devoured every single word of both books in the series. I cannot say more, it was so so so good.

(My account is working very well and I am limited by what I can write dramatically. I will write a more detailed review on Goodreads!)

But wow, I loved this book. Thank you for the opportunity to arc read this.

A masterpiece

I am in love with everything about this series. And the fact that the sequel is better than the first one only makes me want to read the next one even more. Everything is absolutely perfect, making this book a real masterpiece. It has everything I love, just like A Broken Blade, but even better. The plot thickens, with more revelations that I didn't see coming. The romance is more intense and hot. The spice is absolutely amazing: I love that the author writes unique scenes that are suited to the characters and their emotional journey. It only makes it more intense and enjoyable. As for the characters themselves, I'm endlessly falling in love with them. Keera is probably one of the best main characters I have ever had the pleasure of discovering. She has such depth and complexity that I am always surprised by what the author reveals about her. Her growth in this sequel is exquisite as well. Riven is equally amazingly written and I can't get enough of him either. The writing is addictive as ever, making it absolutely impossible to stop reading once the book is open. I went through all the emotions humanly possible while reading and it was amazing. I cried, I laughed, I gasped, I was hot... It has it all. I have only one request: I need the sequel now! This series is slowly becoming one of my all times favorite and I couldn't be happier about it.

If there is one book you need to read in your life, it's this one. Just do it, I swear!

"Sometimes secrets were a necessary thing to protect those we loved."

TW: violence, blood, war, abuse, assault, sexual content, scarification, self harm, murder, death, weapons

Though I found the pacing of this book to be much different than the first book until the last 10%, I loved this one just as much! You got some growth in different relationships and learned more about the world and some of the characters' past. Unfortunately, I don't see anything that says how many books this series will be and there is no release date for the 3rd book. Fingers crossed the next one comes soon!

It's quite rare that I like a sequel better then the first book, but A Shadow Crown was one of those books! The old characters got more exposure, the new characters played important roles and weren't introduced just to be filllers. The same with the plot: some plot lines from the first book were resolved, but we still got enough of mysteries that I cannot wait to get my hands on the 3d book!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

After reading A Broken Blade, I was thankful I had the next book on hand. I immediately jumped into A Shadow Crown, binge-reading in a single day. It picks up immediately after the first book’s events, maintaining the momentum established by the ending. Similar to the first book, the pace is somewhat uneven, but the writing is more polished with descriptions and greater character introspection. These changes kept me invested in Keera and engaged in the story.

The narrative is different as Keera must reckon with her past. It is less plot-driven and focuses on Keera’s origins as well as defending her place among those trying to overthrow the king. While she undergoes growth, other characters receive less attention. Riven, for instance, plays an important role, but he is relatively underutilized here. He provides a supportive presence for Keera, which I loved, but I wanted him in a more active role. Part of this is due to the story being told solely from Keera’s point of view, yet I could not help wishing there was more for him to do. (Am I biased? Probably…)

The Halfling Saga is Keera’s story, requiring readers to be invested in the character to be able to continue the series. For the most part, Blair achieves this. Although I had some doubts in the first half of A Broken Blade, I gradually became engrossed in the story and the world. Despite a rushed ending, A Shadow Crown further establishes why the saga has been so popular. I rooted for Keera throughout both books and continue to cross my fingers she will get to have the life that was taken from her. I look forward to continuing Keera’s journey in the next book. (3.5 stars rounded to 4 stars)