The "enemies to lovers" in this one feels very forced. It is 98% just Gemma getting in her own way. And the side characters were not nearly as present. One of the things that made Capture the Crown so compelling was the complexity of the side characters and how all of their desires and plans overlapped and tangled and countered each other; that wasn't as clear here, and instead we got way too much talk of things that were destiny/fate/prophecy, which felt a little lazy.

I also stand by the fact that Estep's biggest strength in this series is fight scenes, particularly melees and groups fighting, but Gemma isn't much of a fighter so when she is involved she really just uses her magic to cheat. And the thing with magic in this series is that it's just generally convenient and not confined to strict rules.

Will I still read book three? Yep, absolutely.

5 stars - I loved it!

This book picks up a few weeks after the previous book ended. Gemma Ripley, Princess of Andvari, is still struggling with PTSD from her torture by the Morricone’s even if she can’t show it. She is still determined to find answers which leads her to the trade summit between the various kingdoms.

This was a very fast-paced story that was full of surprises, danger, romance, and love. The Summit quickly turns into another plot by Queen Maeven Morricone but this time it isn’t a death plot, it's a marriage one. I really enjoyed the whole Gauntlet challenge and Leonidas’ determination to win over Gemma. I absolutely love when a hero declares his determination to win over his love. Leonidas and Gemma have the perfect enemies-to-lovers story. It was a wonderful adventure of them both fighting their feelings, dodging assassination attempts, and dealing with coniving family members.

“I am going to earn your trust, Gemma Ripley…And your heart too, if I am lucky enough to manage it.”

Gemma really shows how versatile in this book. She balances her royal duties, spying, the Gauntlet, and her friendship with Lady Reiko. Her friendship with Reiko was one of my favorite parts of this book. They have a great bond and it gets put to the test in this one. I will be very interested in learning more about Lady Reiko in the future, especially her love life.

Gemma is also growing into her abilities now that she isn’t hiding behind her necklace anymore. I really love seeing the scope of her abilities now that she isn’t holding back. It will be interesting to see how her abilities grow and relate to her being known as the gargoyle queen.

Overall, this book was everything I didn’t know I needed in this series. I loved the relationship and the trials that went with it. I can’t wait to read the next book and see how these two work together as a couple to bring down their enemies. Also, I really want to learn more about Leonidas’ sister, Delmira, now because she has a very interesting ability.

Trigger warnings: torture, blood, violence, PTSD

Thank you Jennifer Estep for breaking me out of my reading slump after finishing the amazing A City of Gods and Monsters by Kayla Edwards.

Let me start off by saying how blown away I was by the first book in this series. I’ve seen been reading more of Jennifer Estep’s work and have loved all of it.

But everything that I loved about the first book—the action, the creative story, the agonizingly beautiful pining and all of the crazy betrayal—was even BETTER in this one.

𝑶𝒏𝒍𝒚, 𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒃𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒖𝒑 𝒃𝒚 𝒂 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒂 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒚 𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒄𝒉.

Gosh, oh gosh, I don’t even know where to begin with this one. The amount of quotes I have marked is probably insane, but there are numerous quotes I would want on a T-shirt.

𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔, 𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒖𝒊𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔—𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔.”

Leo and Gemma in this book—ugh be still my beating heart. The forbidden love, the enemies to lovers, the slow burn. It is all just *chefs kiss*. I definitely reread some of their moments more then 2 times just because my heart was absolutely wrecked.

𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒓. 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓. 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒐 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉. 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒐 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉.

The plot of this book, surrounding the Royal summit was also super interesting, as we got to see the politics of many kingdoms and got to learn more about so many amazing side characters!

This book was seriously a home run for me. I’ve already added the next one to my TBR and will be impatiently waiting for it’s glorious arrival. Once again, I 100% recommend Jennifer Estep 💕

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for my ARC of this book. This in no way impacted my review.

I’ve noticed that Jennifer Estep's not good with incorporating information about events from the last book, which slows the story down. Usually, this only ruins the first chapter, but it’s an ongoing problem for this book. To add to the problem, Tear Down the Throne is the second book of a sequel series, and the action pauses to remind the reader what happened in the previous series, which enormously ruins the flow.

At least this book clears up alliances. A lot of time was spent recapping or setting up the next book.

This review is based on an advanced reader copy provided through Netgalley for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this second installment in the Gargoyle Queen trilogy! Gemma was able to really come into her own and grow as a person. It was shocking to me though that this entire book is only a few weeks after the first book and only a few days passed in this one. Everything is happening in such a short time frame that affected how I saw the relationship between Gemma and Leo form.

The plot expanded in this book from the first one and I can't wait to read the third book and see how it concludes. I loved the development Gemma had and the bigger emphasis that side characters got to have. Reiko took a bit of a back seat after halfway through the book so we got to see some other characters a bit more and I enjoyed that.

The romance between Gemma and Leo FINALLY steamed up after a torturous slow burn and I am so excited to see them together and happy, i'm manifesting it now. Their relationship is a bit YA-feeling for their age (I think they're both late 20s which I love) but it didn't really take away for the story for me.

Overall, definitely recommend this series as an easy fantasy read with a lot of espionage activity, character development, an interesting plot, and a dash of romance on the side.

You win, Jennifer Estep, you win. I am already in the middle of reading everything you’ve ever written. Seriously, I’ve read this in-progress series, I’ve got one more book in the Crown of Shards series to read. I’m, I think, 4 books or so in on the Elemental Assassin series, and holy Bob, I’m finding these aren’t even close to the only series she’s written. Thank the feline overlords for the library!

I received this book in both hard copy and e-book format, that’s how much the publisher is all-in on this series. Which is great, because it’s a fantastic series. I think I actually like Everleigh (from Crown of Shards) better as a protagonist than Gemma, but the whole star-crossed-lovers thing of Gemma and Leonidas is captivating me. Okay, yes, I’m a sucker for a great guy with a terrible family.

Tear Down the Throne is the second book in the Gargoyle Queen series, so if you haven’t read Capture the Crown, you should probably do that. [Find my review of that book here.]

What can I say about this series besides “uh, read it!”? It’s got a very tight story, nothing seems wasted. There’s a lot of history in the relationships between characters, thus the prior series, but I read these first couple of books without having read those, so I don’t see that as a barrier at all. You’ll know enough about the history for Gemma’s story to make sense, but if you’re like me, you won’t waste time picking the previous series up so you can know everything.

This book has captivating, full-fleshed characters who have genuinely unique personalities. No Eddings-esque retelling of the same story with slight variations here. The only element that really repeats from Crown of Shards to Gargoyle Queen is the “We want each other but can’t be together!” element of the main romance. Which pretty much repeats in every romance novel ever, so I’m not going to count that as a strike.

I try to very rarely give things 5 stars, because if you do that for everything then it loses it’s weight. But in this case I’m calling it: this series is 5 stars, I’ve found a new author to follow. Now, excuse me, but I have a lot of catch up reading to do.

This was a great follow up to Capture the Crown. I think readers will enjoy the plot and be ready for book 3!
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for this arc ebook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

As I said about the first book in this series/trilogy (I have no clue which it will be, but my money is on trilogy), this reads more like a book for teens and pre-teens who are a bit more sophisticated. There is swearing, sexual innuendo, and one full-on sex scene. Yes, this is an adult novel, but it just doesn't read that way. Gemma Ripley - Princess - is just too naive and whiney to be and just plain acts like a child throughout most of this book.

The first half of this book is mainly a re-hashing of the first novel. The second half of this book does get better, and Gemma does grow. She doesn't grow as much as I would have liked, but I am not the author, and I don't know what's coming with the next novel. There is plenty of excitement, bloodshed, and love in the second half of the story to keep one entertained-that is, if you can get through the bland first half.

*ARC proved by the publisher Harper Voyager, the author Jennifer Estep, and NetGalley.

I have been a fan of not only this series, but the series before this one that is set in the same world (A Crown of Shards) and I was looking forward to this book coming out. I did enjoy the book, but to me, the pacing was very uneven and there were times when I found the story dragging. I normally finish a book in a day, but this one took me several days to finally finish it. There were times when I was trying to decide which book to read between two different books and found that I kept choosing the other one. That is NEVER a good sign.

Now, with that being said, once the book crossed over around the 60% or 65% percent mark....things began to take off. We already knew that Gemma was definitely brave, sometimes foolhardy but she is not one to hesitate to plunge into danger and there was a lot of danger a foot. She was adamant about trying to figure out what Milo was working on.

There has been this whole push / pull thing between Leo and Gemma and while it was fun and angsty in the beginning, it became tedious during the first half of this book. I think that is what I was having a problem with. There was the whole, "I can't trust you...." thoughts going back and forth and while she did have some valid reasons for her concerns, it got old after a while. I mean, it was pretty obvious where Leo's feelings were heading....

Anyway, without going into spoilers, the story arc finally got moving and we had some major resolutions for some things, and then we ended up with other issues that are now going to have to be resolved. Things definitely exploded at the end and there was plenty of action, drama, and even more betrayal.

I like Gemma. I like Leo. And honestly, I like them together. I was just getting really tired waiting for the two of them to get their act together and I for one am happy that things are now moving in the right direction. Now, there are new challenges for the two Royals and I am still interested in seeing what is going to happen next.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone.

Tear Down the Throne (Gargoyle Queen # 2) by Jennifer Estep
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Romance, Sci Fi & Fantasy
Published: May 3, 2022

Tear Down the Throne is the second book in the Gargoyle Queen trilogy by Jennifer Estep. The Gargoyle Queen trilogy takes place 16 years after Kill the Queen from the Crown of Shards trilogy. If you have not read the previous book or the other trilogy, I think you would be ok jumping into this book. The author does a great job recapping the last book and provides enough back story that you could follow along! But you should totally read the other books because they are incredible!!!!

Tear Down the Throne continues Princess Gemma's story and her adventure hasn't stopped yet! I could not put this book down! It takes off from the start and does not let go until the final page. I was captivated by this fascinating book! I loved how this book unfolded. I found myself lost in the pages and I didn't want to leave.

This book was absolutely incredible!!!! I'll definitely be reading it again and I highly recommend it! I can't wait for the final book in the trilogy, Conquer the Kingdom to be released in 2023!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Tear Down the Throne is an intriguing second installment in the Gargolye Queen series. It builds well on the first book, and sets the foundation for the next, without falling into the common issue that many middle books in series fall into. I love the episodic feel of these books, where there’s something bigger that’s being built toward, but there’s also a main conflict to ground that singular book, and that definitely is the case here, with the focus being on political intrigue around a summit between kingdoms and a Gauntlet. I liked seeing Gemma have to navigate among friends and foes, and it created fruitful ground for relationships to form among a diverse cast of characters.
It’s lovely to observe Gemma’s growth as she comes into her own and navigates the responsibilities of her role. And while she does have an initially frosty relationship with Leo, I liked how things developed to the point where I felt he proved himself trustworthy. Romance in these books isn't always the strongest, but I quite liked their relationship.
I enjoyed this, and am eager to find out what happens next. If you enjoy fantasy, especially with a well-incorporated romantic thread, I recommend trying out this series.

I was wondering, based on how Capture the Crown ended, what was next for Gemma and Leo (because I'm convinced there is a Gemma and Leo).  Jennifer Estep didn't disappoint with the drama these two find themselves in with this latest entry into the series.

Gemma, Reiko, Dominic, and Rhea find themselves at the annual summit where all the ruling families come together once a year.  Of course, nothing goes as planned and both Gemma and Reiko find themselves having to pick what is more important to them:  what they want for themselves or their families.  Neither of them has been good about truly going after what they want, so this is a challenge for them both.  The only person who doesn't seem to let all these decisions bother him is Leo.  He's a tool for his mother and she makes that very apparent in this book.  But Leo does the one thing Gemma hasn't been able to do...use his mother's machinations to get what he wants.  He doesn't come out unscathed, but what he goes through does give Gemma a perspective she didn't have before and finally helps her realize she needs to think of her happiness along with her family and people.

I enjoyed this book and I'm truly interested in seeing how a united front deals with Milo and Wexel.  Someone needs to deal with him and I hope this next book gives us just that.

My Thoughts
Tear Down The Throne, the second book in a part fantasy/part politics/part romance series that follows Andvaris heir Princess Gemma Ripley.

A young woman who has her own Gargoyle who is not only her friend but her arial transport as well.

This story picks up where first left off and soon reveals Gemma once again neck deep in her next adventure.

You see this Princess is also a royal spy and her latest mission continues to be a priority for the sake of all Andvarians.

There are of course multiple threads to follow as the story progresses, each one building on the last as Gemma tries to discover each of her foes endgame before it is too late.

No one can be trusted and everyone is a suspect as our Princess battles what her heart wants rather than what her head dictates must be done.

This second book has more revelations in store but also more secrets to uncover the truth of as well.

Sacrifices are necessary to make certain desires come true.

However for Gemma her greatest sacrifice is born of love which overcomes past hatreds.

There are moments in this tale where all seems lost for Gemma Ripley, moments that turn defeat into triumphs instead.

As with first book we are left an ending that leads to another adventure, one that should prove to be even more intense than the two before it.

What tangled webs are woven within this story and at long last a new future beckons for Gemma and Leo.

I am looking forward to what comes next!
[EArc from Netgalley]

Tear Down the Throne is a great continuation of the Gargoyle Queen series!

In this book we continue to follow Crown Princess and spy Gemma Ripley as she works to uncover Milo’s plot to use tear stone weapons against her kingdom. This year is the trade Summit and where better to conduct his schemes than with a group of royals from neighboring kingdoms.

We learn more about Gemma’s past with Leo, Maeven, and her family. Gemma makes a couple of hard decisions throughout this story that really show her growth in herself and in her power. I can’t wait to follow her into the next book in the series!

I also really enjoyed the Gemma + Leo relationship dynamic!

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinions!

I expect 2nd books in a series to have a bit of a "sophomore slump", not true with Tear Down the Throne. But I can say that about all Estep's series. Estep kept upping the stakes and basically taking me on a roller coaster ride. I loved that we got more in-depth with the myriad of relationships going on. We got to know characters and their motivations so much better in this installment and it all kept ratcheting up right to the end. Can't wait to see what happens in Book 3

Tear Down the Throne was another thrilling book in this epic series. Leo makes a wonderful hero and I love that he saw a little more of him and his thoughts, than previously. Gemma seemed to grow a little, as well, and was more mature and did not letter impulses get the better of her as often as in pervious books. The action was fast paced and while some was were expected, there were still some surprises. I also loved the side characters of the gargoyles and strixes. I also can't wait to her more about how Gemma officially becomes the Gargoyle Green and her mother's involvement,

This was a little more romance than I expected. Gemma and Leo are stuck circling their internal wagons. Morta and Andvari are still mortal rivals. Treachery continues to abound. An annual summit for trade provides the setting for the tale.
Being of advanced age and occasional user of the f-word, I was still not thrilled to see it used in the book, at least three different times. It doesn’t seem necessary and despite widespread use, still grated on me.

Gemma’s continuous denial of affection and caustic introspection became tiresome and seemed more like just adding to the word count.

I enjoyed the addition of the baby strix and how Grimley reacted.

The book was entertaining despite my normal reserve about romantic novels.

How can you not love a book that has gargoyles, a baby strix, and a heroine who will do anything to protect those she loves. This is the second book in the Gargoyle Queen series. Gemma is recovering from everything that happened in Morta. She is still determined to find out what Milo has planned. Gemma returns to her spying but has to attend a Summit for royals. There she comes face to face with Leonidas, Milo, and Queen Maeven. Gemma has to find out what they're planning before someone she cares about gets killed.

I am a huge fan of Jennifer Estep. All of her books contain tons of action, romance, and a little mystery. Plus really great descriptions of food. This book was no exception. I loved reading about Gemma and Leo, and I can't wait to see what happens. Another great installment to this series!

Thank you to Francesca Carlo and Harper Collins Publishers for the advanced copy.

I have been anxiously waiting for this continuation and am quite happy to be allow to preview ahead of release. That being said, I loved the book. I had loved both Leo and Gemma from their initial appears in the previous trilogy and was delighted to see their story being presented.

Through each of the books so far, they have stayed true to the personal characters and maturity levels. Leo, has always shown himself to be more mature and open, given that environment he has grown up in (basically, the treachery within his own family). He knows betrayal, lived and breathed it, and is seemingly able to swallow/compartmentalize it to see things more objectively.

Gemma's growing maturity has been very subtle in each of the books so far, as a well loved princess who has had to live through some harrowing moments. She acts as one who is growing into adulthood and character through some hard and, frankly, dangerous lessons.

That said, the book great and has everything you have come to expect from Ms. Estep. This was a great continuation and I look forward to the next.

I liked this one even better than the first book. I love Leo- swoon! I didn't like how Gemma is in such denial- she keeps going on and on how Leo betrayed her even though she's also said several times that she would've done the same in his shoes. I really liked seeing Reiko and Gemma's friendship develop, and seeing more of the gargoyles and strixes- I totally want one, lol. I want to see more of Leo's sister and her plant power, and I though I understand it doesn't make sense for Evie to be around the Morricone's, I wish Evie had at least a cameo.

Looking forward to book three :)

Will be leaving reviews on goodreads and amazon.