2.5 stars rounded down.

This novel has a great premise but doesn't quite live up to it. It seems like Legrand was overambitious and couldn't decide what kind of book this was supposed to be - a romance, a dark fantasy, YA or adult? It was refreshing to read about a main character who is so different than usual due to her chronic pain, but she veers way too much into whiny and petulant teenager for a book that is billed as adult. It definitely has some pretty heavy steamy scenes but I didn't feel like this really was worth the length of the read. Save yourself and just stick with her other works.

Narration from Evelyn Rose was excellent. She was wonderful to listen to and I appreciated her subtle changes for each character.

Thanks to the publisher for providing an audiobook ARC through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

I did enjoy the narrator's reading, but I had trouble getting into the plot of the book. The main character seems to be rather self-pitying as well as selfish. I understand that the character is meant to have this flaw as well as having an unknown painful disease which explains the flaw, but I didn't really feel the sympathy that disease was meant to invoke. Additionally, the male character was very manipulative. This book usually would be one that I am invested in, but somehow it didn't catch me.

A complicated story with Gemma and Talon and other paranormal characters.
Sometimes the characters and story line got confusing. and hard to keep everything together.
In all an okay story. with mystery, suspense and romance.
Voluntarily reviewed.

DNF at 28%
I've picked this up and put it down to switch to something else multiple times. I don't find this to be something that has me interested in anything - plot or characters, unfortunately. I was really looking forward to it though.
Thank you to Dreamscape and Netgalley for the advanced copy.

A Crown of Ivy and Glass by Claire Legrand was not my cup of tea but I did enjoy certain elements of it. The narrator for one, did a fantastic job of creating an immersive storytelling with a beautiful Voice. The romance between Gemma and Talan was done well and I liked how supportive he was of her as she discovered more about her gifts. However, she was one of the most insufferable main characters that I've read in a long time. She didn't seem very mature and I questioned a lot of her motives and decisions. The fact that there was disability rep, mental health rep, and Bridgerton style romance saved this one from being a DNF but I definitely wasn't invested in the story or the characters enough to really pay attention.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media, Dreamscape Lore for an advanced audiobook copy of A Crown of Ivy and Glass.

DNF AUDIOBOOK

I don't know what it is about me and audiobooks, but I have to have the perfect narrator in order to enjoy the book. In this case, I didn't enjoy the narrator and even though she depicted the spoiled nature of the main character really well, I just couldn't get into the book. I hope that I can give the book another try when I can purchase a paperback. That being said, I had really high expectations going into this book because the Empirium Trilogy is one of my top five favorite trilogies ever in the history of ever. As I said before, I reallllllllyyy hope that I can give this book another chance because Claire Legrand is a really talented author and I'm just extremely picky with audiobooks.

This book took me so long to read because I just could not get in to it. I hated Gemma. Right from the very first chapter. She openly admits that she is glad that her sister was the one taken… that she gets to live a life of luxury and if given the opportunity she wouldn’t change it. As soon as she said this, I hated her. She’s incredibly selfish. Now she does get better of course. I get that we are suppose to see her grow as a person but I still couldn’t get over her selfishness. Talan I liked.,I like how he respected Gemma’s pain. Do I think he was a tad sketchy? Sure. I get why he did what he did. Overall I liked him though.

Honestly I was just bored for 75% of this book and forced myself to finish so I could fully review it.

The narration was fantastic. Zero issues there!

DNF 60%. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to like this book I really really did but it just wasn’t it for me. I got so bored and started skipping around just to get threw it. The characters? Eh they were ok. Storytelling? All over the place making it hard to get threw. This one just wasn’t for me. It has the bones to be good just not the meat and sides that makes my want to read. Thank you again to the author and NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to listen and read.

This was one of my most anticipated reads because furyborn was what got me back into reading....and this.... Just was not up to it's level.

Simply because it takes about half of the book to actually get interesting, and before it even gets interesting you can guess a ton of things.

If there is one thing about it Claire knows how to write someone who is in their own head.

The main character is the youngest of her sisters, but she does not have the powers granted to her by their family's God. On top of not having those powers she is in crippling pain whenever she is around magic, but she is from a high family and everyone wants to be an Ashbourne. She throws the most lavish balls and always has the first and the best things. Under it all she is sad and feels worthless, she tears her skin apart just to east the panic she has.

And one day a dark haired boy comes to one of her balls will promises to vanquish the demon that plagues her family, but she has other plans for when the demon is found.

I'm very ready for the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, Dreamscape Lore, Sourcebooks, Claire Legrand, and Evelyn Rose (audio narrator) for the opportunity to read and listen to the audiobook of A Crown of Ivy and Glass in exchange for an honest review.

As a long time fan of Legrand's books, I was certainly excited to hear about a new trilogy, though I was surprised that it is and adult novel. While I am very familiar with Legrand's young adult novels, I was certainly excited to dive into something for adults. The catch: The cover makes this appear to be targeted at a young adult audience. This novel is full of magic, demons, and romance and I can certainly see a young adult or adult audience enjoying this novel (though there is quite a plethora of [exciting] mature content).

In a family of gifted magic users, Gemma Ashbourne has none. Despite this sadness, she really does have it all, coming from a family of status. A beautifully large home, lavish parties, and anything she could ever ask for, all available at her fingertips. 

When Talan d'Astier appears to one of her evening get-togethers, Gemma assumes he is just there to use her name to make a family connection, just like everyone else she happens to meet. When his kindness becomes something more, piquing her interest further, she finds there's more to Talan than just a name and dashing good looks. But there is more to Gemma as well.

Oh, did I mention the blood feud between Gemma's family and the Basks, supposedly powered by a demon? Perhaps hunting down and killing that demon might end the feud! There is so much magic in this novel, and it truly dives into so many different aspects of magic and demons around the last 30% that it can be a bit hard to wrap one's head around. I really enjoyed the pacing up to this point, and the end was a teeth-grinder to be certain, as I am ready for the next novel!

While maintaining a bit of a YA feel, I can say I thoroughly enjoyed Legrand's first novel for an adult audience. The romance was so enticing, and the world seems to have so much to it, so much more that hasn't yet been explored by the reader. This novel is perfect for those who seek a Victorian Era British high society feel with a sweeping fantasy blend.

I don't think that the intent of this book is to make the reader dislike our main character, Gemma, but I do dislike her. A lot. I'm still giving this book five stars because I don't mind not liking a main character. The narration felt true to the main character's voice, which was a good thing (my feelings about Gemma aside). So much happened in this book and I found myself getting really engrossed in the action scenes.

I'll pick up the next book in this series when it comes out, but I'll need to be in an attentive mood before I read it and I'll definitely reread this one first. This would probably be an ideal recommendation for someone who likes fantasy/romantasy and wants to get into regency romances, or vice versa.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this audiobook for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Pros: I BEAUTIFUL cover, an AMAZING premise. The narration was spectacular, and honestly what kept me going. I did find the story trailed off a few times, but I did enjoy it overall!
The work building was superb, I would read again, as I think it would help me understand it better the second time around (a lot of information)
Loved overall!

I reviewed this in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed reading this book. There are good and bad things about it. the bad, there were some areas of the book it was a little slow. I am also, not one for characters to fall instantly in love, it's just not realistic for me. Also, It does it a little weird towards the middle, but I can't say that I totally didn't like that it did. I have not read any other books by this author, so, I am not sure what to think of it. A couple of good things: There was a part in the book that I was surprised by, no spoilers. I did not see it coming, so that is a good thing. I do like that This author took things a little differently. Most books are about people getting powers and how they learn about them, this was the opposite. I liked that it was different and that the author took this approach of having the main character being the only one without powers or does she? It defiantly has a Bridgeton vibe, at least in the beginning. The audio quality was pretty decent and easy to follow, each voice is defiantly a different character. She does well narrating and keeping the interest of the reader.

A Crown of Ivy and Glass by Claire Legrand was a rich tapestry of magic, fractured relationships, and agency. The characters were interesting and the world-building intriguing. This was my first Legrand and I loved the prose and storytelling that was consistent throughout. I also enjoyed the inclusion that the main character represented. I'd like to see what happens next in this world.

I received a review copy of this book from the author/publisher through NetGalley for my honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Rating: 4/5
I received an eARC for my honest opinion.

This is the first book that I have read from this author. I have seen her other books around, but I have not picked them up yet. I know that a lot of people on goodreads did not like this book that much but for me it was more of 50/50, I didn’t hate it enough to DNF or to rate it lower, but I didn’t love it enough to rate it higher.

I will list the reasons why I did like the book and the reasons why I did not, I find when I have a book that I am split 50/50 on that it's easier to write a review like that.

What I liked about the book was the magic system. I loved the humans, mixed in with monsters, demons, fae, necromancers and so much more. I thought it was beautifully done with mixing all those amazing creatures together. I loved the character growth in this book a lot. Gemma is the MFC and I had the hardest thing connecting with her in the first half of the book. I thought she felt a little childish but the more and more I read I started to understand her a little bit more and by the end I liked her. I think it was because of the growth you saw in this character, if she was not to have the growth in this book, I don’t think I would have been able to say that I liked her. Talan is the MMC and at first, I did like him, but something felt wrong about him, and the more that I got to know him and his story I could finally understand what it was, and I do have to say he isn’t that bad. I think Gemma and Talan are a good fit for the first book because they both are so broken and learning how to rebuild themselves, but if Ryder is in the next book, I hope he becomes something more to Gemma. I don’t know why but I really liked his character a lot. I thought the author did a great job with the hard topics of chronic illness, self-harm. I really enjoyed the Narrator of this audiobook, I thought she really brought the book to life as much as she could with her voice, and honestly I don’t think she could have done anything different to really grab the person reading or listening to the book because it was writing itself that was hard for me.

What I didn’t like was the info dump in the beginning. It all felt a little too much for me and I had a hard time with listening to the audio. It was slow to get through the first part, nothing was really happening that was a big attention grabber or action. Just a lot of thinking and talking and non-stop questioning. The start of the book just felt disorganized for me, I didn’t know what was really going on or what might happen. I honestly cannot say exactly what it was that I did not like about the start of the book other than it was too much and too slow of a pace.

Even with that being said I did enjoy the book at the end and I do want to read the next book to see what will happen next.

I want to thank NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to review this book.

I truly wanted to get behind this book, but unfortunately it just did not keep my attention. I received an ARC of the audiobook and from the beginning I had a hard time getting behind the narrator. The main character, Gemma, is already pretty unlikeable and a wispy voice did not help. I found the characters around her, namely her sisters, much more exciting and wished I was following their story first instead of hers. Also, I was never really into the Talen relationship or the spice, he is off the whole time and if I were him I would really hate Gemma...shes incredibly annoying with him from the start.

With all the being said what I did like was the overall world building and if subsequent books follow her sisters that is a book I can get behind and would be much more interested in reading. I am not giving up on Claire Legrand books and I have high hopes for future installments.

"A Crown of Ivy and Glass" by Claire Legrand is a mesmerizing audiobook that delves deep into the complexities of power, family, and self-discovery. Set in a world where abilities are a divine blessing, Gemma Ashbourne's journey of finding her place and unraveling the truth is both captivating and emotionally resonant.

Legrand's vivid and evocative storytelling brings Gemma's world to life, painting a rich tapestry of magic, mystery, and longing. The contrast between Gemma's seemingly perfect exterior and her internal struggles creates a compelling tension that keeps you engaged throughout the narrative. Her yearning for love, belonging, and a sense of purpose is palpable, and you can't help but root for her as she navigates the treacherous path ahead.

The introduction of Talan d'Astier adds an intriguing layer of romance and redemption to the story. The complexities of their relationship, intertwined with the quest to destroy the Bask family and uncover the truth behind the blood feud, make for an enthralling plot. The escalating attacks on the Middlemist and the awakening of Gemma's own powers ratchet up the tension, driving the story toward a climax that is both immense and terrifying.

The audiobook is brought to life by skilled narration, which enhances the immersive experience. The voice actors adeptly capture the emotions and nuances of the characters, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in their world. The combination of Legrand's masterful storytelling and the compelling performances of the voice actors creates an audio experience that is truly captivating.

"A Crown of Ivy and Glass" is not only a tale of magic and adventure; it also explores profound themes of identity, resilience, and the true strength that lies within oneself. Gemma's journey serves as a powerful reminder that one's worth is not determined solely by external factors, but by the courage to embrace and harness one's unique abilities.

In conclusion, "A Crown of Ivy and Glass" is an enchanting audiobook that will transport you to a world of magic, secrets, and self-discovery. Claire Legrand's storytelling prowess, combined with the compelling characters and immersive narration, make this a must-listen for fans of fantasy and heartfelt journeys of empowerment. Prepare to be swept away by Gemma's quest, as she finds her true strength and learns that belonging comes from within.
This is the first of the Middlemist series and I cannot wait to read what happens next.

Thank you Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for this advance reader copy. My thoughts are my own.

I wanted to enjoy this more than I did.. I almost dnf’d around 20%. But decided to trudge on.
It started good, then lulled, then was good again.. I just ended up not really caring about the story or the characters.
It was a lot of ideas packed into a book, I felt like I was being thrown in many directions.
There was spice, started around 33% mark, but I ended up fast forwarding the spicy scenes..
The FMC was just unlikeable to me.
And Trigger Warnings!
Self harm and suicidal thoughts (multiple mentions.
It was just ok to me. I just couldn’t connect.

This is the book that never ends, it just goes on and on my friends. This book just had no business being this long. 21 hours long! 40% through the audiobook and I was desperately waiting for something (anything!) to happen to grab my attention.

I think the problem here was the direction of the story. There were so many interesting aspects that could have been the main focus, like Gemma basically having an allergic reaction to magic or the fact her sister was taken against her will to guard her people against monsters. Instead, we focused on a romance and Gemma’s inability to accept that she isn’t the centre of the universe. Gemma is so immature I zoned out for a lot of the book because I thought her problems made her whiny and unrelatable. She expresses feelings of loneliness and acts as if her family has abandoned her and as a result lacks attention. Yeah, your sister and father have more important matters to attend to and as a result she is impulsive. The characters are so juvenile that it reads like YA except for the random spicy scene interjected to give this an adult label.

The book managed to peak my interest because the synopsis compares this book to Bridgerton and ACOTAR, two of my favourite things. Since we are making comparisons why not add Hell Bent because well there are demons, and probably Book Lovers because someone reads a book at some point, and don’t forget the Maid because a domestic worker is mentioned. There’s nothing romantic about a Gemma and Talon and the instalove didn’t help.

The narrator did the best they could with the material they had but the book felt neverending and insurmountable, so I DNF’d at 40%. I tried, I really did. For weeks I’ve been trying to make a dent in this book in the hope that all of it will have been a (slow) build-up to something.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media for providing an advanced listening copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I listened to the audiobook version, which I think helped.

First, I have loved other books by Claire Legrand and the plot summary of this one sounded super interesting. But I just got lost with the plot and it felt unnecessarily drawn out.

A Crown of Ivy and Glass follows Gemma Ashbourne in a coming of age royalty meets fantasy plot. Gemma has no magic of her own although all of her family does. Also magic actively hurts her. Then she meets Talon, who is an empath and can soothe her pain and I thought we would embark on a typical fantasy set love story. But it was like the author tried to do too much in one book and just lost the point of the story.

I was also surprised to here that this was supposed to be an adult fantasy novel instead of YA because it felt hopelessly YA to me, and not in a good way. Gemma is just a whiny teenager and can't seem to get it together.

The audio-narration was good though and helped me to get through it.

Thank you to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for an advanced copy to review.