I adore this author but this storyline felt like it took a little too long to get going. I did not know it was a series before beginning it and, perhaps, this impacted by enjoyment as I was anticipating a standalone. Great character development, as can always be expected from Legrand.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. this was fantastic, just what i have come to expect from this author and look forward to carrying in my book store.

Overall kind of disappointed in this book. I was so hyped to read it from the description and was hoping to review, but it was just ok. I'm not sure if it is because I have been reading some really great fantasy romances lately and my expectations were too high. I just did not like the character of Gemma for some reason. The narrator is really good, I liked her tone of voice and the pace at which she read. Her British accent made the listening experience even better. I really wanted to like this book, but couldn't, I will try to reread when the next book comes out. I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve seen another series by this author quite a lot on social media so I was excited to give this one a try. Unfortunately, this one didn’t live up to my expectation.

The story started out with a strong opening, plot seems interesting to follow, and I enjoy listening to the narrator. The narrator did a good job delivering this book.
However, at some point the plot took an unexpected turn. I was struggling to keep up with what’s going on. It would be nice if this one was divided into two books instead of cramming it into a long thick book.

The world building is actually pretty interesting and I’m interested in knowing more about the magic system. However, the pacing felt weird sometimes. In some parts it was too rushed with multiple time jumps but then it’ll turn very slow that I just want to skim past it.

Moreover, there are too many characters but not many of them are very memorable. I didn’t feel the chemistry or any spark between the main characters because of how the FMC keeps giving the MMC a second chance over and over again annoyed me by the end of it.

I really want to like this book but I felt confused most of the time listening to this story. The long chapters also makes this book feels longer than it should be.
This book sounds promising and has potentials to be a great read, however I was disappointed with how it turns out. I don’t think I’m gonna continue reading this series.
While this book didn't work out for me, you’re welcome to check it out if YA fantasy romance is your go to genre.

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: Self-harm, panic attacked, suicidal thoughts, sexual content, death, grief

<i>I received an advanced audiobook for free through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Huge thank you to the author and publisher!</i>

I've heard nothing but good things about this author and her Furyborn series so when this was a option for a Arc I jumped at it.

I was not a fan of this book. I felt like the writing was a little juvenile and I also felt like she just tried to throw so much into this book that once your follwing one thing happening she would start something new and your thinking about what about this plot point.

I'm not sure if I will read the next book in the series or not.

Thank you NetGalley for this Audio-Arc in exchange for my honest review.

Listened to this book in one sitting! Can't wait for book 2! Loved the twist at the end! Made the cover make so much sense!

I always forget how much I enjoy a good fantasy book until I’m in the middle of one and this one was excellent! A lot of action and twists all while the author was laying down the groundwork for this trilogy. I thought I had an idea of where the book was going but the author kept throwing in twist after twist to keep this reader on her toes. Just a little smut to lighten the mood in a few places. Cannot read to read the other two books when they come out! Really enjoyed listening to it in an audiobook format and it made a long drive so much more enjoyable. The narrator was also really good.

This story is about Lady Gemma Ashbourne, she's a brat and boring as hell. The world isn't explained well and all we get detail about is her sitting around doing nothing. The main character isn't likeable. The "love interest" Talan d'Astier give us nothing to go on and she is immediately enraptured by him.
Okay honey, call down!
I didn't enjoy this book and won't be continuing on with the series.

I really wanted to get into this book. but the slow burn made it hard for me to sink into the world and the story. It is one that i'll try for again though.

With a premise like ACOTAR meets Bridgerton, you would think this book would be a hit out of the ballpark especially coming from the author of Furyborn! Unfortunately, this book does not live up to the hype and was a struggle to get through.

Our MC, Gemma, is the only non-magical member of a powerful family, is both in chronic pain and a chronic pain in the ass of everyone in her family. Her selfishness often leads to the people around her getting hurt and it hurt me to see how often she would ignore the warnings from the people who cared about her the most and plunge headlong into danger far outside of her capabilities.

There isn't much original here outside of the Middlemist system around family estates and how you travel between and through it. The rest is mostly a number of tropes and honestly, feels like mostly a rip-off of ACOTAR.

Truly a disappointment for one of my highest expected book of the year.

Unfortunately I ended up DNFing this audiobook at around 20%.
Whilst I loved the premise and I should have loved the romance fantasy elements I unfortunately found it both slow, and the FMC not very likeable.
Whilst our FMC suffers from anxiety, her copying mechanism was to hold balls and parties….which didn’t make much sense. She is the only family member without magic but she comes from privilege and super vain. One of the first magic she performs is to give herself a glamour to make herself even more beautiful!! Sorry but after that I just couldn’t. I could not even make it to the adult” fantasy element as things just moved so slowly and the book felt too long already.
It’s such a shame as I loved the authors Furyborn series.
The narration itself was fine.

A Crown of Ivy and Glass is Claire Legrand's adult fantasy romance debut. I was excited to read it, but ultimately it left me scratching my head. The narration, however, by Evelyn Rose was very well done. She delivered a wonderful performance.

Lady Gemma Ashborne has everything she could wish for--except magic. Despite her wealth and beauty, she is deeply sad, and the magic of others attacks her body like a poison. Her sister Mara has been sent to guard the Middlemist, and her eldest sister and father are embroiled in a blood feud with another magical family.

A handsome young man, Talan, arrives and takes an interest in her, but all is not as it appears. Dangers, including demons and other nightmares, are closer than she imagines.

For me, personally, I feel like the author tried to cram too much in. It felt like all the tropes from all the recent fantasy romances were shoved into a plot blender and this complicated, meandering, convoluted book was the result. I'm no stranger to fantasy; it's one of my favorite genres, but I found this one to be difficult to follow. Sometimes less is more, and I think this book could have benefitted from some paring down. It will be interesting to see how the world-building and the plot develop in the next installment,

Thank you Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for my ALC.

First the cover of this book is gorgeous. I really like it. The story was just okay for me. I found it hard to get into but I went along for the ride.

So I actually thought this book was ok. I will say I went in blind. I haven't read any of her other books before, and I saw no hype before I got it. And since I got an audiobook copy to review on Netgalley approved weeks after I submitted for it and while in the middle of another long book. I had already forgot the description before I started. It is not the next big thing but it was an interesting listen while doing housework and such.


My biggest gripes with the book was...

This book does feel very YA but with spice. I do wish the author had matured the characters a bit or made the spice more fade to black and just made it YA. I enjoy both styles of books but felt a bit awkward when my brain imagines the main charater whose describing sex scenes to be like 16-17 based on her maturity level even if that's not her age in the books.

The author seems to want to cash in on whats really big right now which make sence. Except it was almost like she made a check list of all the popular tropes and just worked her way down the list. And in doing so it was sloppy and the transitions just weren't there. She starts with decent world building but then drops the ball in character and story development.

I don't hate the book and still may read the next in the series. There is potential here and I'm curious to see how the story progresses as the Author grows as a writer.

I did not enjoy this and probably should have DNFed, but I chugged along and it did not get better. I was hoping that this title was just going to have a slow slightly unenjoyable beginning and then as the plot picked up, I would be invested, but that unfortunately did not happen for me.

I could not follow the world building. The early parts of the book were very slow and then all of a sudden the pace was moving so fast I couldn't keep up or process what was happening. Overall, this book did not live up to its pitch. You might disagree with me and in that case, carry on and enjoy!

I had such high hopes for this book, it did really seen like something written just for me. That wasn't the case.
Unlike many YA fantasy books that drag the plot for more than one book just to call it a trilogy, this book should've really been cut in half, because right at that 50% mark this book makes a 180° turn and feels like a completely different book.

I DNF'd this at 70%, I tried really hard to just finish it, but I couldn't stand the characters anymore. The plot is interesting, but not enough to balance out how unsufferable the main characters is.

This was a bit of a hard book for me to read, as it did not capture my interest from the very start. I often expect a good book to pull me in within the first chapter. However, I literally struggled thru the entirety of this book to complete it, and it took me a very long time to complete. It may simply be that it's not my style. However, I tend to love imagination and fantasy style books. I just struggled with most all of the characters. I hate giving such a negative style review. I know others have enjoyed it. This is simply my own personal opinion.

Thank you, Dreamscape Media, for allowing me the privilege of reading this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the world but Gemma was too selfish, spoiled and self-centered. I prefer to see a lot of personal growth in these types of fantasy novels but it missed the mark. Talon still seems very much a villain and the feud between the families, beating of her father, are all a little too much. Maybe it will come together in the next installments.

The plot of this book is good, but it did not grip me. I found myself choosing other listens over this regularly. It takes some time to build up. Also the main character is difficult to like.
I enjoyed the audiobook overall and the narration was good.

I don’t like to give books poor reviews because they are the work of someone’s soul–and it’s hard work! That being said, personally, I didn’t love A Crown of Ivy and Glass. I felt like the opening plotline–to throw a party so that Gemma could convince people to care about what was happening with The Roses so that she could help her sister was a little convoluted and ended up only serving the purpose of introducing Talan because it is immediately dropped for a completely different plan that is totally selfish. I have zero problem with a self-confessed selfish character either, but Gemma failed to make herself sympathetic or relatable, so I didn’t care much for her plight. I was also unimpressed by the insta-love. It attempted to be enemies to lovers, but that was a flimsy charade that lasted about a chapter.

This book ended up having way too much plot without that epic fantasy feel, so it was just one thing after another after another with characters whose passionate scenes I ended up skipping over because I really did not buy their insta-love, so I wasn’t invested. I cared more about the enemies, the Basks, and the sister who didn’t get a POV–Farrin. I found myself hoping Talan would betray Gemma to add some spice. And ultimately was confused by the world building and magic system.

The positives this book had were: the intrigue of the enemies, the Basks, a team up with said enemies, sex positivity, and casual queerness.

In the end I will give this book 3 stars and ask a friend to tell me if the sequel ends up being better, and maybe I’ll read it, but I might just get the SparkNotes and get over it.